Ashwagandha Tea for Stress
Ashwagandha tea is derived from the root of the ashwagandha plant, which is harvested, dried and ground into a powder. This root offers a long history of medicinal uses in India, and is a substantial part of Ayurvedic medicine. It is best known for its ability to promote relaxation and to calm feelings from stress, and its botanical name, somnifera, is Latin for ‘sleep-inducing’. Ashwagandha has been the subject of many studies that have helped to detail its benefits for helping to ease stress, and few herbal teas can match ashwagandha tea’s effectiveness for alleviating stressful feelings.
The Negative Effects of Stress
Stress is a daily part of life for everyone, from childhood through adulthood. In small amounts, it can be beneficial. Stress hormones signal the release of adrenaline, which supercharges many of the body’s functions, providing boosts of energy, heightening focus and improving performance. However, highly stressful situations or prolonged periods of stress can quickly become a negative experience. As adrenaline levels are spent and the burst of energy begins to fade, the body is then flooded with feelings of fatigue. The muscles remain tense, preparing the body for action, even though the stress is often not physical.
Stress also affects the mind’s ability to focus when prolonged, making it more difficult to accomplish tasks. All of these factors also lead to negative emotional effects, increasing irritability, anger, even depression. Over time, these effects worsen, and can cause significant health issues such as a weakened immune system and overtaxing of the body’s internal organs. This can lead to further health problems and potentially permanent damage.
While the most effective method for dealing with this kind of stress is inarguably to find a way to remove yourself from stress, there are also several things that can be done to reduce the effects of stress and make the body better able to cope. Staying in good shape is important, as a healthier body is better equipped to deal with stress, and exercise also releases endorphins that can lift the spirits. A healthy diet provides the body with more energy and may reduce fatigue. Sleep is also essential, as it allows the body to recharge and recuperate from the effects of stress.
How Ashwagandha Tea Helps with Stress
Ashwagandha tea has many beneficial effects for reducing stress levels. Studies have shown that ashwagandha offers significant ability to reduce anxiety, and that it provides a similar effect as GABA, a natural amino acid that reduces stress levels by limiting neuron activity and preventing the neurons from over firing. When the neuron activity is reduced, the brain is better able to relax, and the body experiences less tension, thus reducing the overall effect of stress. Ashwagandha tea also helps to reduce the levels of cortisol, a stress-inducing hormone, by as much as 26%. By blocking this hormone’s release, ashwagandha prevents stress from being activated, thus reducing the overall stress that is felt. It also helps to promote the renewal of depleted adrenal levels, which can be lowered as a result of stress. There is also some evidence that ashwagandha tea may be able to stimulate the regeneration of neurons that have degenerated due to stress. This suggests that ashwagandha can not only counter the short-term effects of stress, but may also be beneficial for dealing with its long-term effects.
