When I started writing this guide, all I really knew about ashwagandha is that it was an adaptogen. According to Nutritionist and Registered Nutritional Therapist Annie Winter, “the term adaptogen means it helps the nervous system to adapt to stress, subsequently reducing cortisol levels and increasing the action of serotonin.” Essentially what this means is it can help you relax or calm down if your nervous system is stressed. Winter explains, though, that it can “equally be a little energising if needed too”.
Winter says that the main reason someone would take the supplement is to help, “reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, [and] to support sleep. The great thing about adaptogens is that while they can help us to feel a bit more chilled, they’re not sedatives so they won’t knock you out or leave you feeling drowsy. When we’re feeling tired but wired, unable to relax, or just overwhelmingly busy, ashwagandha can be a helpful friend. Of course, prioritising good sleep and adequate rest should always come first, but it can help that little bit more too.”
From personal experience, I found all of the above to be true. I took it a few hours before bed each night for a few months and found I was consistently more relaxed that I normally would be, especially given I had a lot going on at the time.
