{"id":807,"date":"2018-02-09T03:49:09","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T03:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/?p=807"},"modified":"2020-09-09T08:23:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T08:23:06","slug":"ashwagandha-vs-ginseng-rhodiola-holy-basil-and-others-comprehensive-breakdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herbexaminer.com\/herbs\/ashwagandha-vs-ginseng-rhodiola-holy-basil-and-others-comprehensive-breakdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashwagandha Vs Ginseng, Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Maca, and Brahmi (Comprehensive Breakdown)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you ever find yourself rifling through the scientific and historical literature on Ashwagandha, get ready for some unexpected astonishment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ginseng<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nCheck Price<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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There really is just so much to be impressed by.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

From its numerous health benefits, like<\/span> supporting the immune system<\/a>, treating anxiety<\/a>, and relieving stress,<\/a> to its foundational importance within <\/span>Ayurvedic medicinal practices,<\/a> (where ancient Hindu scholars wrote at length about the herbs curative powers); Ashwagandha is truly a gold standard nootropic herb.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha Vs Brahmi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ashwagandha<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha VS Ginseng<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ginseng<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha VS Holy Basil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Holy<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha VS Maca<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"maca<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha VS Rhodiola<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rhodiola<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"ashwagandha
Ashwagandha Overview Infograph<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Hindi, the term Ashwagandha is a combination of the words ashva (horse) and gandha (smell) – the smell of a horse. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fairly bizarre name was coined from the odor that Ashwagandha’s roots emit; which apparently smells somewhat horse-like. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll take their word for it. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha is an Adaptogen<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A term that you will be running into A LOT if you spend any time researching ‘relaxing herbs’.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the most basic sense, an adaptogen is any non-subversive, non-toxic substance that stabilizes psychological processes or reduces stress and anxiety in some way. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term is thrown around without any universal agreement on precisely what it means. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the herbs covered in this post are considered adaptogens: Holy Basil, Maca, Ginseng, Rhodiola – yet most affect completely different receptors and have very different chemical constituents.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Holy Basil (or Tulsi) for example:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is evidence that Holy Basil lowers metabolic stress through blood glucose<\/a>; whereas an herb like Maca lowers stress and maintains hormonal balance by acting on the endocrine system<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I’m sure you know, these are VERY different functions that operate on very different bodily mechanisms, yet they’re thrown into the same adaptogen bucket. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind:<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adaptogens vary greatly and many have different methods of functioning.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that being said, a question that we often receive on social media is which adaptogen is ‘better’? Ashwagandha or Brahmi? Ashwagandha or Ginseng? Should I purchase both? Can I take both at the same time? What is the best herb for anxiety? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are all fair questions, yet they don’t have a definitive answer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no one herb or adaptogen that is functionally better than any other, but there are herbs with more scientific backing for specific health problems than others.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And some of those health problems are obviously more important to get rid of than others (cancer vs hair loss for example). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So in this post, we outline the 5 most sought-after herbal attributes:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.) Anti-Inflammatory<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.) Anti-Oxidant<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.) Neuro-Protective<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.) Anti-Anxiety<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.) Nootropic<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

to find out which adaptogen is best for each. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let’s get into it.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong>Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Ashwagandha<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Ashwagandha<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha’s main chemical constituents have been shown in studies to possess a large array of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially Withaferin A, an alkaloid that seems to inhibit angiogenesis – angiogenesis being the main mechanism behind tumors turning malignant. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ashwagandha<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nCheck Price<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ashwagandha Vs Brahmi<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Ashwagandha<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Much like Ashwagandha, Brahmi is used frequently in Ayurvedic medicine as a general tonic and a Rasayana – which is a Sanskrit term that means the lengthening of lifespan. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the history of Ayurveda, Brahmi was used for a whole host of ailments: like blood parasites, fevers, inflammation, joint pain, and skin problems, although, its most common use was as a nerve tonic. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word Brahmi is an Ayurvedic one, used for two different but very similar herbs:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacopa monnieri:<\/em><\/strong> A shrub that grows in Southern<\/strong> India and therefore is referred to as Brahmi by natives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bacopa<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Centella asiatica:<\/strong> <\/em>A perennial plant that grows in the wetlands of Asia; natives of Northern<\/strong> India call this herb Brahmi. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Centella<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Just to muddy the waters a bit more, there is another name given to Centella asiatica <\/strong><\/em>by westerners: Gotu Kola.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So just keep in mind:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

both Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica <\/em><\/strong>are considered Brahmi, and Gotu Kola<\/strong> is simply the western name that has been thrown into the vernacular. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brahmi Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ayurvedic medicinal practitioners really hit a home run here. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brahmi is beneficial across the board: Whether you’re looking for antioxidant, nootropic, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, or anti-anxiety effects, Brahmi has you covered.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Antioxidant<\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I mean potent!<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1.) Brahmi increases the activity of many endogenous antioxidant systems and directly lowers the amount of harmful free radicals <\/a>in the body.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2.) Researchers have shown that administered Brahmi extract helps protect against DNA damage in both animal and human cells.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.) Brahmi was also found to increase the activity of superoxide dismutase<\/a> in rat brains – significantly lowering overall stress.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brahmi’s antioxidant chemical compounds include:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n