Withania sonmiferum

	Common Name	Ashwagandha
	Family
	Other Names	Ashwaganda
	Parts Used:	root
	Constituents

Ashwagandha Remedies

How to prepare

Dosage options:150 to 600 standardized extract every day, one cup of tea made with 5 teaspoons powered root

Ashwagandha Medicinal Properties & Benefits
Anti-inflammatory* Tonic* Hepatic* Febrifuge*

History and Traditions

A member of the nightshade family, ashwagandha is native to India, and Africa but is now grown in the US. It is often touted as the Indian version of ginseng because ,like ginseng, ashwagandha is revered as a non-specific tonic, an adaptgen that is used alone or as an ingredient in compounds designed to target a variety of conditions. Traditional Ayurvedic physicians prescribe the root as an all purpose tonic, in the treatment of tumors, inflammation, arthritis and a variety of infectious diseases. The plant acts as a mild sedative, an anti-inflammatory and a libido booster. The chemically active ingredients in ashwagandha, withanolides, appear to have a steroid like effect, meaning that they indirectly increase activity of steroidal hormones like testosterone and progesterone. Because of testosterone's effect on sex drive, this could be what is behind ashwagandha's purported aphrodisiac effects . Ashwagandha also relaxes blood vessels and stimulates circulation. Researchers speculate the anti-anxiety action of ashwagandha stems from something in the herb that mimics gamma-amino-butytric acid (GABA), a naturally occuring substance in the brain whose role is to decrease the effect of stimuli that reach the brain. As with other herbs, expect to take this daily for 2-4 weeks before you begin to feel it's beneficial effects.

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Ashwagandha Medicinal Uses

Stress, libido

^[363] Research shows that its active ingredients, called withanolides, may reduce stress, revive libido, and sooth savaged nerves.

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )

Liver

^[794] Research shows ashwagandha to be protective of the liver

(Duke, James A, Ph.D. )

General health

^[795] Traditional Ayurvedic physicians prescribe the root as an all purpose tonic

Aphrodisiac

^[506] Ashwagandha's reputation as an aphrodisiac probably stems mainly from its ability to stimulate an overall sense of wellbeing.

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Arthritis

^[796] Ashwagandha has an anti-inflammatory and tonic effect for arthritis

Testosterone

^[797] The chemically active ingredients in ashwagandha, withanolides, appear to have a steroid like effect, meaning that they indirectly increase activity of steroidal hormones like testosterone and progesterone.

Plant Description

Folklore, Myths and Legends