Benoit asked 3 years ago
I've just seen this study below posted on Reddit, and found it very interesting. It's a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, which is considered the very top-tier gold standard of evidence based medicine!
A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults
"Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension, which can lead to underperformance and adverse clinical conditions. Adaptogens are herbs that help in combating stress. Ayurvedic classical texts, animal studies and clinical studies describe Ashwagandha as a safe and effective adaptogen.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study suggest that a high-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves an individual's resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life."
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I'm suffering from a lot of stress and anxiety with the birth of our first child, together with my busiest period at work I have experienced. I would love to hear anyones opinions on Ashwagandha, and where is the best place to buy it for an Australian (SA).
Philip Fairbanks answered 3 years ago
Oh wow! Adaptogens is one of my favourite classes of nootropics. There is a conception in some people's mind that nootropic compounds have to be synthetic, but in my opinion, there are a lot of "smart drugs" (modafinil, bless its productivity-inspiring soul) that aren't TECHNICALLY really nootropics. On the other hand, there are certain plant medicines, especially in the adaptogen class that fit the "nootropic criteria" proposed by Dr. Corneliu Giurgea the guy who not only coined the term "nootropic" but was responsible for the development of the first racetams.
For me, the real magic of adaptogens lies in the fact that they improve cognition, and baseline wellness and can help with stress and anxiety without being demotivating. Far from it, they are helpful for motivation and energy. They all have different mechanisms but one thing they all share is a tendency to "tone" adrenal function.
Herbosophy sells powder or capsules which you might want to avail of if you aren't a fan of strongly bitter-tasting supplements. The name ashwagandha comes from Sanskrit meaning "strength of a horse." I believe it has a double meaning though as when you brew it it smells and tastes strongly of horse sweat lol. If you're brave or don't mind the taste have some other things to improve the taste. Chemist Warehouse also sells capsules to Australia.
You might get better prices buying bulk powder somewhere like Xtremeherbs and if you already have capsules and a capping machine you can often save money by filling the capsules yourself. eBay may also be an option, but I don't advise it because unless you know the seller you can end up with bunk. I know this from experience after the "95% magnolia extract" I bought recently turned out to be mostly inert.
Oh, also, it's not technically an adaptogen but works in similar ways, theanine is another great way to restore calm while improving focus. Picamilon is not a natural source product but is based on a b-vitamin (niacin) fused to a GABA molecule that's been altered to be more bioavailable.
By the way, congrats on the baby! Make sure to treasure those moments, kids grow up too fast. Godspeed.
