Ashwagandha belongs to the nightshade family, a plant family that also includes tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. The botanical name is “Withania somnifera”, but the plant is also called Indian ginseng, winter cherry or sleeping berry. Although Ashwagandha is a shrub that bears bright red berries, it is mostly the roots and leaves of the plant that are used.
Ashwagandha has been used as a medicinal plant for a long time, as the plant is said to have a variety of health-promoting properties. Among other things, ashwagandha is known to help with stress management and, in particular, to be an effective remedy for stress-induced insomnia The medicinal plant is also supposed to have supportive properties in the synthesis of testosterone, the reduction of inflammation and the lowering of blood sugar levels.
But how does Ashwagandha work? The plant is often referred to as an “adaptogen.” These are certain foods that are supposed to help in coping with both mental and physical stress. The so-called “withanolides” are an essential compound of the medicinal plant. Withanolides are phytochemicals that are mainly found in various genera of the nightshade family and serve the plant as protection against insect larvae. In humans, withanolides have an anti-inflammatory effect, among other things.
For the production of our Ashwagandha extract, the roots and the stem of the plant are used. Our extract is a brown powder which can be applied in a wide range of water-based products. To ensure a consistent concentration of active ingredients, the extract is standardized to a withanolide content of 5%.
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