A high number of people experience trouble in getting a good night’s sleep. This is a dangerous trend as new research studies have pointed out that a lot of health concerns ailing many people today emanate from getting poor sleep.
There have been treatments prescribed for this condition but only a few have proven to be effective. Among the most effective solutions to getting a good and healthy sleep is the ashwagandha herb.
It has been found to support healthy sleep by rejuvenating the human body and also addressing exhaustion related to stress. Here we look at this herb as well as triethylene glycol (an active component).
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha refers to a plant whose roots and berries are used in making medicine. It is used for a variety of purposes like treating arthritis, insomnia, anxiety, asthma, tuberculosis, tumors, and leukoderma (skin condition characterized by white patchiness).
It is also used for fibromyalgia, backache, hiccups, chronic liver disease, and bronchitis. It is also great as it helps the body cope effectively with the daily stress people encounter in life. It can also be applied to your skin to treat wounds, hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis), and backache.
Its name is derived from the Sanskrit language from which the words “ashva” meaning horse and “gandha” meaning smell are combined. In some quarters it is believed that this herb imparts the strength and vitality of a stallion to an individual.
It has been used for a long time to assist people in strengthening their immune systems after suffering from an illness. This plant belongs to the same family as the tomato. It is a plump shrub that has yellow flowers and oval leaves. The herb bears a red fruit, the magnitude of a raisin. It is native in the dry regions of the Middle East, India, Northern Africa and it is today found even in mild climates like the U.S.
What Is Triethylene Glycol?
Triethylene glycol is the active component that is usually responsible for the sleep-inducing effects of the Ashwagandha herb, which for many years has been used and identified as a great solution for people who do not find sleep or suffer from insomnia.
A research was conducted at the University of Tsukuba in its International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine to scientifically establish the active component in the sleep-inducing herb. Led by Drs. Yoshihiro Urade and Mahesh K.
Kaushik, the research team focused on investigating the properties of all the various components contained in Ashwagandha. They recorded the brain activity and the waves during sleep using an electromyogram (EMG) and electroencephalogram (EEG).
The water content of the herb’s leaf was discovered to contain triethylene glycol (TEG), which was found to change rapid eye movement sleep, non-rapid eye movement and restorative sleep stages.
TEG posted the same patterns seen during sleep in a normal night. TEG products also showed signs of improving non-REM sleep. The research therefore concluded that TEG is the active component in the leaf of this sleep-inducing herb and it helps with sleep.
How Triethylene Glycol Helps You Sleep
Triethylene glycol promotes the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep to a significant degree. It also has the capabilities of changing slightly the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The kind of sleep induced by TEG was found to be similar to the normal sleep that unaffected persons get at night.
Further, the research established that commercial TEG can be able to increase the quantity of NREM sleep an individual gets. TEG therefore induces the physiologically sound sleep.
How To Use Triethlyene Glycol Ashwagandha For Better Sleep
Ayurveda, a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, states that human bodies are woven from the food we take. The nutrients from the food are then metabolized to create energy and the information that forms the body tissues, organs, and cells. The body requires essential minerals, vitamins as well as other nutrients, in order to maintain a balance. Ashwagandha taken in form of supplements helps a lot in maintaining the body’s delicate balance.
This supplement is taken in the form of a capsule and the typical recommendation is a dose of 600 – 1000 mg taken twice daily.
If you are suffering from insomnia, it is advisable to take a cup of hot milk with a single teaspoon of crushed Ashwagandha just before going to bed.
However, it is always important to consult with your health physician before you start taking any kind of supplements, especially if you have any known health condition. This supplement is not recommended for pregnant women.
Possible Side Effects of Triethlyene Glycol Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is considered safe if it is taken by mouth for a short term. However, its long term use safety is not well known. Taking this herb in large doses may cause diarrhea, stomach upsets as well as lead to vomiting. It is not also well established whether it is extremely safe to apply on your skin directly.
It should not be used by pregnant women as it may cause miscarriages and not enough information is available on whether it is safe to use when breastfeeding. The best thing would be to avoid using it when you are either pregnant or nursing a baby.
Diabetic patients should also avoid using this supplement as it could interfere with their medications or cause their blood sugar to go too low.
It can also lower the blood pressure and hence high or low blood pressure patients ought to avoid its use. It is not safe to use it if you have stomach ulcers as it can irritate your gastrointestinal tract. You should also avoid taking it two weeks prior to undergoing surgery.
Triethlyene Glycol Ashwagandha For Better Sleep Final Words
Ashwagandha supports healthy sleep in people due to its ability to rejuvenate the body and address stress-related fatigue and exhaustion. It is known as the “sleep inducer” as it lowers the stress hormones, worry effect, blood sugar effect, fat burning, and toxic brain effects.
Its sleep inducing effects and capabilities have been proven by research showing that triethylene glycol (an active component), induces normal sleep.
