Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Extract 5% - 10G

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract 5% withanolides - 10 g

This package contains 10 g of powdered extract from ashwagandha root, standardized to 5% withanolides. Standardization is the most important information here, and it is worth understanding what it means: it declares what percentage of the extract's mass is made up of withanolides, a group of steroid lactones considered the active ingredients of this raw material. Without such a declaration, the name "ashwagandha extract" says little, as extracts can differ in concentration by several times, and comparing them by mass leads nowhere.

The plant, known in Polish as witania ospała or Indian ginseng, belongs to the nightshade family, and the herbal raw material is the dried root. The plant has a long tradition of use in Ayurveda, and modern herbal studies classify it as an adaptogen. You measure the portion yourself, and the reference point in this matter (the limit of withanolides indicated by the Dietary Supplements Team) is described below.

Ingredients

Raw material in this package:

• Ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera), standardized to 5% withanolides
• Form: fine powder

The declaration of "5% withanolides" allows for comparison of this extract with another extract, provided that the second one also states standardization; comparing a standardized extract with powdered root gram for gram makes no sense, as these are two different raw materials with different concentrations. The second reference point is regulatory.

The Dietary Supplements Team in resolution no. 7/2020 from February 7, 2020, indicated that the maximum content of withanolides cannot exceed 10 mg in the recommended daily portion of the product, and powdered root of Withania somnifera can be used in amounts below 3 g per day. Both values come from the same resolution and both refer to daily intake, not to the content of the package.

Also pay attention to what the resolution refers to: the limit of 3 g refers to powdered root, not to standardized extract, so it should not be transferred to this package.

Specification

How to use

The powdered extract dissolves poorly in cold water, which is why it is typically mixed with a thicker carrier.

• Weigh the portion on a jewelry scale, not with a spoon - the powder varies in bulk density between batches.
• Mix in warm milk, plant-based drink, smoothie, or yogurt, not in a glass of cold water
• The taste is distinctly earthy and bitter - this is a normal characteristic of the raw material, not a defect of the batch.
• Do not exceed the limit of withanolides indicated by the Dietary Supplements Team
• Close the packaging after each use and keep it away from moisture

For whom

Ten grams is an amount for someone who is already familiar with ashwagandha and knows how to incorporate it into their routine but does not yet want to buy a large package. It works well if you make your own adaptogenic blends, add the extract to your morning cocoa or evening milk-based drink, or if you use it in cycles rather than daily throughout the year.

The loose form allows for control over the portion size but requires a scale - a teaspoon is too imprecise here, as the bulk density of the powder varies between batches, and the difference between a flat and heaped teaspoon cannot be ignored with this raw material. The product is not intended for children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers.

In cases of thyroid diseases, autoimmune diseases, taking immunosuppressive medications, as well as sedatives, sleeping pills, and anticonvulsants, consult your doctor before taking the first dose of this extract. This also applies to individuals with liver diseases.

Frequently asked questions

How many withanolides can be consumed in a day?

The Dietary Supplements Team in resolution no. 7/2020 from February 7, 2020, indicated that the maximum content of withanolides must not exceed 10 mg in the recommended daily portion of the product. The same resolution allows powdered root in an amount below 3 g per day. The first value refers to withanolides, the second to the root raw material.

What should guide you when measuring the portion?

The limit indicated by the Dietary Supplements Team: the maximum content of withanolides must not exceed 10 mg in the recommended daily portion of the product. Measure the portion according to the recommendation of the preparation or recipe in which you use the extract, and weigh it on a jewelry scale, as the bulk density of the powder changes between batches.

How does the extract differ from the powdered root?

Powdered root is ground plant material, while extract is a concentrate in which the content of active substances has been thickened and brought to the declared level - here 5% withanolides. These are two different raw materials and they should not be used interchangeably measure for measure, as they differ in concentration.

Is '5% withanolides' a lot?

This value falls within the typical range for standardized extracts of ashwagandha, but the percentage alone does not tell the whole story - it matters together with the amount of extract you measure. So compare both numbers at once, the standardization and the mass of the portion, and remember the limit of withanolides indicated by the Dietary Supplements Team.

Variants and category

You can find the full offer in the category Herbs.

Related articles

More context on the blog: ashwagandha in drops or capsules and introduction to adaptogens for beginners.

Safety and Storage

The Dietary Supplements Team recommends that products containing Withania somnifera be labeled with the following warning: the product should not be consumed when taking sedative, sleeping, and anticonvulsant medications, and should not be used by children, pregnant women, and during lactation. Additionally, there are situations where medical sources recommend caution or advise against ashwagandha: thyroid diseases, autoimmune diseases, taking immunosuppressive medications, and liver diseases.

The described side effects primarily concern gastrointestinal discomfort, and there have also been isolated cases of liver damage. If you are taking any medications regularly, consult your doctor before use. Store the packaging tightly closed, in a dry, cool, and dark place, out of reach of children.

Do not exceed the daily portion established by the manufacturer of the preparation in which you use this raw material. The herbal extract does not replace a varied diet or a healthy lifestyle.

Not sure how this extract compares to the capsule products you already know? Write or call - at u Bucha we advise before the purchase, not after.