WTF is Ashwagandha?

Life is usually great, but sometimes life is also really f*cking hard.

Some days, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, stub your toe, your toddler has a public meltdown, and just have a bad day no matter how many deep breaths you take or how positive you try to be. It happens to the best of us.

So, unless you’ve got it all figured out and have truly found your inner peace no matter what life throws your way… I think we can all agree that there’s no harm in doing certain things to try and manage our lifestyles better. Whether that be our mood (and mood swings), stress, and/or sleep.

Enter: Ashwagandha.

WTF is it:

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb aka a superhero that helps your body cope with daily stressors and inflammation. It’s one of the most powerful healing herbs and is often used to treat stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and even insomnia. It’s also known to be used for fertility, higher libido (sexual energy) and increased levels of antioxidants in your blood—which helps your body fight free radicals. It can be also be applied to your face and body to help calm stressed and irritated skin.

Why Should You Try It:

Like I said in this post here, I’ve been really into working in natural remedies into my lifestyle, and ashwagandha is a natural alternative for many things. It enhances focus, helps keep you calm when getting triggered by stress, improves brain function and memory. It’s also known to boost your immune system, help with arthritis, aid in reducing levels of fat and sugar in the blood along with decreasing inflammation. The list of benefits can go on and on…

What Can You Mix it In:

Water, tea, coffee, smoothies. I like to add about 1-2 tsp of this all-natural, organic Spirit Dust from Moon Juice which has a blend of Ashwagandha and other adaptogenic super herbs to my smoothies or in my teas in the morning. If you’re more of a protein power kind of smoothie drinker, check out this one that has super-herbs like Shatavari, maca AND ashwagandha!

What Does it Taste Like?

Listen. I’ll be real with you guys- it doesn’t taste the best. It’s an acquired taste, but that’s not why we love it. It tastes kind of earthy, herbal-y, rooty and has somewhat of an odd smell to it if you’re not taking it in a vitamin/pill form (like this one from Moon Juice!) but it’s worth it.

What Does it Do For Skin?

It aids with inflammation and calms your skin from daily stressors and UV rays. This Ashwagandha moisturizer from Youth To The People is super hydrating and is especially great for sensitive skin because it’s made of adaptogenic herbs and is free of parabens and other harmful chemicals.

Does it Actually Work?

Yes! Our Editorial Director, Jane, swears by it and is a huge fan of it. She and a couple others on the CINCteam noticed they were feeling a lot calmer and were in a positive mood after consistently using it for a week. The team also noticed that it specifically helps manage anxiousness and lowers levels of cortisol (the hormone produced by our adrenal glands in response to stress), relieves tension and increases focus. We recommend that you definitely take it in the mornings before you start your day!

How Often Can I Take It?

1/2-2 teaspoons daily depending on how stressed you are. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, and/or taking any over-the-counter medicine or prescriptions, please always consult with your doctors first. We are in no way health experts or doctors but love sharing what works for us!

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So, what are your thoughts/feelings/comments on Ashwagandha? Are you ready to try it? Let us know below.

Photography by Emi Rose Website | Instagram | Hair & Makeup by Archangel Chelsea

Location: NoMad Hotel DTLA