Did You Know. . . .

. . . . the name Ashwagandha, loosely translated means “strength of 10 horses”.

Perhaps they should add – “memory of an elephant” and “youthful as a spring chicken” to the list. For more than 4000 years Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) has been a treasured Ayurvedic herb, yet today, more than ever, we could all do with its benefits.

Research by scholars at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, has shown that many of the actives in ashwagandha are antioxidants that enhance or preserve three very important natural antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The scholars concluded that these findings are consistent with the use of Withania somnifera as an Ayurvedic medicine health promoter. They believe the herb’s antioxidant effect may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, cognition facilitating, anti-inflammatory and antiaging benefits.

(Originally published in Health & Herbal News Magazine Volume 19, Issue 1)