Feel® Ashwagandha & Mushroom Complex Review: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety or sleep?
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In the quest for mental clarity and calmness, I tried Feel's Ashwagandha + Mushroom Complex to assess its potential in easing anxiety and stress.
Modern life is overwhelming, and I think our well-being is feeling it. On top of that, if you've got a highly analytical mind, tend to "overthink", are highly empathic or sensitive (ugh, I feel you), it can feel like a mental and emotional battlefield at times, resulting in fatigue and low resilience. So if there's something with a potential to calm and harmonise that restless monkey mind i'm all for trying it.
I've recently been researching the benefits of ashwagandha and different types of functional mushrooms 🍄 (not the psychedelic kind, although they are also gaining attention for their potential in treating depression). I was considering buying separate powdered formulas when in a spooky coincidence an email pinged through from Feel to offer me the chance to try their brand new formula: Ashwagandha + Mushroom Complex (yay!). And with that I set off on my adaptogenic journey...
The supplement is a unique blend of potent and patented herbs, mushrooms and B vitamins. It's goal is to help you stay relaxed and psychologically balanced, along with aiding mental performance, memory and cognition. Here's a quick run down of the ingredients and their potential benefits:
- Organic KSM-66® Ashwagandha - enhances resilience to stress and may reduce anxiety and depression.
- Affron® Saffron - emotional balance, calmness and can improve mood with antidepressant properties.
- Lion's Mane Mushroom - supports cognitive function and nerve health, may help alleviate mild symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Cordyceps Militaris Mushroom - boost energy and stamina, prevent cellular damage and protect the brain.
- Reishi Mushroom - calming properties and ability to support the immune system, potential to enhance sleep quality.
- Ginko Biloba - aids learning and memory in the brain and may also help in reducing anxiety.
- Bacopa Monnieri Extract - enhances concentration, learning and memory and noted for its adaptogenic stress-reducing effects.
- Vitamin B12 and B5 - supports central nervous system, help prevent mental fatigue and restoring emotional balance.
My Experience
I have been taking the Ashwagandha + Mushroom Complex daily, 2 capsules in the morning with breakfast. The capsule format is also more convenient than a powder. I actually don't think I would have been consistent with taking it regularly being that I planned to add it to smoothies, which I don't always get around to making. So consistency is king as they say...
So how long does it take for ashwagandha to work? According to most studies, the effects typically appear within 4-12 weeks. So stick with it for at least 30 days or longer if possible to decide if they work for you. This pot has 4 weeks worth and i'm now into my final week.
There was a particularly stressful event that happened a couple days ago and it was only when I was making a hot water bottle the night before last that I was reflecting on how surprisingly light of spirit in the face of this adversity I'd been. I was kind of impressed at myself for how I'd actually been laughing at some of what happened, (okay it was a mixed with a bit of shock laughter), but that had been my first stage instead of the turmoil and downward spiral. I'd managed to integrate that part and move more swiftly into accepting and generally feeling more zen about it all. Huh...
So that realisation spurred me to write this 'part way through' review and as I continue on my journey I will update this article, but I think so far I have noticed (especially in the last few days) things seem a bit less overwhelming, and I feel a sense of balance in my emotional state. It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but I feel like my resilience is that bit more bolstered.
I'm just about to order my second pot as I want to keep going to really give it a chance and to check in with myself in another few weeks. For now I'm looking forward to it supporting me through the winter months as an addition to my self-care and a bit of added armour 🛡💪 for the soul.
The Science
Is ashwagandha scientifically proven?
Ashwagandha, known for its use in Ayurvedic medicine, has been the subject of various research studies focusing on its impact on stress, anxiety, and sleep.
24 studies have shown effects in mood regulation,
resistance towards stress, mental wellbeing and
improving sleep that can be achieved by taking KSM-66® Ashwagandha for 8 weeks as part of 24 double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trials across 4 continents with 1000 people.
Benefits appeared to be greater with dosages between 500 to 600 milligrams per day. Feel's Ashwagandha + Mushroom Complex blend contains 600mg per 2 capsules of KSM-66® Ashwagandha. Only the plant root is used in the process, where the most bio-active compounds are located, in contrast to the leaves used in generic Ashwagandha blends.
Are functional mushrooms scientifically proven?
There is a growing body of scientific research supporting the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms and they have shown promising results in scientific studies and the current evidence is encouraging for their potential in boosting the immune system, anti-inflammatory properties, and cognitive health benefits. However, the scientific community generally agrees that more rigorous, large-scale human trials are needed to fully establish the extent and mechanisms of these benefits. However, many drugs derived from fungi – including the antibiotics penicillin and cephalosporins, and cholesterol-lowering lovastatin – are already in use. There is hope that more of the huge range of compounds fungi produce can be isolated, purified and used in specific doses to treat human disease and advances in research may yet reveal even more about their potential health benefits.
Sustainability
Feel supplements are proudly made in the UK, using ethically sourced ingredients in plant-derived, plastic free and recyclable packaging. They're vegan, gluten free, halal, kosher, non-GMO and free from all major allergens, artificial fillers, colours and bulking agents.
How it Compares
Okay so it's not the cheapest in the comparison below, but it does have a LOT more going on. There's not another brand that has this combination of ashwagandha and mushroom blend (though there are mushroom coffee blends) but with those the focus is more on the mushrooms vs the ashwagandha which personally i'm more interested in being the centrepiece. So if you're looking for a full adaptogenic powerhouse with the supporting benefits of mushrooms, ginko biloba, bacopa monnieri and B vitamins, Feel are your guys!
The Final Verdict
If you're exploring the potential of ashwaghanda and functional mushrooms to enhance mental well-being, Feel® Ashwagandha + Mushroom Complex is definitely worth a try. Its potent blend of high-quality natural ingredients and their commitment to plastic free packaging makes it a product you can feel good about taking, both for your health and the planet. If you also decide to give it a go, I would love to hear how you get on.
It's crucial to consult with healthcare providers before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking other medications.
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