Ashwagandha Root - Marco's Grounds

Overview

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, is a revered adaptogen with a history rooted in Ayurvedic medicine. Renowned for its ability to enhance resilience to stress, improve energy levels, and support cognitive health, Ashwagandha has earned its place as one of the most researched and effective natural supplements. Its benefits are attributed to bioactive compounds like withanolides, which provide a broad spectrum of health-enhancing properties.

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 Ayurvedic medicine to rejuvenate the body and mind. Classified as an adaptogen, Ashwagandha helps the body adapt to stress by modulating the stress response and promoting homeostasis.

Modern research has confirmed Ashwagandha’s ability to reduce cortisol levels, enhance cognitive function, and improve sleep quality. It also plays a key role in promoting physical performance and muscle strength, making it a favorite among athletes and high-performing individuals. Its versatility extends to supporting hormonal balance, particularly in reducing symptoms of stress-related hormonal imbalances.

Marco’s Grounds™ Ashwagandha Sourcing

At Marco’s Grounds™, we source our Ashwagandha from a family-owned farm in Rajasthan, India. This is known for nutrient-rich soils and for cultivating premium-quality medicinal herbs. Grown under ideal climatic conditions, our Ashwagandha is harvested at peak potency to ensure high levels of active compounds like withanolides.

Ashwagandha Dosing Principles and Rationale

Clinical studies suggest effective doses of Ashwagandha extract range from 300 to 600 mg per day, standardized to at least 5% withanolides. Marco’s Grounds™ follows hormetic dosing principles, incorporating an optimal dose of Ashwagandha into our formulations for stress relief, cognitive health, and physical performance.

For best results, Ashwagandha supplements should be taken with food, preferably in the evening to promote relaxation and restorative sleep.

Ashwagandha Key Mechanisms

Stress Resilience and Hormonal Balance

Reduces cortisol levels, promoting a calm, balanced mood [1, 2].
Modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enhancing stress adaptation [3].

Cognitive Function

Promotes neurogenesis and protects neurons from oxidative damage [4].
Enhances memory, executive function, and information processing speed [5].

Physical Performance and Energy

Improves endurance and muscle strength [6].
Supports mitochondrial integrity and function, enhancing cellular energy production [7].

Sleep and Relaxation

Improves sleep quality by modulating GABAergic activity [8].
Reduces markers of anxiety, promoting a sense of calm [9].

Healthy Aging

Combats oxidative stress with potent antioxidant activity [10].
Supports immune health and metabolic function, contributing to longevity [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.