HEALTH SCIENCE LEXICON
Ashwagandha
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a popular herb in Ayurvedic medicine often used as an adaptogen, which means it helps your body manage stress. It’s known for helping to reduce cortisol, the main stress hormone. Beyond stress relief, it also shows benefits for brain function, including improvements in memoryMemory is how your brain stors information for recall, later. It’s your own special filing system where it keeps information you’ve learned and experiences you’ve had. Sometimes you can recall this information easily, and sometimes you might find it hard… Continue to full entry, focus, and thinking speed.
As an adaptogenic herb (scientific name: *Withania somnifera*), Ashwagandha helps the body resist the damaging effects of stress and promotes a state of physiological balance. Its primary active compounds, withanolides, have been linked to multiple cognitive benefits. These include improving various aspects of memory, attention, vigilance, executive function, and information-processing speed. The stress-reducing effects, which include lowering cortisol levels and improving mood, are thought to indirectly support cognitive function by reducing mental fatigue.
Synergistic or Compounding Nutrients
- Rhodiola Rosea
- L-Theanine
- Magnesium
- Bacopa MonnieriBacopa Monnieri is an herb used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, where It’s often called Brahmi. It is commonly taken as a supplement to help with memory and thinking skills. It may work by increasing certain brain chemicals, like… Continue to full entry
- Lion’s Mane
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Top Benefits of ‘Ashwagandha’
- Reduces stress and supports mood
- Improves memory enhancement and recall
- Enhances attention and vigilance
- Supports executive function and cognitive flexibility
- Increases information-processing speed
- Reduces mental fatigue
- Supports healthy cortisol levels
- Promotes psychological well-being
Evidence-Based Nutritional Research Sources for ‘Ashwagandha’:
- Consensus Acad → What Are The Cognitive Benefits Of Ashwagandha Supplementation?
- Nutrients → Acute and Repeated Ashwagandha Supplementation Improves Markers of Cognitive Function and Mood
- Phytotherapy R → A systematic review of the clinical use of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction
- WebMD → Ashwagandha: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions
