The most interesting conversation undoubtedly brews on Koffee With Karan. People just love to hate this show, yet remain glued to their TV sets waiting for the next episode and lap up all that is said on the famous couch.
If what actor Varun Dhawan said about the Ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha improving sex life is true in a recent episode, the traditional herb must have already disappeared from pharmacy shelves by now.
In response to a caller’s query during a segment, Dhawan shared that Ashwagandha helps to improve sex life.
“Try ashwagandha. I genuinely mean this. Start having some ashwagandha. It’s a great herb,” he said, on the chat show. Johar was quick to ask a follow-up question, “So, ashwagandha helps?” “100 per cent,” opined Dhawan, to which Johar responded, “I shall also buy it”.
So, does it really help? Let’s find out.
What is Ashwagandha?
Deriving its name from the Sanskrit words ‘ashwa’ which means ‘horse’ and ‘gandha’ which means ‘smell’, it collectively symbolises the energy and vitality of a horse. The herb is rich in biologically active substances as it is composed of both macro and micro-elements, amino acids, peptides, lipids, and the bases of nucleic acids.
Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) is a versatile herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. Increasing testosterone and sperm count, improving erectile dysfunction, and enhancing sexual desire are amongst Ashwagandha’s purported benefits for men. Ashwagandha has been shown to boost testosterone levels in men. In one study, healthy men who took ashwagandha extract for eight weeks showed significant changes in testosterone levels, improved vitality, and lower fatigue. Ashwagandha is said to possess aphrodisiac-like qualities, enhancing sexual desire, according to verywellhealth.
Additionally, ongoing stress is a common cause of declining sex drive and poor sexual performance. Research shows that Ashwagandha offers stress relief, which can affect sex drive and the ability to relax enough to enhance desire and pleasure. The herb’s effect on testosterone levels may help increase sexual desire and drive, it adds.
It’s an aphrodisiac
Another study found that men taking ashwagandha while on a weight-lifting program had five times higher levels of testosterone than men who did not take the supplement, improving both muscle mass and strength.
Ashwagandha is an aphrodisiac as it has been long established in history as one. The legendary ‘Kama Sutra’ also mentions the plant as one of the very powerful sexual stimulants. In fact, ashwagandha is one very common ingredient in herbal aphrodisiac products. When men start taking ashwagandha, the production of nitric oxide is stimulated in their bodies. As a result of this, the blood vessels that carry blood to the genitals are dilatated. This causes an increase in sexual desire and satisfaction, according to a report in the Times of India.
Increased libido
Indian Express reached out to Ayurvedic experts to understand the effects of the herb on libido. According to Ayurveda, sex plays an integral role in one’s holistic well-being. It is one among the triyopasthambam or the three pillars that support life. “Just like food and sleep, proper sexual activity is encouraged in Ayurveda,” Dr Archana Sukumaran, Ayurveda doctor (BAMS), Kerala Ayurveda was quoted as saying. She believes that sexual intercourse helps one remain young for a long time with high memory power, intellectual abilities, long life, health, nourishment, high perceptive power of senses, and strength.
