Ashwagandha May Also Benefit Alzheimers and Cancer Sufferers

Back in October 2001, we brought you a report on the numerous health-benefits linked to the herb ashwagandha (withania somnifera). Since then we've been staggered by the sheer volume of studies that have been carried out on the herb especially over the last couple of years.

They have revealed what Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) medical practitioners have known for centuries that ashwagandha (traditionally known as Indian ginseng), can successfully help treat and prevent a diverse range of ailments.

The traditional uses of the herb are as a tonic and invigorator. It is believed to prolong longevity, boost mental and physical stamina, and improve sexual function (which is how it earned the nickname herbal viagra).

It has also been used to alleviate stress and anxiety, because it has a calming effect and lowers levels of the hormone cortisol which is produced in high amounts during stressful situations. Applied directly to the skin the herb can also provide much-needed relief from eczema, psoriasis, wounds and skin ulcers.

The recent studies are particularly exciting as they have uncovered new health benefits attached to ashwagandha as well as backing up many of its traditional uses, which is why we wanted to bring you this important update on the herb straight away.

Major breakthrough in the area of Alzheimers disease and dementia

Past studies have shown that ashwagandha can help boost memory. Now, researchers have found that the herb may be useful in treating serious memory disorders like Alzheimers disease.

One way it is thought to help in this area is by improving the sensitivity of brain cells so that they better respond to a naturally-occurring chemical called acetylcholine low levels of which have been found in Alzheimers patients. This chemical facilitates brain function and, in particular, memory and clear thinking (Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005;334(1):276-87).

Better still, ground-breaking new research suggests that it may even cure existing cases of dementia. While this claim is currently based on animal studies alone, there is hope that it may work in a similar way in humans too. Scientists working at the Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, in Japan, have found that ashwagandha extracts help repair damaged brain cells (axons and dendrites) and connections between brain cells (synapses), as follows:

To cure dementia completely, reconstruction of neuronal networks is necessary. We found that withanoside (a constituent of Ashwagandha) boosted brain cell growth in cultured rat brain cells. Oral administration of withanoside significantly improved memory deficits in mice and prevented loss of axons, dendrites, and synapses. Withanoside induced axon and dendrite regeneration and synaptic reconstruction significantly. These data suggest that orally administrated withanoside may ameliorate neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimers disease (Eur J Neurosci. 2006;23(6):1417-26).

Targets cancer cells and encourages their destruction

New research shows that ashwagandha root extract may be able to detect cancerous cells in the body and prevent them from spreading. The extract also performs another important function in that it appears to be able to cut off the blood supply to cancerous cells, thereby causing them to die (J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 May 24;105(3):336-41).

Further research has revealed that the herb may help cancer sufferers in another way. When patients are undergoing treatment with conventional anti-cancer drugs, chemotherapy or radiotherapy it puts the body under enormous stress.

The fact that ashwagandha has been found to strengthen the immune system means that cancer patients might be better able to withstand the harsh effects associated with these treatments (Chem Biol Interact. 2006;159(3):180-5).

Ashwagandha could prevent serious conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis

On the subject of immunity, scientists from the Department of Biosciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Deemed University, in India recently found that the herb is able to both regulate the immune system and reduce the risk of inflammation. This latter benefit is particularly important as inflammation is now implicated in a number of serious conditions including heart disease.

Commenting on the findings, the scientists concluded: Our results report immunosuppressive effect of Withania somnifera root powder, thus it could be a candidate for developing as an immunosuppressive drug for inflammatory diseases (Vascul Pharmacol. 2006 Jun; 44(6):406-10).

It could also help lower the risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke as a result of its ability to lower levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (blood fats) and lipoproteins (proteins that carry fat molecules) (Phytother Res. 2006 May 12; Epub ahead of print).

Another serious ailment the herb is proving beneficial against is osteoporosis a condition whereby the bones become brittle, porous and more prone to breakage. In a recent animal study, researchers from the Department of Pharmacology, Government College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, India, discovered that ashwagandha improves the concentration of calcium in the bones, which helps strengthen them and keeps them healthy. They concluded that: treatment with ashwagandha markedly prevented loss of bone structure in rats and thus may be a potential agent in the treatment of osteoporosis (J Pharm Pharmacol. 2006;58(4):513-9).

What to take for best results

The recommended dosage for ashwagandha is one 250mg to 300mg capsule taken two or three times a day, preferably with meals.

Ashwagandha should not be taken alongside sedatives, alcohol or other stimulants. In addition, pregnant women should not take the herb.