Vinay Kumar Singh.
Head-Formulation
Kumar Organic Products Research Centre Pvt. Ltd.,
Bengaluru
Email : formulation_krc@kopresearchcentre.net
Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, which is a traditional form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing.People have used Ashwagandha for thousands of years to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration. “Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers to both the herb’s scent and its potential ability to increase strength.
Its botanical name is Withaniasomnifera, and it’s also known by several other names, including “Indian ginseng” and “winter cherry.” It is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar. This species is a short, tender shrub with yellow flowers, growing 35–75 cm tall. Tomentose branches extend radially from a central stem. Leaves are dull green, elliptic, usually up to 10–12 cm long. The flowers are small, green and bell-shaped. The ripe fruit is orange-red.It prefers dry stony soil with sun to partial shade. To propagate it can be grown from seed in the early spring, or from greenwood cuttings in the later spring.The root of Ashwagandha in Ayurveda is advised for rheumatoid arthritis, leucoderma, constipation, insomnia, and nervous breakdown. The leaves are bitter and recommended for fever and acute pain and inflammation. The flowers are astringent, diuretic, and increase energy level. It helps in reducing cortisol levels that helps in reducing stress, depression and anxiety.
This ancient remedy may help to reduce the appearance of ageing skin, clear clogged pores, and even out skin tone. It’s well-known already as an antidote to the natural ageing process
Since Ashwagandha is traditionally used as an adaptogen, it is used for many conditions related to stress. Adaptogens are believed to help the body resist physical and mental stress. Some of the conditions it is used for include insomnia, aging, anxiety and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using Ashwagandha for COVID-19.
As a beauty enhancer, Ashwagandha protects and improves skin complexion by blocking free radicals, reducing fine lines, and stimulating collagen production. This collagen helps restore lost elasticity, repair tissue damage, and maintain firmness. Ashwagandha has plenty of healing and skin-enhancing benefits. It works as a great anti-aging tool because of its ability to moisturize, protect, and calm the skin. Dry skin can make fine lines and wrinkles appear more pronounced, so by moisturizing, you replenish your skin’s moisture while reversing the early signs of aging. Ashwagandha is also known to clear dirt and impurities from skin pores. Many dermatologists even prescribe this botanical to treat dry and rough skin.
The high antioxidant content in Ashwagandha helps to battle the symptoms of skin ageing, such as wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes and dark spots. Their capacity to reduce wrinkles firms the skin making it look young. By lowering cortisol levels, Ashwagandha relieves stress, benefiting the skin. By increasing the formation of hyaluronan in the skin, Ashwagandha provides ample hydration and deep moisturisation. This firms the skin and makes it softer and smoother.
Ashwagandha root has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties which protect the skin from infections or acne. It also boosts the collagen in the skin which prevents it from ageing. When it is applied topically to the skin, it soothes the skin, makes it brighter, and increases cellular energy of the skin.
Benefits of Ashwagandha on skin
Anti-inflammatory
Ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it beneficial on pimples. It cures skin inflammation, rashes, skin redness, and boils.
Skin stress
Keratosis is a critical skin condition that makes your skin dry and rough, causing dark spots, blackness under the eyes, and wrinkles.
Antioxidants in Ashwagandha remove all problems associated with skin stress. It relaxes your skin, alleviates the bad effect of keratosis and makes the skin soft and firm.
Reduces oil secretion
Ashwagandha naturally prevents the secretion of oil, due to which the problem of oily skin is reduced.The ingredients of ashwagandha make the skin calm, clean, and oil-free, without stripping essential moisture from your skin.
Anti-aging
Ashwagandha contains antioxidants that deal with free radicals to make you feel young. When it is applied topically to the skin, it soothes the skin, makes it brighter, and increases cellular energy of the skin. It contains collagen, which is an anti-aging material, as well as natural oils that make your skin supple and smooth.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a skin disease, where the color of a specific skin patch becomes darker and differs from the color of the rest of the skin. This darkening takes place when an excess amount of melanin sticks to the skin. It is a common skin disease that affects almost all skin types.
Ashwagandha reduces the melanin production. It can be applied topically on the face to remove pigmentation.
Skin hydration
Use Ashwagandha to get rid of dry skin. It moisturizes the skin and makes it smooth. It helps in the production of hyaluronan, which heals the rough skin and hydrates it.
Benefits of Ashwagandha for Hair
Ashwagandha is highly prized as a remedy to strengthen hair and control hair loss. The antioxidants in the herb are known to treat the corrosion of tissue, effectively delaying premature greying. Stress is a major cause of hair loss, but thanks to the herb’s stress-fighting power, combined with the ability to improve the scalp’s grip on hair, one can preserve body and volume.
Ashwagandha increases DHEA synthesis (Dehydroepiandrosterone), a naturally occurring hormone in your body that acts as an antioxidant. As a result, Ashwagandha aids in the elimination of free radicals from your scalp and hair follicles, supporting healthy hair growth.Ashwagandha can boost antioxidant enzyme levels such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase while preventing lipid peroxidation. Ashwagandha appears to alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which plays a crucial role in response to stress, as indicated by its capacity to lower cortisol levels to relieve stress and anxiety.
1. Relieves your hair loss
An excess of stress hormones like cortisol disrupts the normal functioning of your hair follicles, ultimately leading to hair loss. Ashwagandha can help you control follicular damage and hair loss by regulating cortisol levels in your body. The plant contains natural mood-boosting qualities that reduce hair loss by reducing anxiety and stress.
2. Strengthens your hair
Ashwagandha increases DHEA synthesis (Dehydroepiandrosterone), a naturally occurring hormone in your body that acts as an antioxidant. As a result, Ashwagandha aids in the elimination of free radicals from your scalp and hair follicles, supporting healthy hair growth.
3. Enhances your scalp and hair nourishment
Protein, iron, vitamin C, tyrosine, and potassium are all found in Ashwagandha, and these are required for healthy hair growth and development.
Ashwagandha also assists in the delivery of nutrients to hair follicles through dilation of blood vessels, which improves blood circulation.
4. Conditions your scalp and hair
Ashwagandha may boost the formation of collagen and sebum on your scalp by simulating DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) production.
The use of Ashwagandha moisturizes your scalp and hair texture while also repairing dry and brittle hair. Furthermore, collagen and sebum protect your scalp and hair from UV damage.
5. Controls your scalp Irritation
Ashwagandha promotes the general health of your hair follicles due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties. It treats scalp conditions such as dandruff, itchiness, psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammation-related allergies.
6. Reverses premature greying of hair
An amino acid called ‘Tyrosine’ found in Ashwagandha also helps to keep melanin levels stable. Melanin is the pigment responsible for your hair color, which reverses premature hair greying.
Because it is more than the knight in shining armour that your skin needs to protect itself from pollution, ageing, and infections. It is also a fairy godmother to calm and soothe your frayed epidermal layers.Ashwagandha could potentially alleviate some of the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety, including premature ageing of skin and minimizing hair loss.
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