Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that helps the body adapt to fight the effects of stress, including the stress hormone cortisol, which has been implicated in numerous issues. In fact,in studies, ashwagandha has been shown to tame over-the-top cortisol levels significantly. Not only were cortisol levels brought into balance, but other benefits included increased energy, better sleep, less fatigue, healthy blood sugar levels (already in the normal range) and healthy lipid profiles.
Simultaneously, ashwagandha has been able to help bolster DHEA levels to balance cortisol out. (DHEA is often referred to as a healthy aging hormone.) As an added bonus, ashwagandha has positive effects on overall body health.
Additionally, ashwagandha exhibits positive effects on the on the nervous system, including powerful antioxidant properties that target damaging free radicals that can take over during times of stress.
Plus, ashwagandha has been shown to have an amazingly beneficial effect on brain nerve cells to help support healthy brain function.
Ashwagandha is also often referred to as “mood food.” It’s been used by Ayurvedic practitioners in India for thousands of years and is rich in flavonoids and steroidal lactones called withanolides. Withanolides are believed to help support a healthy response to stress, to bolster mental and mood outlook, immunity and energy levels.
Add that to the fact that ashwagandha can also help support healthy cells and their function, and you have a pretty awesome herb for soothing stress and much more.
And the ashwagandha in Ancient Apothecary Fermented Ashwagandha contains two powerful forms of clinically studied ashwagandha—ashwagandha root extract (5% withanolides) AND ashwagandha (root and leaf, 10% withanolides) to maximize benefits.
Take a look: Clinically Studied Ashwagandha root extract (5% withanolides) Benefits include:
Ashwagandha Extract (root and leaf, 10% withanolides) Benefits include the following in these categories: Stress:
Energy:
Mental Cognition:
Sleep:
Combined with the bioavailability-boosting, nutrient-absorbing, digestion-supporting, and healthy circulation, metabolism and energy benefits of the Organic Fermented Warming Botanical Blend PLUS the digestion- and liver-supporting and bioavailability-boosting benefits of the Organic Fermented Botanical Blend, Ancient Apothecary Fermented Ashwaganda is brimming with two forms of clinically studied ashwagandha to maximize mental focus and clarity, while promoting a healthy mood and boosting energy.
What Sets Ancient Apothecary Herbals Apart? Live Fermentation, Essential Oils Infusion, Organic Herbs & Spices, and a delivery system of Warming Botanicals and Digestive Bitters.
Ancient Apothecary Fermented Herbs are powered by fermentation—our own proprietary, patent-pending, dual-stage, live fermentation process.
What is fermentation and why is it important?
Fermentation is an ancient process used to break down food into more absorbable components. During the fermentation process, microorganisms use aerobic and anaerobic metabolism to convert food compounds into powerful metabolites.
Here are some key benefits of fermentation:
Each Ancient Apothecary Herbal formula is infused with Organic Essential Oils and CO2 extracts to provide lipo-soluble phytonutrients with powerful antioxidant properties.
The Power of Essential Oils: A Little Bit Goes a Long Way for Health
Essential oils are often referred to as the “life blood and immune system” of plants and trees. They are the concentrated oils of herbs, plants and trees—approximately 50 times more potent than the plants they come from!
For example, it takes approximately 3,000 lemons to make one kilo of lemon essential oil, while one 15mL bottom of lemon essential oil takes about 75 lemons! To go deeper, there are nearly 300 drops in a 15mL bottle, so 1 drop of lemon essential oil is made by using ¼ of a whole lemon!
Likewise, 150 pounds of lavender is necessary for just one pound of pure lavender essential oil, while one 15mL bottle of lavender oil requires 27 square feet of lavender plants. With approximately 300 drops of lavender oil in a 15mL bottle, one drop equals nearly .09 square feet of lavender plants.
The bottom line: here’s a whole lot of beneficial plant life in essential oils. These precious oils can be distilled or extracted using CO2 and bottled, and when steam distilled, essential oils keep the “frequency” that they had when they resided in the plant. Additionally, essential oils provide lipo-soluble fractions of plants. Since plants contain both water- and fat- soluble active compounds, we believe it important to consume a full spectrum of beneficial compounds. Fats and oils are required for the effective delivery of key antioxidant compounds.
Therefore, essential oils infused into herbal formulas can serve as a delivery system for these powerful botanicals.
Here’s the takeaway: Essential oils are some of Nature’s wonders, in that they serve to bring the body back into balance, thereby supporting overall health. In fact, they are extremely potent and can provide support for every bodily system.
That’s why you’ll find essential oils in each and every Ancient Apothecary Fermented Herbs.
The Importance of Organic Herbs
It’s no secret that in conventionally grown foods and herbs, farmers use a variety of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides synthetic fertilizers and many other "processing agents' which often remain in and on the food or herbs. Even washing these foods or herbs can’t get many of these off the produce.
Why? Because nearly 20 percent of the 17,000 (or more) pesticides in use today are known as systemic pesticides—those which reside inside the plant via its root system and have permeated the plant. That’s means they’re everywhere within the plants themselves and can’t be washed off.
Many studies and reports point to the adverse health effects of these chemicals in and on our food, which is why many choose to go organic. That reason alone is enough to make going organic is all the rage these days.
But another important benefit of organic food and herbs is that, because they’re grown organically, these plants are able to produce their own natural defenses against pests. As a result, these plants are more resilient and defense-supporting by nature (literally) and have some of the very compounds and natural defenses that we can and often should include in our diet. For example, the resilient antioxidants and beneficial compounds found in plants are beneficial and even necessary for our bodies so that we can keep our own defenses strong.
That’s why you’ll find these health-supporting organic herbs in each and every Ancient Apothecary Fermented Herbs.
PLUS, each Ancient Apothecary Herbal formula contains an Organic Fermented Warming Botanical Blend of black pepper, ginger, long pepper and sprouted cumin to support healthy digestion, bioavailability of nutrients, healthy circulation, metabolism and overall energy.
In Ayurveda, black pepper, long pepper and ginger are used for supporting healthy digestion, circulation, nutrient assimilation and metabolism. It is tied to the Sanskrit word trikatu, meaning three spices or three peppers. Trikatu is an Ayurvedic blend of the fruits of black pepper, long pepper and the rhizomes of ginger.
Each Ancient Apothecary Fermented Herbal formula also contains an Organic Fermented Bitter Botanical Blend of milk thistle, dandelion and peppermint to support healthy digestion and liver function as well as bioavailability of nutrients.
Bitter botanicals or "bitters" are regarded for their ability to support healthy liver function, while also supporting healthy digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, bitters can help support nervous system health and a healthy immune system as well as promoting healthy energy levels.
By combining the benefits of organic fermented botanicals, whole organic herbs and spices, hot water herbal extracts and lipo-soluble fractions, Ancient Apothecary Fermented Herbal formulas provide a full-spectrum infusion of the best that Nature has to offer!
The Importance of Cortisol-DHEA Balance
Balance is good, especially when it comes to life, diet, emotions, relationships, and even hormones.
That goes for the hormones cortisol and DHEA (sometimes referred to as the “mother of all hormones”), too.
Typically, a lovely balance between the hormones cortisol and DHEA is maintained in a person’s younger years. But just as other things can change as the years progress, the balance can become an imbalance because, as we age, DHEA levels naturally decline, sometimes sharply.
In fact, generally DHEA levels peak around age 25, and then decline at about 2% per year after that due to the natural aging process, so that can mean there is a whopping 50% decline from age 25 to 50, followed by a further decline by age 75. However, stress, an unhealthy body, sugar intake, nicotine, excess caffeine and alcohol can also take their toll on DHEA.
In DHEA’s diminished presence, cortisol’s actions aren’t kept in check and can lead to stress-related issues—and that can be a problem.
Cortisol is often referred to as a primary “stress hormone,” but it shouldn’t necessarily be villainized, since it functions as an important hormone in the body. It’s secreted by the adrenal glands and plays a role in proper glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function and the body’s natural inflammatory response.
Truth is, small increases of cortisol can give a quick burst of energy during life or death situations, boost memory functions and immunity, lower pain sensitivity and help the body maintain homeostasis.
However, too much and prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream—such as when chronic stress is in play—can negatively affect cognitive performance, thyroid function, lead to blood sugar imbalance, adversely affect muscle tissue and bone density, blood pressure, immunity, and weight..
DHEA, which is also an adrenal hormone, can balance the action of excess cortisol—supporting cognitive health, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, mood health, blood sugar health, cellular health, bone density health and more.
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