Haya Labs Ashwagandha for stress and mood enhancement
Haya Labs Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Vitania sluggish) - a plant called Indian ginseng for its adaptogenic properties, i.e. increasing the body's resistance to stress factors. It is used in traditional eastern medicine and Ayurveda, where it is regarded as a remedy for rheumatism, exhaustion, impotence and memory weakness. It contains many active substances, including vitanolides, which are pharmacologically active compounds - they exhibit sedative, anti-cancer, cytotoxic and blood pressure-lowering properties.
Ashwagandha has a beneficial effect on the hormonal profile:
The vitanolides from ashwagandha extract are structurally very similar to the endogenous sex hormones testosterone, oestrogen, androstendione or DHEA, among others, so that they are active in the endocrine system. One scientific experiment showed that supplementation with ashwagandha root for six months resulted in a 114-140% increase in testosterone levels in men with fertility disorders.
Another scientific study found an increase in testosterone levels of 10-22%, while reducing catabolic cortisol (stress hormone) levels by an average of 48%, which also has an extremely positive effect, since (as is well known) it is the ratio of testosterone to cortisol that is responsible for an aesthetically pleasing, muscular physique and physical strength.
Further studies confirm the beneficial effects of ashwagandha root on the endocrine system by:
- an increase in testosterone and DHEA levels
- an absolute decrease in cortisol levels (numerous studies confirm this)
- counteracting adrenal disease, i.e. Cushing's syndrome
- suppression of chronic stress symptoms
- activation of anabolic processes in bone tissue, preventing osteoporosis
Ashwagandha improves mood:
Vitania sluggard is widely valued primarily for its mood-enhancing, anti-stress, anti-anxiety, antidepressant effects, improving adaptation to the environment, increasing self-confidence, extraversion and openness to new experiences. It owes its properties to its ability to sensitise serotonin (5-HT) receptors, so that the same amount of serotonin, by binding to a specific receptor, acts more strongly and efficiently, i.e. increases the frequency of nerve impulses in serotonergic pathways.
Ashwagandha supports exercise capacity and body work:
To date, several scientific experiments have been conducted on the effects of vitania ashwagandha supplementation on exercise performance and figure aesthetics in athletes as well as in normal people. The use of 500 mg of ashwagandha extract for 8 weeks resulted in a 7.6 per cent improvement in muscle strength and a 6.6 per cent increase in aerobic capacity in physically inactive young people of both sexes. A further experiment on 18 young volunteers (18-30 years) after 30 days of supplementation resulted in a 6% increase in muscle strength, a 1.8 kg increase in muscle mass with a concomitant 2.3% loss of body fat.
Conclusion: ashwagandha increases strength and muscle mass, improves aerobic capacity and supports the reduction of unnecessary body fat.
Other properties of Ashwagandha:
- lowers blood glucose levels, has an anti-diabetic effect
- partially regenerates pigment loss in hair, counteracts greying
- stimulates the function of the thyroid gland, counteracting hypothyroidism
- stimulates the immune system, i.e. increases phagocytosis and macrophage activity
- improves blood parameters (raises haemoglobin levels)
- regulates lipid profile (lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and raises HDL)
Therapeutic uses of ashwagandha:
- insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, intermittent sleep
- memory and association disorders
- hypothyroidism
- anxiety-depressive conditions, neuroses, excessive stress, migraine
- difficulties adapting to the environment, shyness to people, antisociality
Ashwagandha dosage:
2 capsules daily.