Ashwagandha and Ginseng: Herbs for All Seasons
Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera, a modest shrub that grows from the Mediterranean region all the way through India, has a root that is a powerhouse of healthy compounds that benefit people of many stages of life. It is also known as Indian ginseng because of its wide-ranging benefits that mirror those of the time-honored Korean and American ginseng.
Energy and Acuity
As one of the better-studied and easily accessible herbs, ashwagandha is already known in the body-building community for boosting mental acuity, endurance and testosterone levels in young people who are already in good physical form. A recent study focusing on youth in particular found that the herb improved quality of sleep, cognitive function and anxiety in young people so significantly that the researchers strongly suggested that further studies be carried out to explore the herb’s impact on cognitive and energy decline in old age.
Calming and Self-Regulation
Ashwagandha also shows fascinating effects on anxiety and stress, reducing both. This is because ashwagandha interacts with the same receptors for Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Inhibitory neurotransmitters block the tremendous amount of sensory input that otherwise would overwhelm the brain, acting as gateways that let in only the more significant neural inputs. GABA supplements have greatly improved quality of life for children with sensory difficulties and autistic-type symptoms.
For example, a toddler with a wide range of sensory sensitivities went from waking up over six times per night and constantly melting down during noisy events or new situations to being able to sleep normally and enjoy life again after taking GABA and taurine supplements. (Taurine is an amino acid that interacts with GABA receptors.) He was later able to wean off the supplements with a careful diet that included fish oil, which seemed to allow him to produce enough of his own GABA. So, a similar effect from ashwagandha is particularly interesting to those looking for natural help for sensory issues.
Ashwagandha also contains tryptophan, which is converted in the body to serotonin, a mood-elevating neurotransmitter that also acts as a hormone. This likely accounts for the traditional use of this herb for regulating sleep, calming anxiety, and elevating mood. Moreover, the herb shares many adaptogenic effects—decreasing inflammation and regulating cortisol, making it an exceptionally well-rounded supplement for increasing energy and decreasing stress.
So, how does this shrubby root packed with fascinating biochemical compounds impact human fertility in particular? As the herb’s influence on the entire endocrine system has become known, so have its benefits for both male and female fertility.
Male Fertility
Ashwagandha has beneficial effects on the male reproductive system because of its strong antioxidant effects. However, it also contains biochemical compounds called withanolide derivatives, in reference to the herb’s scientific name Withania somnifera. These compounds interact with the endocrine system, affecting the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands and reproductive organs. The results included improved sperm count and motility, likely due to the antioxidant effects. Moreover, because of its interaction with the endocrine system, the herb also regulates production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), improving male fertility.
Ashwagandha appears to counteract infertility that is a result of mineral imbalances and contaminants. For example, iron overload can result in infertility in both men and women. Ashwagandha has strong iron chelating effects which appear to be at least as effective as current medicines for the same conditions, with the combination of antioxidant effects and endocrine-related effects increasing male reproductive hormones.
Female Fertility
Ashwagandha is better known for its benefits for men, but it is also of interest for women’s health. In addition to the general stress-reducing benefits, its interaction with the endocrine system is helpful in regulating irregular periods, decreasing PMS, and alleviating symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This appears to be related not just to the effect on reproductive hormones, but also because the herb exhibits blood sugar stabilizing effects. Unlike in men, the herb has not been shown to increase testosterone in women, but rather it improves overall metabolism and ovarian function. Ashwagandha has also been studied as an anti-cancer treatment, increasing survival rate by a stunning twenty percent in one trial, and it has even shown promise as a treatment for triple negative breast cancer, a particularly difficult type of cancer to treat.
Ginseng Connection
Though they are quite different in type and distribution, ashwagandha is well-named as Indian ginseng because its benefits are similar to the Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Studies have found similarities in the benefits between with anolides in ashwagandha and ginsenoside compounds found in ginseng. Ginsenosides benefit male fertility, even appearing to remediate damage to the testes from the common plastic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). Moreover, a preliminary study suggests that ginsenosides may remediate damage to female fertility caused by cell phone radiation, which affects the hormonal connection between the pituitary gland and the ovaries.
As with all herbs, ashwagandha and ginseng should be taken in consultation with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. Multiple studies indicate that these herbs generally do not produce significant side-effects, but a single case study suggested that the cortisol-reducing effect, while calming in appropriate amounts, may be strong enough to temporarily drive adrenal function excessively low if taken for ten weeks straight, necessitating a two-week off period to reset before resuming supplements. And, many supplements could interact with conventional medications, especially if they have similar effects. So, as with any supplement, consultation and moderation in the use is advisable.
Benefits
Overall, the wide-ranging benefits of these herbs plus the lack of significant side effects has caught the attention of researchers looking for safer natural alternatives for conventional medicines, and this herb shows great promise for those looking to boost their energy and health.
Written for Family Foundations magazine by Rosemary Shannon Imrick. Rosemary is mother to thirteen children by birth and international adoption, and homeschools her children along with her husband Michael in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A freelance writer and copy editor, she taught English Composition at Purdue University Fort Wayne for sixteen years. She now manages Shannon Haven, an agricultural business dedicated to continuing the Shannon family legacy.
Marilyn Shannon, Rosemary’s mother, wrote Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition, which also contains helpful information for optimizing male and female fertility. Find the book in the CCL store. Find more healthy recipes and information about PCOS in our book combo: Food for Fertility & PCOS.
References
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References Continued
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