If you've been researching ashwagandha's many incredible health benefits, you've probably come across KSM-66. The company markets it as the best way to take ashwagandha, and the global health community praises this formulation for its incredible health benefits. However, this may not be entirely accurate. There is a science to natural medicines and their effectiveness, which has to do with how manufacturers process them.
This blog will briefly delve into the health properties of ashwagandha before defining what KSM-66 is and how it's manufactured. It will explain the differences between KSM-66 and other ashwagandha formulations and compare them with AYURO Ashwagandha+. You'll have the necessary knowledge to make the correct decision about which ashwagandha to buy.
Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
Also known as Indian ginseng, ashwagandha is a plant with powerful natural healing properties. Scientific evidence shows that consuming ashwagandha has incredible benefits. Here are some of them:
1. Stress relief
Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen and has incredible stress-relieving properties. It has been used in India to treat chronic stress and anxiety for centuries because it helps the body cope with stressors naturally. By reducing stress and anxiety, this Ayurvedic medicine helps you to feel a sense of general well-being.
2. Improved sleep quality
Ashwagandha helps reduce stress, improves alertness when we wake up, and balances the body and mind. Because of these effects, taking ashwagandha can significantly improve sleep quality.
3. Stabilizes blood sugar and blood pressure
Research suggests ashwagandha helps stabilize blood pressure and reduces triglycerides and blood glucose levels. It also increases insulin secretion and improves insulin sensitivity in muscle cells. This effect may even help stabilize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
4. Increases muscle strength
By improving energy levels and physical performance during exercise with increased speed and muscle power, ashwagandha helps build strength and muscle size. It also helps reduce body fat and cholesterol levels and reduces post-workout muscle soreness.
5. Pain relief
Because it slows down the central nervous system, the active compounds in ashwagandha prevent pain signals from traveling along the system. This provides pain relief when taking ashwagandha.
6. Improves reproductive health
According to research, ashwagandha can help alleviate symptoms of sexual dysfunction in women and can rebalance reproductive hormone levels in men, improving sperm quality.
7. Supports heart health
Ashwagandha increases the maximum amount of oxygen you can take in during exercise, thus improving cardiorespiratory endurance - how well your lungs and heart deliver oxygen to muscles while physically exerting yourself.
8. Improves cognitive function
Taking ashwagandha helps improve memory and brain function, reaction times, and attention span. Clinical trials have shown promising results in using ashwagandha as a supplementary alternative medicine for treating bipolar disorder. Research has also indicated that the ashwagandha plant can reduce cognitive dysfunction and help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.
Note: Talk to a healthcare professional if you need clarification on taking ashwagandha in any form or taking it with other medications.
What is KSM-66?
KSM-66 is a branded ashwagandha root extract made from the Withania somnifera plant. It is marketed as an Ayurvedic drug containing a higher ashwagandha extract because of a proprietary extraction process. The manufacturer claims the process preserves the full spectrum of the health benefits of the Withania somnifera plant's compounds.
Since clinical trials have proved the effectiveness of ashwagandha, it's become one of the most popular supplements. Alternative health care practitioners regularly recommend KSM-66 for improving cognitive functions and energy levels and lowering stress levels. All this information makes it sound almost too good to be true. Is it? Let's explore the differences between KSM-66 and other ashwagandha supplements.
Is KSM-66 The Same As Regular Ashwagandha Extract?
Yes, and no. KSM-66 is an ashwagandha extract, but it's a different branded product, as mentioned above. Both products are made by processing Withania somnifera, the ashwagandha plant, and extracting the healthy compounds into a concentrated form of ashwagandha. The extraction method and the part/s of the plant used depend on the manufacturer and their chosen processes.
KSM-66 only contains the plant's root extract, while other forms of ashwagandha may use the roots and other parts of the plant or the entire plant. Using the whole plant has a more balanced effect on the body and may be gentler than extracts. This type of processing is in line with ancient Ayurvedic practices.
What's The Difference Between AYURO Ashwagandha+ & KSM-66?
Although both products are essentially ashwagandha, they are not the same. AYURO Ashwagandha+ contains pure ashwagandha derived from the entire plant from roots to leaf tips, as well as other ingredients that improve bioavailability and complement the treatment in different ways. It is 100% organic and made with traceable and sustainable raw materials.
KSM-66 contains a concentrated form of ashwagandha root extract.
Why Extracts Are Not The Best Option For Health Care
Ayurvedic treatment options are ancient. They come from old Ayurvedic medicine texts that specify using the plants in their whole and natural state. Each plant has several components, each with an important role. All these elements work together in synergy - part of the wonderful balance in nature.
Extract manufacturers only use specific components in the plant. For example, KSM-66 manufacturers only use the ashwagandha roots to create a potent extract. Although these extracts may have a powerful effect and bring about health improvements, some may bring more harm than good, and there are associated risks, including:
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Without the other components needed to provide a balanced herbal treatment, extracts can cause further imbalances instead of restoring the body's natural balance.
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Some extraction methods rely on harsh, toxic chemicals. There is a risk that some of the toxins remain in the final product.
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Extracting makes it significantly more challenging to trace the origin of the raw materials. It makes it impossible to know whether it is organic or sustainably sourced.
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There's a higher risk of overdose and toxicity because extracts are highly concentrated.
In summary, ashwagandha extracts are highly concentrated products processed from specific parts of the Withania somnifera plant, while pure ashwagandha is minimally processed using the entire ashwagandha plant.
At AYURO, we never use extracts in our herbal products. We're not in the position to emulate nature - it's far too beautiful and complex. We ensure that everything we manufacture is as close to its natural plant form as possible, including all of its components.
So, What's The Best Form of Ashwagandha To Take?
As we've seen above, even though all ashwagandha supplements come from the ashwagandha plant, the Withania somnifera, they may not have been prepared like Ayurvedic herbs have traditionally been prepared for centuries. Instead of using the whole plant and all the balancing effects it holds, some companies use unnatural methods to extract only some of its compounds.
It results in a highly concentrated product that may also contain toxic byproducts. Although it can provide some benefits, it could also cause physical problems, even in healthy adults. Without the balancing plant components, the Ayurvedic treatment won't give you the desired results - a balanced, healthy system.
At AYURO, we believe in sticking to Ayurvedic traditions, which also happen to be time-tested natural health care. We process the entire Withania somnifera plant into powdered form instead of using artificial methods to extract its healthy compounds. The result is pure ashwagandha, as nature intended.
