The Magic of Ashwagandha: The Herb You Need to Know

If you have anxiety, keep reading this post.

Because ASHWAGANDHA!! It really is a magical potion.

Before we dissect all the benefits of this ancient, medicinal herb, I want to tell you that I feel like I can speak pretty knowledgably on the subject because I’ve been using it for the past 3 years.

To be completely honest, I use it here & there throughout the week- I don’t use it on a regular basis. I use it at night & actually mix it into my Four Sigmatic Mushroom Hot Cacao mix. I even add lemon to it- but I just feel like it’s such a standout star herb to have on hand.

It’s one you can throw in your smoothie or add to your coffee or mushroom cacao & it doesn’t taste bad at all. It does have a unique smell, but it doesn’t matter because it works so well that you won’t even care.

I feel like anyone who has any anxiety needs this immediately. Again, I’m not a doctor, I’m just sharing what works for me. And if you’re wondering what the hell ashwagandha is ( YES, it’s super hard to pronounce. I just learned & I’ve been taking it for 3 years ), it’s an extract that’s “ideal treatment for anxiety & stress, especially when it’s related to sleep difficulties. It’s known to help with reducing cortisol from your body’s adrenal glands & really promotes a healthy sleep.”

If you want to get very specific, which we love to do, ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen. & an adaptogen is a natural substance that helps the body adapt to stress. ( Another adaptogen is ginseng ).

Now it’s time to discuss the benefits, & let me tell you there are tons. It’s like, an entire scroll.

Some of my favorite benefits are:

♡ reduces cortisol levels

I got my blood tested at Spark Health & one of the things they told me was off about my blood was that my cortisol was off the charts. Cortisol is basically our stress hormone & high cortisol levels can cause you to store weight in your stomach. High levels can also cause anxiety so it’s important to reduce it. How I do this is by taking ashwagandha, doing low intensity workouts, & practicing mindful eating. So now when I eat I sit down, shut off my phone & really try to enjoy the meal. I used to stand up to eat. I also eliminate any toxic energy, whether that’s from a person, loud music or screaming kids. I also meditate which helps a lot with cortisol levels.

♡ helps reduce stress & anxiety

This is obviously big for me because it plays into the cortisol levels. This magical herb is known to reduce chronic stress & helps so much with anxiety & insomnia. 88% of people who took ashwagandha reported a reduction in anxiety. { source }

♡ reduces symptoms of depression

When I was in London I felt super depressed. This is because of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I wasn’t getting enough light or vitamin D. So next time I travel somewhere with weather like that, I’m bringing ashwagandha. Make sure you do you research & get the ones that are pure & non-GMO. A lot of people who struggle with depression implement ashwagandha into their routine & it’s really been known to help.

♡ reduced inflammation

This is obviously major for me because of jaw surgery. I’m constantly looking for ways to reduce the inflammation in my body. I think it’s a huge contributor to immune diseases so the less inflammation the better.

♡ improved memory

Since there are so many antioxidants in ashwagandha, it’s known to boost the memory. Many people who practice Ayurveda use this all the time when they’re trying to focus. After a lot of research, I’ve found that people have reported that their reaction time is better when it comes to getting tasks done.

You should also know that ashwagandha is called The Indian Ginseng, which means this shit is legit. What I love most is that it works with the brain & nervous system & in this day & age, with social media & blue light from screens, our nervous systems are so taxed- anything I can do to help the situation out, I will.

You can get it in a powder, or a capsule. Like I said, I like the powder, but for travelling I think the capsules are ideal ESPECIALLY for somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of light.

Like I said, I like to throw this in my Four Sigmatic mushroom hot cacao or in my smoothie. If you’re feeling really feisty, you can put it in your coffee, however, I like to have it at night because it does calm you down. I usually do a tablespoon at a time.

I feel like I need to do a post on cortisol because I think it’s such a disruptor in the body. You can expect a post on that to come soon.

Overall, you can count on ashwaganda to stabilize your mood & support emotional well-being. I would love to hear how you get creative with herbs or adaptogens below. I love to find creative ways to promote sleep, lower my cortisol & manage anxiety.

x, lauryn

+ read about another magic herb you can sneak into your S.O.’s latte here.

++ find more wellness posts here.

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