If TikTok has proven anything, it’s the ability to spread a trend within a week. If talked about enough, social media has the talent of getting anyone to buy anything. Recently, supplements are becoming a popular way for people to seek health benefits, one in particular ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is a herb that has become a popular supplement, whether in your nightly tea or morning gummy, there is a way to ingest the supplement.
It increased in popularity on TikTok for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Considering Gen Z has been reported to have higher levels of stress, it’s not surprise that a stress-reducing supplement could have the power to gain in popularity. However, some are skeptical of these results and wonder if it is just a placebo effect.
The placebo effect is when a person believes there is an improvement in their condition without any active treatment. The brain can convince itself that if what we are taking is helping us, we will see the results of the treatment. Thus, why people’s skepticism is valid when the majority of people who are taking Ashwagandha keep posting and saying how much it works. And according to the placebo effect, they will feel less anxious even if it’s working or not.
According to Healthline, “In a small study with 58 participants, those who took 250 or 600 mg of ashwagandha extract for 8 weeks had significantly reduced perceived stress and levels of the stress hormone cortisol compared with those who took a placebo.” There are other small studies that also show there are a variety of other benefits to taking ashwagandha. In another study, people that took the supplement got better sleep. The overall concern is that while there are a few small studies, there has yet to be a study on a larger scale about the positive effects of ashwagandha.
As much as there are supplements and herbs that we can use to improve our health, the best ways to do so are always the simplest. Ways to truly improve ourselves are by drinking water, eating healthy foods, cutting back on smoking and drinking less alcohol. Our culture has made us feel the only way to improve our skin is to buy a 40-dollar face mask or purchase the most expensive retinol cream. Capitalising from our insecurities and unhealthy habits. Rather than spending money on another tea, we should start by first doing the easy things to improve our health.
Let us know what you think about Ashwagandha by tweeting us @VALLEYmag.
