Does Ashwagandha Really Help with Stress?

If you’re feeling stressed by life, it’s worth trying ashwagandha. This herb has stood the test of time: It comes to us from Ayurveda, a practice of traditional medicine originating in India thousands of years ago. And its value is now also being demonstrated in clinical research. Ashwagandha has been used for so many purposes in Ayurvedic medicine and as a general tonic—a rasayana—to promote health and revitalize the body. It does all this by helping us deal with stress in a healthy way, which is why we call it an adaptogen.

Any kind of stress, whether it’s physical or mental, can result in feelings of anxiety and nervousness. Stress affects our ability to deal with life; it affects our immune system, our sex life, our brain. It makes sense that we’d feel better if we could better handle stress. And research has confirmed what traditional healers have known: that ashwagandha has benefits for stress, anxiety, sexual function, memory, and cognition. And really it should come as no surprise because plants are where we find the most interesting, complex molecules (exotic plants are a favorite source of new drugs for pharmaceutical companies), and a number of interesting biologically active molecules have been identified in ashwagandha.

When we set to work on our first CBD product, the capsules with ashwagandha and green tea, we knew that incorporating this powerful ancient herb was the right decision because of its proven benefits. It also works to compliment the equalizing effects of the CBD, proving to be a powerful addition to the proprietary blend. The suggested serving is two capsules, and I take them either first thing in the morning or about a half hour before bed, but you can also put it in a smoothie or whatever else you like. You may feel its calming effects quickly—hence the recommendation to take it before bed—but give it a few weeks to help your body achieve equilibrium.