11 Proven Health Benefits Of Ashwagandha - Ben's Natural Health

Written By Dr. Ahmed Zayed
June 1, 2020

Many medicinal herbs stem from ancient times. These herbs have been used in medical practices for many years.

The herbs used in traditional ayurvedic medicine have been provided to patients long before the introduction of conventional and pharmaceutical inventions. Today, a large number of studies also show that these herbs hold potential benefits for the human body. 

Ashwagandha is one of these ancient herbs. It is considered a medicinal plant extract. There are many active compounds in the ashwagandha plant—these yield specific medicinal properties for the body.

When people take ashwagandha, they may experience an extensive range of health-related advantages. We take a closer look at the benefits of ashwagandha and how this herb may help people. 

1. Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

High blood sugar levels can cause many unpleasant effects on the body. When a person has uncontrolled blood sugar, they may develop insulin resistance. This causes insulin sensitivity to decline. The person is also at risk of developing diabetes when blood sugar levels are too high. 

Ashwagandha may help to improve blood sugar regulation. This herb has been shown to assist in increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas1. The insulin sensitivity of muscle cells also improved in previous studies that looked at the effect of ashwagandha on insulin and blood sugar regulation. 

Some studies show ashwagandha directly affects blood sugar regulation. In one study2, patients took an ashwagandha supplement each day. The study lasted for 30 days. Researchers noted a reduction in blood glucose levels. The effects of ashwagandha were similar to what patients experience when they take an oral drug for diabetes. 

Researchers reported other benefits in the study too. Participants in the study experienced a reduction in their cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoprotein levels were lower. Triglyceride levels also declined.

2. Anti-Cancer Properties

Cancer is a very common disease. It causes many people to lose their lives every year. This is why scientists constantly try to find new ways to treat this disease. Current conventional treatments include the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments cause side-effects that make the patient feel unwell. 

Ashwagandha is a ayurvedic herb that seems to have potential when used as an anti-cancer treatment. The herb contains an active chemical called withaferin. According to one study3, withaferin causes a process called apoptosis to occur in the body. Apoptosis is described as the death of cancerous cells. 

By inducing this effect, ashwagandha might hold the potential to help in destroying cancer cells in patients. 

The same study shows that the withaferin compound helps to prevent the growth of more cancer cells. With this in mind, it means the patient is at a lower risk of experiencing a further increase in the severity of their cancer.

Studies find that ashwagandha may be useful in different types of cancers, including:

• Colon cancer
• Brain cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer