Ashwagandha Root - Marco's Grounds

Overview

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry, is a revered adaptogen with deep roots in Ayurvedic medicine. Celebrated for its ability to enhance resilience to stress, boost energy levels, and support cognitive health, Ashwagandha has earned its place as one of the most researched and effective natural supplements. Its wide range of benefits is attributed to powerful bioactive compounds called withanolides, which deliver broad-spectrum, health-enhancing effects.

Other Common Names

Indian Ginseng
Winter Cherry
Withania somnifera

Top Benefits

Reduces stress and enhances resilience
Supports cognitive performance and memory
Enhances physical performance and energy
Promotes relaxation and better sleep
Supports healthy hormone balance

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is a small shrub native to India, North Africa, and the Middle East. Its roots and leaves have been used for centuries in Ayurveda to rejuvenate the body and mind. As a potent adaptogen, it helps the body respond to physical, mental, and emotional stress by modulating the stress response and promoting homeostasis.

Modern research confirms Ashwagandha’s ability to lower cortisol levels, improve cognitive function, and enhance sleep quality. It also plays a key role in boosting physical performance and muscle strength, making it a favorite among athletes and high-performing individuals. Its versatility further extends to supporting hormonal balance, especially in reducing symptoms related to chronic stress and fatigue.

Marco’s Grounds™ Ashwagandha Sourcing

At Marco’s Grounds™, we source our Ashwagandha from a family-owned farm in Rajasthan, India — a region known for its nutrient-rich soil and ideal climate for cultivating powerful medicinal herbs.
Grown under sustainable practices, our Ashwagandha is harvested at peak potency to ensure high concentrations of active compounds like withanolides.

Ashwagandha Dosing Principles and Rationale

Clinical studies support daily doses of 300–600 mg of standardized Ashwagandha extract, typically with at least 5% withanolides. At Marco’s Grounds™, we follow hormetic dosing principles, incorporating optimal levels to maximize benefits for stress, cognition, and physical performance — while minimizing risk of overstimulation.

For best results, Ashwagandha is taken with food, ideally in the evening to promote relaxation and restorative sleep.

Ashwagandha Key Mechanisms

1. Stress Resilience & Hormonal Balance

• Lowers cortisol levels, promoting a calm, balanced mood [1, 2]
• Modulates the HPA axis to improve stress response [3]

2. Cognitive Function

• Promotes neurogenesis and protects neurons from oxidative damage [4]
• Enhances memory, focus, and processing speed [5]

3. Physical Performance & Energy

• Improves endurance and muscle strength [6]
• Supports mitochondrial health and energy production [7]

4. Sleep & Relaxation

• Enhances sleep quality by modulating GABA activity [8]
• Reduces anxiety and promotes a sense of calm [9]

5. Healthy Aging & Immune Function

• Fights oxidative stress with potent antioxidants [10]
• Supports immune resilience and metabolic health [11]

Synergies with other Marco’s Grounds™ Ingredients

L-Theanine – Enhances relaxation and focus for stress management.
Magnesium Glycinate – Amplifies calming effects and promotes sleep.
Rhodiola Crenulata – Synergizes to improve stress resilience and energy.

References

Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). 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. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), 255–262.
Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., & Malvi, H. (2019). The effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) supplementation on biomarkers of stress and aging: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(7), 799–812.
Panossian, A., & Wikman, G. (2010). Effects of adaptogens on the central nervous system and the molecular mechanisms associated with their stress-protective activity. Pharmaceuticals, 3(1), 188–224.
Kumar, P., & Kumar, A. (2009). Possible neuroprotective effect of Withania somnifera root extract against 3-nitropropionic acid-induced behavioral, biochemical, and mitochondrial dysfunction in an animal model of Huntington’s disease. Journal of Medicinal Food, 12(3), 591–600.
Choudhary, D., Bhattacharyya, S., & Bose, S. (2017). Efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha root extract in improving memory and cognitive functions. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14(6), 599–612.
Sandhu, J. S., Shah, B., Shenoy, S., Chauhan, S., Lavekar, G. S., & Padhi, M. M. (2010). Effects of Withania somnifera and Terminalia arjuna on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. International Journal of Ayurveda Research, 1(3), 144–149.
Sood, A., Mehrotra, A., Dhawan, D. K., & Sandhir, R. (2018). Indian Ginseng (Withania somnifera) supplementation ameliorates oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in experimental models of stroke. Metabolic Brain Disease, 33(4), 1261–1274.
Bhattacharya, S. K., Bhattacharya, D., Sairam, K., & Ghosal, S. (2000). Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: An experimental study. Phytomedicine, 7(6), 463–469.
Raut, A. A., Rege, N. N., Tadvi, F. M., Solanki, P. V., Shirolkar, S. G., Kene, K. R., & Vaidya, A. B. (2012). Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha in healthy volunteers. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 3(3), 111–114.
Gupta, S. K., Dua, A., & Vohra, B. P. (2003). Withania somnifera attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper-induced lipid peroxidation. Drug Metabolism and Drug Interactions, 19(3), 211–222.
Pingali, U., Pilli, R., & Fatima, N. (2014). Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants. Pharmacognosy Research, 6(1), 12–18.