Ashwagandha – An Ayurvedic Herb to Improve Fertility
In this Article
Ashwagandha for women’s fertility continues to exist for many years. Not only has it been mentioned in Ayurvedic scriptures, but multiple studies have been conducted on it to conclude its significance and benefits. While its usage as a tonic to help men boost their vitality and strength is well-known, it also strengthens female fertility.
How Does Ashwagandha Boost Female Fertility?
The role played by Ashwagandha in a woman’s life is multifold. Not only does it nurture the fertility of the female body, but it also provides a better sexual experience for you and your partner.
1. Provides an Enhancement of Emotions and Mood
While most of us tend to look at sex and intercourse as purely a sexual activity, it is essential to note that a lot of it takes place within the mind and has been proven scientifically as well. Fertility is highly dependent on the mental makeup of the woman, which is why infertility-related problems are majorly observed in those that regularly experience anxiety or stressful situations. The intake of Ashwagandha can help soothe the mind, reduce anxiety, and even provide a better sex life.
2. Treats Uterus or Cervix That Isn’t Fully Developed
Women struggling to get pregnant because of the development abnormality of the cervix or the uterus can also be treated. While there are always medical procedures that might help treat the problem, ayurvedic remedies also exist. Most of those contain Ashwagandha, which is termed to be an important ingredient for the same.
3. Makes Reproductive Organs Healthier and Reduces Toxicity
Exposure to harmful substances via food or lifestyle can also harm fertility. Chemicals or elements like lead play a major role in that. Regularly consuming Ashwagandha can reduce the effects of these substances, keeping fertility intact.
4. Regulation of Hormones to Improve Conception Success Rate
For a successful pregnancy, the entire process of fertilization, implantation, and successful conception is important, and a lot depends on healthy hormone levels. The thyroid gland governs the secretion of those hormones in the right quantity. Ashwagandha helps streamline this secretion and reduces the presence of cortisol to keep libido high.
5. Improves the Strength of Reproductive Organs
The sex drive and chances of conception are not simply related to mood and other biological aspects. Women’s reproductive organs must be fit and able to respond positively. Ashwagandha acts as a tonic and keeps the reproductive system optimal.
6. Elevates the Level of Sexual Functioning in Women
Sex is not just an act of intercourse to conception. It is a union of two partners, physically and emotionally. The rush of trying to get pregnant can reduce the emotional aspect of the act, leaving the woman unsatisfied and frustrated. Intake of Ashwagandha can help a female body respond better to intercourse and make it easier to achieve pleasure and conceive.
7. Improvement in the Health of the Eggs in a Woman
Along with the balance of hormones, the eggs the ovaries produce are healthy. Ashwagandha contains antioxidant properties, which are vital in protecting the eggs from external harm. It also helps fight off any infection and maintains an optimal response of the ovaries to bodily signals.
How Does Ashwagandha Stimulate Male Fertility?
The usage of Ashwagandha for male fertility is not unheard of. It is a herb that affects both sexes in ways – boosts the factors responsible for better fertility and increases the chances of having a baby together.
1. Treating the Harmful Effects of Smoking
Smoking in men has been directly linked to the presence of low sperm count, improper sperm development, as well as low motility. These effects take a long time to return to normalcy. Ashwagandha helps correct this exposure to lead and cadmium, improving the physical structure of the sperm’s tubular shape.
2. Takes Care of Mood Disorders Like Anxiety and Depression
Just like in women, the effects of stress, depression and anxiety can be observed in the low sexual health of men as well. Such mood disorders cause an increased secretion of cortisol as a bodily response to danger. Ashwagandha helps keep these instances in check and protects your fertility.
3. Protects the Sperms From Damage Due to Oxidation
Sperms are highly sensitive to increased levels of oxidation, causing them to suffer damage that leads to structural abnormalities and reduced functioning. The presence of cortisol can also increase oxidative damage. Ashwagandha contains antioxidant properties that reduce oxidation. It puts a stop to the development of reactive oxygen species and keeps the fat layers protected.
4. Improves Libido and Sexual Health
While sperms are one aspect towards fertility, men also need to maintain the proper healthiness of their testicles and the tubes that house the sperms and carry them ahead. Ashwagandha keeps men’s reproductive organs healthy and boosts the sex drive.
5. Balances Hormone Levels
In men, testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels ought to be high, while other hormones, including follicle-stimulating ones, need to be low. Ashwagandha helps maintain this balance which increases the metabolism in sperms and reduces infertility.
6. Improves the Quality of Semen
The semen, which is a combination of salts, vitamins and acids, is essential in transporting the sperm to the egg. Any disturbance in the biochemistry of the fluid can harm the sperm easily. Ashwagandha helps reset the balance of various elements and protect the sperms.
7. Better Sperm Count, Motility and Volume
A successful conception can be attained if the sperms are present in a large number, in substantial portions of semen, and are fast enough to swim to the egg before they are destroyed. Ashwagandha has shown remarkable improvement in these factors.
Ashwagandha Libido-Boosting Recipe
A preparation from Ashwagandha can act as an aphrodisiac, allowing libido levels to be boosted as well as improving the fertility in the body.
Ingredients
- Black gram & velvet beans (250g)
- Jivaka, Vira, Meda, Shatavari, Madhuka, Ashwagandha (1 tablespoon)
- Cow’s milk (3 cups)
- Ghee, vida juice, iksu juice (1/4th cup)
- Date sugar/honey(1 tablespoon)
Directions
- Make sure the grains are harvested fresh. Mix them with all the herbs like Vira, Shatavari, and Ashwagandha.
- Boil them all together until their volume reduces to a quarter, and filter the solution.
- Add the milk, ghee, and iksu juice to it and cook it on a low flame.
- Follow up with sugar or honey for sweetness. Remove from the heat.
- Eat around a quarter cup of this mixture before a meal.
How Much Ashwagandha Should You Take Daily?
Ashwagandha dosage for fertility is not specified exactly in texts. There have been instances where even the consumption of 75mg of Ashwagandha has shown its effects. At the same time, around 6g of Ashwagandha extract is also found to be safe without any harmful effects. Therefore, as a benchmark, it is good to have around two teaspoons or roughly 800mg of Ashwagandha daily, especially if it is to be consumed for a long time.
FAQs
The intake of Ashwagandha extract and ayurvedic herbs always meets with a few questions that are usually concerned with its supplemental effects and harmful possibilities, if any.
1. Does Ashwagandha Help Erectile Dysfunction?
While it is pretty evident that Ashwagandha is good for fertility, men often wonder if the same can be used to treat erectile dysfunction as well. In most cases, erectile dysfunction results from psychological factors or lifestyle choices. No amount of Ashwagandha or any erection-stimulating medication can cure the dysfunction unless the root problem is resolved.
However, if the dysfunction results from a health condition or habits such as smoking, Ashwagandha may be useful in returning the libido.
2. Are There Any Side Effects of Consuming Ashwagandha?
Although Ashwagandha is safe, there is a certain risk of side effects due to its consumption by a particular group of people and overconsumption. Some of the major ones are:
- Risk of premature delivery
- Increased problems with the thyroid gland
- Allergic reactions as well as feverish symptoms
- Drowsiness combined with a drop in sugar level
Understanding the link between Ashwagandha fertility and conception can help you make the right decision regarding its consumption. While its intake is absolutely beneficial to the body, it is also important to make the right lifestyle choices in the long run. While thinking of opting for any herbal remedy like Ashwagandha or over-the-counter remedy like Ashwagandha capsules to treat infertility, it is advised to consult a doctor and take their advice before consumption.
References/Resources:
1. Ambiye. V. R, Langade. D, Dongre. S, et al.; Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study; Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863556/; 2013
2. Tais. S; Ashwagandha for Male Infertility; Natural Medicine Journal; https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/ashwagandha-male-infertility; April 2014
3. Garner-Wizard. M, Henson. S, Hoots. D et al.; Ashwagandha Root Found to Improve Fertility, Antioxidant and Hormone Levels, and Semen Quality in Infertile Men; American Botanical Council; https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbclip/issues/bin_399/review120695-399/; April 2010
4. Sengupta. P, Agarwal. A, et al.; Role of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in the
management of male infertility; Reproductive Biomedicine Online; Cleveland Clinic; https://www.clevelandclinic.org/reproductiveresearchcenter/docs/publications/687_Role_of_Withania_somnifera_Ashwagandha_in_the.pdf
5. Benefits of Ashwagandha and How Much to Take; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-ashwagandha/
6. Bhattacharya. S. K, Bhattacharya. A, Sairam. K, Ghosal. S; Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study; Phytomedicine, Volume 7, Issue 6, Pages 463-469; ScienceDirect; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711300800306?via%3Dihub; December 2000
7. Lopresti. A. L, Smith. S. J, Malvi. H, Kodgule. R; An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study; Medicine (Baltimore); PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6750292/; September 2019
8. Azgomi. R, Zomorrodi. A, et al.; Effects of Withania somnifera on Reproductive System: A Systematic Review of the Available Evidence; Biomed Res Int.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5833251/; January 2018
9. Ashwagandha; LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]; Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548536/; Updated May 2019
10. Benefits of Ashwagandha and How Much to Take; TSMP; https://www.tsmp.com.au/blog/ashwagandha-benefits-for-women.html; April 2023
11. Singh. N, Bhalla. M, de Jager. P, Gilca. M; An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda; Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/; July 2011
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