Using Ashwagandha to Feel Like Yourself (Especially in your 40s and 50s)
With the holiday’s APPROACHING, Let’s talk about the thing no one warns you about: the season when everything feels heavier, louder, and more chaotic than it used to. The days when your nervous system is running on fumes, your patience is paper-thin, and “chill” feels like a foreign language.
We see you. And we’re not here to sell you perfection — we’re here to hand you something that actually moves the needle, gently and naturally.
The Real Price of Running on Empty
Chronic stress isn’t just “part of being a woman.” It costs us sleep, joy, libido, clear skin, stable moods… sometimes even our favorite jeans stop fitting because our body is literally in survival mode. And yes, the perimenopause years can turn the volume up on all of it. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not broken.
This is where ashwagandha quietly changes the game.
Meet Ashwagandha: Your Nervous System’s Best Friend
Used for thousands of years in Ayurveda, ashwagandha is one of the most researched adaptogens on the planet. Adaptogens are a special class of plants that help your body adapt to stress — think of them as the friend who rubs your back and says, “I got you” when the world is too loud.
Instead of giving you a fake buzz (looking at you, third coffee), ashwagandha works with your body to bring things back into balance. Calmer days, deeper sleep, and that “I can handle this” feeling start showing up again.
What the Actual Research Says
(We love a plant with receipts.)
A gold-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (the kind scientists get excited about) followed 64 adults for 60 days. Everyone was stressed. Half took 600 mg of high-quality ashwagandha root extract daily. The other half got a placebo.
Here’s what happened in the ashwagandha group:
Perceived stress scores dropped 44%
Morning cortisol (that stress hormone that loves to ruin your day) dropped 27.9%
Anxiety and depression scores improved by over 70%
Overall psychological well-being? Up nearly 73%
The placebo group? Barely moved the needle. (Study: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2012)
Countless studies since have backed this up — ashwagandha consistently supports a healthier stress response, better sleep quality, and improved mood in both men and women.
Why We’re Obsessed With It at Shala
We’re ridiculously picky about the ashwagandha we use. Shala’s Balance10 blend features KSM-66® — the most clinically studied, full-spectrum root extract on earth. No sketchy leaves, no low-dose filler. Just clean, organic, third-party tested goodness that actually works.
Simple Ways to Bring the Calm Back
(You don’t have to overhaul your whole life — start here)
Take Balance10 with ashwagandha consistently (most people feel the difference in 2-4 weeks)
Pair it with small acts of self-kindness: 10-minute walks in daylight, a consistent bedtime, saying “no” without an essay
Eat protein + healthy fats at every meal to keep blood sugar steady (your nervous system will thank you)
Breathe like a human: 4-second inhale, 6-second exhale, repeat 5 times when you’re spiraling
You deserve to feel steady, strong, and like yourself again — even when life is a lot. Ashwagandha isn’t a magic pill. It’s a really good friend who helps you remember who you are when stress tries to make you forget.
We’ve got your back, babe. Always. ♡
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.