Ashwagandha Benefits For Sleep

Have you ever felt drowsy and sluggish during the day, but still can’t seem to get enough sleep at night? If you’ve experienced this feeling at all, you’ll know just how frustrating it can be. Whether it’s due to an overtired mind and body, or a poor sleep schedule, it can be remedied! 

It’s true – research has proven that Ashwagandha is one of the best remedies for a lack of good quality sleep. Let’s take a look at the science behind this ancient herbal remedy and discover its benefits for a better night’s rest. 

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an ancient herbal remedy that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Ashwagandha, which is also known as Indian ginseng, has been proven to boost the immune system and is used as a natural treatment for anxiety and insomnia.

The plant is a shrub that produces light green flowers and oval-shaped leaves that are usually found in India, Sri Lanka, and the Himalayan mountains. Unlike other plants in its family, Ashwagandha is not a climbing vine so you won’t find it growing anywhere but on the ground. Ashwagandha root extract can be taken in supplement or powder form and easily added to your routine.

What are Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia?

Sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation is a condition that occurs when you have not slept enough in order to feel rested. If you go for three nights with only four hours of sleep each night, your body will start to show signs of exhaustion. These signs include:

• Impaired cognitive and emotional functioning
• Lack of focus
• Irritability
• Decreased energy levels

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that occurs when an individual has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep through the night. It can be triggered by other conditions such as anxiety and depression. 

If left untreated, it can affect your physical and mental health in various ways such as affecting concentration or impairing your ability to process information in real-time

Sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining your overall health. When you sleep, your brain and body are able to process the events of the day and heal. This is why you sleep more when sick!

Trouble sleeping can cause serious long-term effects such as increased stress, mood swings, weight problems, and cardiovascular disease.

How Ashwagandha Improves Sleep

Ashwagandha (also known as Indian Ginseng) is a very powerful herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It’s used to help improve sleep, boost the immune system, and improve overall health. When it comes to sleep, it really can work wonders.

This natural sleep aid has been proven to both increase sleep quality, and make it easier to fall asleep. 

Ashwagandha Withania Somnifera is one of the most well-known Adaptogens. Adaptogens are plants or herbs that provide therapeutic benefits and help your body react to physical and mental stressors.

This herb has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to support sleep, by lowering stress hormone (cortisol) levels.

Ashwagandha for Anxiety and Stress

We’ve established that Ashwagandha is a great remedy for sleep, but it’s also an excellent solution for anxiety and stress. One of the most common side effects of a lack of sleep is feeling anxious or stressed. When you can’t fall asleep, your body experiences increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone). This leads to high blood pressure and heightened anxiety levels. Ashwagandha is effective at evening out these levels – it reduces cortisol and balances blood pressure.

These qualities mean that Ashwagandha offers a natural solution for those who are suffering from symptoms related to stress and anxiety. It also has been shown to be effective in reducing the feelings of depression caused by chronic insomnia. So, if you’re looking for a way to promote your health, happiness, and productivity both during the day and at night, Ashwagandha should be your go-to supplement!

Natural Sleep Aids

Stress is the leading cause of insomnia. When struggling with chronic stress impacting your sleep quality, many people will try whatever it takes to get a good night's rest.

It takes 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night to reboot your mind and body, and if you’re like most people, you’re probably not getting that much sleep.

Thankfully, there are natural treatments available that can help you get to sleep in combination with a healthy lifestyle.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces to help regulate the sleep cycles, and research shows it’s also a powerful sleeping aid. The problem is that many people have impaired melatonin production because of their modern-day lifestyle, which causes insomnia. You can buy melatonin as a supplement and take it as needed.

For most healthy adults, melatonin is not a great long-term solution. Your body can get acclimated to the consistent use, and rely on it to actually go to sleep. Melatonin is ok to use every once and a while, but if you find yourself needing to take the supplement every day, it may be time to look for other sleep aids. 

Lavender

Lavender oil is one of the most popular natural sleep aids. It’s believed to have relaxing and calming properties that can help you fall asleep in minutes. So how does it work? When you inhale lavender, it releases chemicals into your bloodstream that send messages to your brain to relax. Lavender also has a calming effect on your nervous system, which helps relieve stress and tension. Some people use lavender oil by rubbing a few drops along their forehead or wrists before bedtime, while others use it in aromatherapy diffusers.

Lavender oil is a great calming aid and has many therapeutic uses. As an essential oil, it is ok to use this treatment with other supplements.

Glycine

Glycine is a nonessential amino acid that can be found in foods like meat, fish, and dairy. It’s important for the production of protein and helps to maintain proper muscle function. One study found that taking 4 grams of glycine before bed increased both the amount and quality of sleep.

Ashwagandha

When taken consistently, Ashwagandha can have a huge impact on your sleep quality. Unlike melatonin, your body will not rely upon it to get to sleep. Ashwagandha does not induce sleep like melatonin but helps balance your body's hormones so it's easier to get to sleep.

How to Consume Ashwagandha Root

Ashwagandha Supplements

Ashwagandha is an ancient herbal remedy that has been used by Ayurvedic practitioners for centuries as a natural remedy for a wide range of conditions, including stress and anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and more. Ashwagandha is believed to have many benefits, with one of the most significant being its ability to offer relief from insomnia and other sleep disorders. 

It may take a few weeks to really notice the benefits of Ashwagandha supplements, so it's important to keep them consistent. You don't need to take it at a specific time of day to see the benefits, so just add Ashwagandha to your current dietary supplements routine. Those who have added this root into their diet have reported better mental alertness, a consistent sleep schedule, and fewer health impacts from mental stress.

Moon Milk

Moon milk is a natural sleep aid that has been used in India for centuries. As it becomes more popular in the US, you may be thinking: what exactly is moon milk? The recipe includes the root of Ashwagandha, fresh ginger, dried lavender flowers and organic whole coconut milk together with cardamom pods and cloves. These ingredients are boiled together on low heat until it starts to thicken up and then left to cool down in the fridge before being added to a mason jar or drinking cup.

This recipe is said to have many benefits including increased vitality and energy levels, enhanced immune system function, improved metabolism, reduced inflammation, better digestion, and gastrointestinal health as well as relief from chronic pain. If you’re interested in trying out this ancient remedy for yourself, here’s how you can prepare your own batch at home:

Ingredients:

• 3 capsules of Ashwagandha root powder
• 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
• 3 teaspoons of dried lavender flowers
• 4 tablespoons of organic whole coconut milk
• 6 cardamom pods or 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 6 cloves or 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cups of water

One study found that Ashwagandha root extract alleviated the hypothyroidism symptoms. The participants, who were diagnosed with moderate hypothyroidism, took a daily dose of Ashwagandha for eight weeks. After the trial period, their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels decreased and they had a significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms.

Another study found that Ashwagandha helped reduce stress-induced changes in thyroid function. Researchers found that as little as two one-gram capsules per day were enough to relieve symptoms of stress-induced hyperthyroidism.

If you’re looking for an herbal remedy to help support thyroid health, give Ashwagandha a try! We hope this information helps to educate you on the powerful benefits of this herb.

Summary

We can't underestimate the importance of a good night's sleep. There are so many reasons why we could be struggling to get enough sleep: stress, anxiety, medications, or even a hectic lifestyle. 

Ashwagandha is an ancient herbal remedy that has been used for centuries. It has many beneficial properties such as reducing stress, increasing memory, and improving cognitive function.