Anecdote of Ashwagandha and its benefits for Skin and Hair

One fine evening, in Andretta—a quaint village located in the lap of the Himalayas—a young girl rushes to her grandmother. “Nani, I'm not able to sleep. Can you tell a story like in childhood?” Sure, my love; let me tell you a story about a young princess of a Himalayan kingdom.

OMG, a story about a princess. I'm already excited, Nani says, the granddaughter.

(The young girl lays down her head in her lap, and Nani starts narrating the story.)

So, in a small kingdom in the Himalayas, there lived a princess named “Bhairavi”—the” only child of King Vasu. Bhairavi not only possessed great wisdom but was also a virtuoso archer.She had a great name among the people, and she was actively involved in the state affairs of her kingdom.

Despite being so accomplished, there was something that distressed the princess.

“What could distress such an accomplished princess who had everything? asks the granddaughter curiously.

Well, my love, despite having everything, one thing that troubled her was her acute skin issues and hair fall. Like every person, she was also conscious of her looks, and rightly so.

“Alas! Not even the princess could escape the matrix of hair fall and troubled skin, says the young girl sarcastically.

“Quite true, replies the grandmother smilingly.

“Ok, Nani, please tell me what happened afterwards.". - requests the granddaughter.

(The Nani then resumes narrating the story.)

The princess tried so many things, but her skin couldn’t improve. In fact, it only worsened over time.

One fine day, she was sitting at the bank of a river, quite sad and depressed. That's when a sage’s glance fell upon her, who was just passing by.The sage went to her and asked, “Why are you sitting here like this, daughter?

“Pranam Rishivar, I’m sitting here, regretting my life,” replies the princess.

Quite a surprising thing, the daughter of great King Vasu is regretting her life. May I ask, what’s troubling you, Bhairavi?

Look at me, swamy, how pale and ugly I look. What's the point of all this wealth and splendor if it can't protect my hair and skin?

Wealth cannot buy you health, your highness.It's a god's gift, but it is also true that God has provided a solution to every problem. One just needs to explore it. - replies the sage

I've explored enough, Rishivar.There’s no solution for my problem, says the dejected princess.

The scribe smiles and says, Your highness, I have a solution for your problem.

(This line brought sparkle in the eyes of the princess.)

Out of hope, she asks, What's that, Rishivar?

“Ashwagandha” 

What’s Ashwagandha, Rishivar?

Ashwagandha is the magical cure that will take away your ailment, says the sage. The sage then gives her a description of ashwagandha and tells her that she’ll find it in the Himalayan jungle.

Bhairavi then goes back to her palace and directs one of the soldiers to go and find Ashwagandha. The soldier went to the Himalayan jungle and began searching for that magical ingredient. In a few days, he returned to the palace with Ashwagandha.

The sight of Ashwagandha brought a big fat smile to the face of Bhairavi. The princess then started applying Ashwagandha on her face and scalp. In a few days, she started seeing the result, and in the span of a few months, the ashwagandha halted her hair fall and made her skin beautiful and brighter than ever.

The lush hair and radiant skin increased her confidence tenfold, which ultimately helped her to be a better version of herself.

Quite an intriguing story, Nani. I've heard about Ashwagandha in TV ads; does it really work and can you tell me more about it?

Sure, beta- says the grandmother and starts explaining Ashwagandha and its various benefits.

Unfolding Ashwagandha

“Ashwagandha” is  an evergreen shrub found in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It derives its name from Sanskrit word Ashwa and gandha which translates into “ smell of horse”.The ashwagandha contains various bioactive components that help in curing different issues pertaining to skin, hair, and others.

The Ashwagandha finds its footprints in the ancient Indian renowned text like Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, where it is used as a key ingredient to treat various ailments.

Benefits for Skin and Hair

Do you know, my child, that the Ashwagandha has been historically known for its bioactive properties that help in recharging skin with vital components?

What are these vital components, Nani, and how does it help? Asks the granddaughter

See, there are certain components that are prerequisite for healthier skin and hair ,these includes antioxidants like luteolin and polyphenols, vitamin C, and other enzymes. Ashwagandha being the rich source of these components drives the growth and betterment of skin and hair.From reducing the signs of early aging like wrinkles, dark spots, and fine lines to protecting our skin from the sun, the versatility of ashwagandha makes it more and more desirable. And this is not it; the ashwagandha also helps our skin in locking moisture and providing a plump look.

It is indeed a wonderful product, Nani. Can you shed some light on how it helps our hair?

Sure, my love. Let's dive in to know how it can be beneficial for our hair, replied the grandmother.

Aside from making our skin more radiant than ever, the properties of ashwagandha cast their spell on hair as well.

Balding- the most scariest thing for a person can be avoided if we use Ashwagandha.When we apply it either in the form of paste or oil ,the antioxidants present in ashwagandha rejuvenate our scalp which helps in strengthening the hair follicles that ultimately results in a decline in hair fall. In addition to this, the ashwagandha also boosts the production of melanin that helps us to prevent greying.

That’s interesting, but Nani, I wanted to ask, does ashwagandha really help in hair growth? Asks the curious young girl.

Yes, it does; the ashwagandha eliminates the root causes of hair fall, like dandruff, stress, anxiety, and others. So once our head is free from these factors, it allows healthy growth of our hair.

How to use Ashwagandha for Hair and Skin?

“Nani, I understood how it helps, but can you tell me how we can use it?” asks the young girl.

Why not, my child? Let's go ahead.

Ashwagandha, a storehouse of benefits, is available in various forms. However, in general it is used in two ways:

(a) Orally (b) Topically

How can we use it orally, Nani?

There are few ways in which we can use Ashwagandha orally.They are:

1. The Ashwagandha tablets are available in the stores,this is the simplest way to consume it.However, one should consume tablets only upon the advice of ayurvedic doctor as per the prescription.

2. Another way is to combine ashwagandha powder with honey and ghee in any container, whisk it for a while till it mixes, then use it twice a day for optimal results.

3. In addition to the given methods , we can also intake ashwagandha powder with a glass of milk every day before going to bed.

But in case one doesn't want to consume it orally, we can apply it topically as well.

For using it topically:

1. We can prepare face packs and toners at home or purchase them from stores and use them as per given directions for even, flawless, and radiant skin.

2. People use ashwagandha oil as well.We can massage our face or scalp using ashwagandha oil to provide nourishment to our skin and hair.

3. Aside from these two, we can use ashwagandha shampoo and conditioners as well to reduce hair fall and boost hair growth.

DIY Recipes of Ashwagandha

For instance, if you want to avoid purchasing ashwagandha products from the market, you can prepare them at your home as well by following a few simple steps:

For making Face Masks

• In order to make a face pack, take ashwagandha powder, mix it with enough water. Your face pack will be ready to use.
• You can apply it on your face and neck, leave it for 12-15 mins, and then cleanse it using wet cotton or water for desired results.

For making Face Toner

• To make face toner, add ghee and honey to ashwagandha powder.
• Transfer it into a bottle, and use it as per your skincare schedule.

Wow! That's really cool, Nani.Tell me one more thing: Can everybody use it? Asks the young granddaughter.

Yes, beta, everyone can use it. It is completely safe, but yes, there are some precautions that must be taken into account.

Precautions for using Ashwagandha

• Overconsumption: You must have heard a popular saying “Excess of everything is bad”  well it's true in case of ashwagandha as well.If you consume ashwagandha consecutively for more than 3 months, instead of giving desired result it may show adverse effects on your body.. The excessive consumption of ashwagandha might lead to side-effects like Vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach irritation. In rare instances, it might also harm the liver.

• Pregnancy:There have been cases where the consumption of ashwagandha has caused misscarriage.Hence, in order to eliminate this risk, one should completely avoid ashwagandha during pregnancy.

• Others: You shouldn't use ashwagandha-containing lotions for longer than two months. Your skin may suffer if you use it more frequently for an extended period of time.  

Important Note: In case a person is undergoing any medical treatment, he/she should consume or apply ashwagandha only after consultation with their doctor For instance, when ashwagandha is combined with diabetic medication, it may cause a significant drop in blood sugar levels.

Summation

“So, my love, I’ve given you detailed disclosures on Ashwagandha and its properties; apologies if the story turned into a boring lecture, said the elderly grandmother smilingly.

No, Nani.I’m so glad that you enlightened me about this unique Indian ingredient that carries tons of benefits.This whole story cum explanation on Ashwagandha indeed has pushed me into thinking about our very own heritage and how there’s almost a solution to every issue that we face. But despite having such a rich legacy, most of us are unaware of these things, which I feel is a matter of displeasure.

“Ashwagandha,” as you called the Indian ginseng, is indeed a storehouse of salubrious components, which is nothing short of a boon for skin and hair. This is a purely natural extract; hence, it's a safer substitute for the chemical-based skincare product. I truly believe that if we use it properly by considering factors like our skin type, allergies, and other underlying medical conditions, it will be a major boost for our skin and hair health.

Nani, I genuinely feel it's an era of going back to the lap of nature, said the granddaughter in optimism.

Well, it's impressive to know that you think like this, and I'm glad, but it’s too late now; you should go to bed, replied Nani.

(After wishing good night, they both headed to their rooms.)

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Shubhr Kumkumadi Skin Glow Oil | Body Polishing & Nourishing

Niraa Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Body Lotion for Skin Firming and Moisturization ( 12 herbs, 200ml)

Niraa Warm Vanilla & Sugar Body Lotion with Plant Based Vitamin E for Ultra Hydration (12 herbs, 200ml)

Women's Vitamin C Face Cream for Skin Brightening & Radiance Boost (13 herbs, 50g)

Women's Sandalwood Face Cream for Even Skin Tone and Skin Brightening (13 herbs, 50g)

Balalakshadi Jasmine Bath & Body Massage Oil | Skin Hydration & Relaxation

Related Articles:

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References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121003287

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-953/ashwagandha