What is Ashwagandha? Ashwagandha is one of the most popular Ayurvedic herbs. Also known as, “Indian ginseng” and “winter cherry“ it has been used for thousands of years in India as a natural medicine. It is believed to heal different conditions, from anxiety to infertility and add strength to the body. Organic Ashwagandha helps improve sleep, concentration, energy levels and athletic performance. In Sanskrit, “Ashwagandha” means “the smell of the horse, " which also refers to its specific scent. The plant's botanical name is Withania Somnifera. It is a small shrub with yellow flowers native to India and Southeast Asia. The Ashwagandha powder is made from the plant’s roots or leaves. How is Ashwagandha used? Ashwagandha is used to help the body manage stress and anxiety. It lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels and strengthens the immune system. It may help people who experience stressful situations and suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and even hormonal dysregulation. It has some calming properties for the brain and improves sleep quality. Ashwagandha combined with magnesium can boost energy levels and improves vitality. What are the benefits of Ashwagandha? It helps reduce stress and anxiety: It lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels and helps you to calm down. It improves the mood: It helps you feel better and relax better. It improves sleep quality: It helps you to get a better rest and sleep. It boosts the immunity system: It helps the body fight certain infections more effectively. It helps achieve hormonal balance: It helps the correct levels of hormones, and this may help control diabetes, menopause symptoms, polycystic ovary syndrome, and other diseases caused by hormonal imbalance. It helps the body adapt to changes: It is great for the brain functioning: It improves cognitive function and mental processes such as thinking, focus, memory, attention and perception. How to use Ashwagandha in recipes? The best way to use Ashwagandha is to make a tea or hot drink or add it to a latte, similar to matcha. Take a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder and add it to a hot plant-based milk like soy milk or oat milk, add some agave and stir.