Too much stress knocks your bodyâs natural rhythms out of whack â [Click here](1770d7/ct0_0/1/ms?sid=TV2%3APrpckDhx5) to view this message in your browser | [Click here](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3APrpckDhx5) to stop receiving our messages [] [] Al Sears, MD
11905 Southern Blvd.
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 [] May 10, 2023 [] Reader, Too much stress knocks your bodyâs natural rhythms out of whack â including your libido. But an Indian adaptogen can turn that around. Iâm talking about ashwagandha. The name roughly translates to âstrength of a stallionâ in Sanskrit â giving you a clue as to how well-regarded this libido booster is. More on that in a moment... I first learned about this herb when I was studying traditional healing at the worldâs oldest existing school of Ayurvedic medicine in Kerala, India. Itâs considered one of the most powerful adaptogens known to exist. Adaptogens are a combination of plant-based phytochemicals that reduce your stress response. They help your body deal with external stresses like environmental toxins and internal stressors like anxiety. And reducing levels of stress can be lifesaving. Of course, itâs normal to go through the occasional ups and downs of daily stress. This âfight or flightâ alarm system used to get activated only for short periods when you were under attack. Your body would release stress hormones like cortisol, but when the attack was over, your hormones would immediately re-balance themselves. This worked well in our native environment. Stressors didnât last days or months. But today, we live in a different world. The environment has changed so quickly that your body hasnât caught up. Itâs no secret that stress can be deadly. It weakens your immune system... It increases your risk of heart disease... It allows cancer to spread six times faster. And it sabotages your love life. Ayurvedic healers have used ashwagandha to relieve stress hormones for thousands of years. And todayâs research proves it works... In a randomized study from India, researchers followed 64 people with a history of chronic stress and insomnia. Twice a day, half the group took 300 mg of ashwagandha. The other half got a placebo.1 After two months, the ashwagandha group reduced their cortisol levels by 28%. They also reported that, on average, they had: - 44% less stress
- 76% fewer symptoms of stress
- 70% better sleep
- 80% less depression In another six-week study, 88% of people who took ashwagandha reported a reduction in anxiety, compared with 50% of those who took a placebo.2 Boost blood flow below Killer stress has also been linked to sexual dysfunction. But ashwagandha can help. Studies show this adaptogen can: - Increase testosterone. Writing in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers tested the testosterone-promoting effects of ashwagandha on men. By the end of the study, the men had a 10-22% increase in testosterone levels. - Boost levels of the stress-busting hormone DHEA. A recent study found that the herb increases DHEA levels by 18%. This is important because DHEA is a testosterone precursor that converts excess estrogen into testosterone.3 - Lower oxidative stress. Oxidative stress puts strain on your testicles and may decrease your sperm count, damage sperm DNA, and cause infertility.4 Ashwagandha increases a key enzyme found in all living cells that fights oxidative stress and boosts your antioxidant levels (7).5 But the benefits donât stop there. Ashwagandha improves blood circulation and improves sexual desire and pleasure â in both men and women. Research shows it can boost sexual desire within just three days.6 In fact, the legendary Kama Sutra â the ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality â describes ashwagandha as one of the most powerful sexual stimulants. It works by stimulating the production of nitric oxide. In one study, participants taking the herb had a dramatic increase in nitric oxide production (NO). Because NO is a vasodilator, it relaxes the inner muscles of your blood vessels, causing them to widen. This dilation increases blood flow to the genitals, leading to increased sexual desire. Ashwagandha is available as a dried root powder or capsule. Take 300 mg to 500 mg every day. You might see âtamanolidesâ and âwithaferinâ on the product label. These are the nutrients that give the herb its incredible power. They have been added to enhance the potency of the supplement. When choosing a supplement, look for 100% organic and without artificial flavors or colors. Try moon milk to relax and revitalize your love life One of my favorite ways to use ashwagandha is as a warming drink. Taken before bed, it quickly soothes anxiety and makes you feel relaxed and ready for whatever you desire... Hereâs a recipe I learned when I was studying with the ancient healers in India. They call it moon milk. Ingredients: ⤠1 cup whole milk
⤠¼ teaspoon ground ashwagandha
⤠½ teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
⤠½ teaspoon ground turmeric
⤠1/8 teaspoon each ground ginger and ground nutmeg
⤠Freshly ground black pepper
⤠1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil
⤠1 teaspoon raw honey Directions: - Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. - Stir in ashwagandha, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and nutmeg. - Season with black pepper and whisk briskly to avoid any lumps. - Add coconut oil, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes. Keep in mind the longer you heat, the stronger the medicine. - Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in honey and enjoy. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS --------------------------------------------------------------- References: 1. Chandrasekhar K, et al. âA 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.â Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34(3):255-262.
2. Andrade C. âA double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera.â Indian J Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;42(3):295-301.
3. Lopresti A, et al. âA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha...â Am J Menâs Health. 2019 Mar-Apr; 13(2): 1557988319835985.
4. Asadi N, et al. âThe impact of oxidative stress on testicular function and the role of antioxidants in improving it: a review.â J Clin Diagn Res. 2017 May; 11(5): IE01âIE05.
5. Kuchewar V, et al. âEvaluation of antioxidant potential of Rasayana drugs in healthy human volunteers.â AYU. January 2014;35(1):46-49.
6. Archana R, et al. âAntistressor effect of Withania somnifera.â J Ethnopharmacol. 2016:64(1):91-93. alsearsmd@send.alsearsmd.com [Preferences | Unsubscribe](1770d7/l-002e/zout?sid=TV2%3APrpckDhx5) 11905 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411, United States