Most Rasāyana, including Ashwagandha, are adaptogens, meaning plants that enhance the body’s own natural resistance to stress and sensitivity to stressors. Many adaptogens appear to exhibit properties that are neuroprotective, anti-fatigue, antidepressant, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), nootropic (enhancing memory and cognitive functions). Many also contain properties that stimulate the central nervous system (CNS).
When considering the anti-anxiolytic properties of Ashwagandha, it helps to have a vague understanding of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its role in the body. This is because Ashwagandha is believed to exert GABA mimetic properties, meaning the herb mimics or imitates the activities of GABA.
GABA is the neurotransmitter primarily responsible for inhibiting the central nervous system. Meaning it quite literally blocks certain brain signals, including those related to stress, fear, and anxiety. It’s the chemical that allows your body and mind to relax before falling asleep, insomnia often being a symptom of low GABA activity.
Another sign of low GABA activity is long-term anxiety. In fact, many psychiatric conditions have been linked or attributed to low GABA levels, especially generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). With anxiety at the forefront of the current mental health crisis and a demand for more natural solutions, clinical studies have focused on Ashwagandha as an alternative treatment for anxiety.