Purity. Quality. Results. 

HANAH’s “Not all ingredients are created equal” series is meant to take a closer look at the supplement industry as a whole, key herbs, spices, blends and supplements (such as ghee, ashwagandha, honey, turmeric and sesame oil) that we are reading so much about today, and to assist us in better understanding why purity and quality trump all else when it comes to things we put into our bodies.

In this article we focus on ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing. It is one of the key herbs in HANAH ONE and we are such big proponents of this powerful plants ability to promote physical and mental health, bring the body into balance and increase longevity that we created a separate standalone product, HANAH Ashwagandha+.

Ashwagandha: The hero of herbs

One of the most revered herbs of Ayurveda, ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen, a rasayana and a nootropic. As an adaptogen, ashwagandha refines and normalizes the body’s natural processes and helps it adapt to everyday environmental stresses. As a rasayana, or “path of essence,” ashwagandha acts as a rejuvenative and daily tonic. It promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and helps invigorate the body by rejuvenating the reproductive organs. As a nootropic, ashwagandha repairs damage to neurons and synapses caused by chronic stress.

There have been hundreds of studies and research articles written on the benefits of ashwagandha, such as improved skin and hair, improved sports performance, increased thyroid function and strengthening of the immune system. You will find a long list of benefits of Ashwagandha and a warming bedtime elixir recipe a at the end of this article.

Why is HANAH Ashwagandha+ different?

HANAH’s ashwagandha is special for a few important reasons.

First, HANAH produces its ashwagandha in the traditional Ayurvedic way. Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of natural healing with the primary goal being to help people live long, healthy and balanced lives without the need for prescription drugs, complicated surgeries or long-term painful conditions. Originating in India, Ayurveda promotes the concept of food as medicine, the use of herbal compounds alone and in powerful combinations, yoga, and other practices that look to prevent disease before it happens through a conscious, healthy and active lifestyle.

The Ayurvedic method of producing ashwagandha involves first soaking the roots in grass-fed nutrient-dense cow’s milk and then drying it in the sun. This process not only softens the bitter taste of ashwagandha, it creates a fermented quality, or “post digestive,” which supercharges its bioavailability and allows it to be more easily absorbed by the body so is therefore much more impactful and effective. Like all HANAH products, our ashwagandha is then triple tested for purity, quality and potency.

The second reason HANAH Ashwagandha+ is so special has to do with how and where it is harvested. We all know how important soil is to the efficacy, health and purity of plants and herbs. We asked ourselves: “what does going beyond organic look like?” and made it our mission to support traditional harvesting practices that maintain the integrity of the land, the food it produces and the culture that sustains it.

HANAH Ashwagandha+ is wild-harvested where it grows naturally and organically in Kerala, India. Local farmers and villagers hand pick this wild or “beyond organic” herb where the soil has been replenished after each growing season using natural and often ancient methods such as the use of coconut husks for optimal soil replenishment.

Thirdly, HANAH creates small artisanal batches of ashwagandha. This means we create smaller quantities, support traditional agricultural practices, have less impact on the environment, support local farmers and obtain the purest and highest quality product.

The roots: Why origin matters 

Between January 2015 and January 2016 alone, overall U.S. sales of products containing ashwagandha jumped 63%. While it’s great the popularity of this superherb is growing, the demand in the West results in plants like ashwagandha getting mass produced in less-than-optimal soil and environments. This greatly harms its quality and efficacy and puts many traditional farmers out of business.

Ashwagandha is very particular about where it grows, preferring sub-tropical or dry areas at very specific altitudes. It grows naturally on Indian subcontinent and is also native to the Middle East and North Africa. For optimal yield, ashwagandha is planted right before monsoon season and harvested 150-180 days after planting. These favorable conditions exist primarily in southern India, where HANAH’s ashwagandha originates.

Since HANAH is committed to supporting traditional and local Ayurvedic farming methods and growing and cultivating ingredients in their natural habitat, as a customer you can trust you are getting the best possible ingredients, which are ethically farmed with a conscience and support local communities.

Research shows the benefits of ashwagandha include:

• Promotes restful sleep
• Benefits both male and female reproductive systems
• Prevents and reduces inflammation such as arthritis and other joint pain
• Increases the body’s supply of antioxidants
• Improves thyroid function
• Treats adrenal fatigue
• Combats effects of stress and balances cortisol levels
• Increases stamina and endurance
• Boosts memory and reduce brain cell degeneration
• Stabilizes blood sugar
• Lowers cholesterol
• Boosts immunity
• Contains antibacterial and anticonvulsant qualities
• Prevents and treats cancer 

Recipe: HANAH Ashwagandha+ bedtime tonic 

A traditional tonic of ashwagandha to be sipped before bed to rejuvenate your body and soul.

Ingredients

• 4-6 ounces of milk (preferably raw or at least non-homogenized dairy milk OR nut milk of your choice)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon HANAH Ashwagandha+
• 1 teaspoon HANAH Vechur Ghee

Directions

1. Slowly heat the milk in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Stir continuously until thoroughly heated to desired temperature. Do not boil.
3. Add the ghee, honey and ashwagandha and stir until well combined.
4. Pour into a mug.
5. Sip slowly and enjoy your restful slumber.