Ashwagandha Benefits for the Skin

Ashwagandha, also known as “Indian ginseng” and “winter cherry”, is a medicinal herb that is native to India and Southeast Asia. It is a small shrub with yellow flowers, and the roots or leaves of this plant are used to make ashwagandha powder or extract. Because of its prominent role in relieving a variety of physical, chemical, and biological stress, ashwagandha is widely regarded as an adaptogen. In simpler terms, ashwagandha is an organic energy and mood booster. Therefore, ashwagandha uses are predominantly for relaxation and revitalisation.

Having understood the basics about this natural, medicinal herb, let’s take a look at some ashwagandha uses for skin.

Aside from ashwagandha benefits for relaxation and mind rejuvenation, the herb also has several benefits for the skin and is therefore incorporated in several skincare products. Here are some ashwagandha uses for skin:

Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation is the body’s way of reacting to toxins, infections, and trauma. Under normal circumstances, the body works on an anti-inflammatory response to restore balance. In certain conditions, however, the body finds it challenging to control this inflammation and the effects of this imbalance can be seen on the skin. In such cases, one can rely on ashwagandha to aid with chronic and excessive inflammation because the herb boasts effective anti-inflammatory properties. Simply make yourself a steaming cup of ashwagandha tea by boiling and straining the roots of the herb in water.

Anti-Ageing

Telomerase is an important enzyme that plays a prominent role in the process of ageing. The extracts from the roots of ashwagandha can boost the activity of telomerase, thereby increasing the lifespan of healthy skin cells. They prevent the loss of telomerase which helps delay the effects of skin ageing.

The antioxidant properties of ashwagandha battle the symptoms of ageing, such as wrinkles, dark spots, and blemishes. It makes the skin firm thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles and making it look younger.

As ashwagandha can lower the cortisol levels in your body, it can also help battle stress and its subsequent impact on the skin. It is also known to boost the formation of collagen, which can reverse skin damage by enhancing the cell regeneration process. All these factors combine to make the skin look younger and healthier.

Relieving Skin Stress

The alkaloids in ashwagandha work on the nervous system to aid in the reduction of depression and anxiety. Both these ailments can directly impact the skin of the individual. And so, in addition to checking if your medical insurance includes coverage for mental illnesses, individuals can also include ashwagandha to help with their symptoms. However, checking with your doctor before using ashwagandha is imperative to ensure it does not interfere with any ongoing treatments.

For conditions such as keratosis that causes rough, dry, and damaged skin, ashwagandha can help in the relaxation of the skin tissue to improve the health of your skin.

Reducing Oil Secretion

Oily skin can be greatly distressing as it can inflate acne problems. However, if one uses ashwagandha powder for the face, they can ensure that their skin remains clean and oil-free. Moreover, ashwagandha can help reverse the damage inflicted by the chemical-infused creams available in the market. This is because ashwagandha naturally controls the production of oil, thereby reducing the problems accompanying oily skin.

Hyperpigmentation

Excessive melanin synthesis can cause hyperpigmentation that can lead to the darkening of the skin in certain places. However, ashwagandha can control the overproduction of melanin in the skin to cure hyperpigmentation.

Skin Hydration

Ashwagandha helps boost the formation of hyaluronan in the skin, which contributes to hydrated and healthy-looking skin. It infuses the skin with ample hydration to keep it moisturised. This helps the skin appear soft and smooth.

Having learned the several benefits of ashwagandha for the skin, let’s learn how to incorporate this magic herb into your skincare routine:

As a face pack: You can use ashwagandha powder for your face as face pack. Fortunately, this is widely available in the market. You simply have to mix the ashwagandha powder with water for a paste-like consistency, apply it on your face, and wash it off with water once it dries.

As a toner: You can use ashwagandha as a face toner to remove excess oil from your face, reduce the appearance of pores, and keep the skin moisturised.

These are topical ways ashwagandha uses for the skin. Conversely, you can take ashwagandha orally by combining the ashwagandha powder with a glass of milk or making a paste of it with honey and ghee.

Health insurance is an essential financial product that provides financial assistance when the insured member faces a medical emergency. However, every insurance seeker must check the scope and coverage of their medical insurance to know whether it covers specific ailments such as skin problems.

Typically, one will have to enhance their basic health insurance plan to cover complicated skin concerns such as skin cancer. However, if you suffer from a specific skin ailment, you can check with your insurance provider if they can include it in your medical insurance.

The comprehensive health insurance plan by Tata AIG can be customised to accommodate the specific health conditions of each individual for suitable coverage. You can also avail of health insurance tax benefits to boost your savings.