Why I Believe in the Benefits of Ashwagandha

-Written by Marley Wells

It goes without saying that transitions are often some of the hardest seasons of life. This could not have rung more true as I found myself moving away from home to begin my freshman year of college. While 2 hours away is a mere day trip – especially compared to some students moving cross-country for school – it was still a stark change that seemingly represented all of the other drastic changes sure to come. 

The stress of moving, worrying about establishing new relationships with friends and professors, having to manage my own time at a level I never had before… it wore me down. On more than one occasion I cried on the phone to my mother, telling her I wished to transfer to a school closer to home. Similarly, my days after class were spent doing nothing except lying in bed mindlessly watching Netflix; I truly did not have the mental capacity or energy to do much else.

In the midst of this tumultuous adjustment, I began taking ashwagandha for two main reasons: first, ashwagandha is popularly used as a homeopathic remedy to aid with stress and anxiety relief; second, ashwagandha has been shown to support thyroid health in those with subclinical hypothyroidism. Now, I do not have subclinical hypothyroidism, but rather was born without a thyroid entirely. So, while my use was “off-label” in that way, I was desperate to try anything to revamp my energy levels. Having hypothyroidism my entire life, I never knew what normal was supposed to feel like. It had simply always been this way.

After several weeks of consistent use, I slowly began to feel that all the things that were weighing on me so heavily were much less overwhelming. I had the energy to join clubs, make plans with friends after class, and even go to the gym. While some naysayers may insinuate that this transformation solely came about as a result of my adjustment period ending, I firmly believe that the ashwagandha played a role in making me feel like my normal self again.

But enough about me. What can ashwagandha do for you? If, like me and so many others, you find yourself in a period of high stress and anxiety, ashwagandha can help manage your stress levels by lowering cortisol– the hormone associated with fight-or-flight and the stress response. Similarly, if you find yourself in a fog as you go about your day, ashwagandha can help improve your memory and your focus, making sure you can stay on top of it.

Lastly, if you experience subclinical hypothyroidism, ashwagandha can help support your thyroid health through the same cortisol-lowering properties that help it to fight anxiety. Of course, as with any supplement, we encourage you to have a conversation with your doctor to ensure that ashwagandha is the right product for you.

We at The Elderberry Co love ashwagandha. Now that it is available on our website HERE, make sure to buy some and let us know how much you love it too! We think you’ll enjoy how ashwagandha supports your health, both mental and physical. Aside from ashwagandha, what are some of your favorite tools for managing stress and anxiety? Let us know in the comments!