Ashvagandha (Withania somnifera /Winter cherry /Indian ginseng)

Ayurvedic herbal medicine has recommended ashvagandha for thousands of years as a “brain herb” and energy tonic. Simply put, ashvagandha reconnects the circuits in the brain that have been broken by stress, helping reduce anxiety, relieving depression, infusing vital energy and restoring a calm mind. And crucially, Ashvagandha also bolsters the immune system. Laboratory studies suggest that this herb is an adaptogen (a natural herb product that can help increase the body's resistance to stress, anxiety, trauma and fatigue) which increases the activity of healthy tissues to withstand infection and toxic exposure. It helps normalize physiological functions whether they are ‘too fast’ or ‘too slow’. And importantly it has no side effects, such as addiction, generally associated with ‘silver bullet’ allopathic drugs.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemous/ Wild asparagus)

The name Shatavari means ‘one which has many roots’. It is greatly useful in reducing the long term effects of a stressful lifestyle. It is beneficial to both men and women. The herb exerts its effects not on the reproductive tract, but rather on the digestive tract. Shatavari ensures that metabolic energies go downward in the body rather than up. It helps food metabolize quickly and keeps gas from building up in the colon.

Capsule Composition
Each vege capsule contains:
• Asparagus racemous (root) (Shatavari) 275 mg
• Withania somnifera (root) (Ashvagandha) 110 mg
• Excipients q.s.
Each pack contains 30 vege capsules.

In today’s fast paced lives most of us suffer from stress, be it related to personal or professional issues. Westerners describe stress as a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences, capable of affecting physical and mental health. High powered job pressures, domestic strife, financial instabilities, addiction to alcohol & smoking, traffic snarls, meeting deadlines, growing-up tensions, problems with relationships etc would all be causes of stress, putting both the mind and body out of sync.
Ayurveda terms stress as the result of self-centered actions that forget the rhythms of the universe. Disturbance on a spiritual level becomes disturbance on a physical level in two different ways. Ayurveda says that when ‘prana vata’ (moves “life force” from food into the body) and ‘vyana vata’ (energies that originate in the heart and circulate throughout the entire body) are imbalanced; it results in increased anxiety and stress levels.

Symptoms of Stress:
How can you cope with stress and anxiety? The trick lies in recognizing the symptoms at an early stage. Increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, inability to focus properly, fatigue and depression are some of the most common stress-related diseases.                        

Our hectic schedules generally prevent us from being aware of our physical and mental well being. Lack of time and energy prevent timely and corrective actions, and as a result the stress induced adverse feelings and anxieties often escalate. Insufficient knowledge and experimentation with various stress management techniques can prove to be dangerous. This is where our daytime stress formula ‘Usha’ can act as an excellent cure for overcoming stress. Made using time-tested and proven herbs, it rejuvenates both the mind and body. It has been especially formulated keeping in mind the over worked, over stressed individual - helping greatly in calming the senses and boosting energy levels… all day long!
 

Recent studies have shown that ashvagandha and shatavari compared favorably with some of the existing drugs available in the market regarding their effectiveness for anti-depressant, antiulcer properties.
In an experimental study conducted to gauge the anxiolytic-antidepressant ability of ashvagandha (Glycowithanolides), both ashvagandha and Lorazepam (Lorazepam (Ativan) forms a part of the group of drugs called benzodiazepines and is used to treat anxiety disorders) reduced brain levels of tribulin (an endocoid marker of clinical anxiety). ashvagandha also exhibited an anti-depressant effect comparable with that of Imipramine (Imipramine belongs to the dibenzazepine group and is an antidepressant medication, a tricyclic antidepressant, mainly used in the treatment of clinical depression and enuresis).
Ayurvedic studies suggest that ashvagandha acts as a mood stabilizer in clinical conditions of anxiety and depression.
A study conducted for antiulcer and antioxidant activity of ashvagandha and shatavari, indicated an increase in antioxidant defense, that is, enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbic acid, increased significantly, whereas a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed. (shatavari was more effective in reducing gastric ulcer, whereas ashvagandha was effective in stress-induced gastric ulcer.) Results obtained for both herbal drugs were comparable to those of the standard allopathic drug Ranitidine.      

Ayurveda terms stress as the result of self-centered actions that forget the rhythms of the universe. Disturbance on a spiritual level becomes disturbance on a physical level in two different ways. Ayurveda says that when ‘prana vata’ (moves “life force” from food into the body) and ‘vyana vata’ (energies that originate in the heart and circulate throughout the entire body) are imbalanced; it results in increased anxiety and stress levels.