Organic ashwagandha – Ayurvedic beauty care to strengthen stressed skin

Organic ashwagandha, also known as “sleep berry” or “Indian ginseng”, is one of the most important medicinal
plants in Ayurveda. At lavera, we use the root extract of the plant. The root is rich in withanolides, alkaloids and saponins – bioactive compounds that help the skin cope with external and internal stress.

Withania somnifera belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), the same family as tomatoes and potatoes.
The compact, evergreen shrub grows to a height of 30 to 150 centimetres and has matt, oval leaves and small yellow-green flowers. Its characteristic red berries ripen in autumn. The botanical name somnifera means “sleep-inducing” in Latin – a reference to the plant’s soothing effect. In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha root has been regarded for more than 3,000 years as a rasayana, a rejuvenating and strengthening remedy for body and mind.

Internal and external stress factors can increase cortisol levels, and the skin feels the effects too: it becomes more sensitive and drier, while its natural protective barrier is weakened. As an adaptogen, organic ashwagandha may help the skin regulate this stress response. The withanolides it contains – naturally occurring plant substances – may interact with the skin’s cellular stress-defence mechanisms, activate the body’s own protective mechanisms at cellular level and thereby strengthen the skin barrier.

Free radicals caused by UV radiation, environmental pollution and chronic stress can trigger processes that promote the breakdown of collagen and elastin, thereby accelerating skin ageing. Ashwagandha’s antioxidant properties may protect skin cells from this oxidative damage.