ASHWAGANDHA (as a powerful herb in Ayurvedic Medicine)

ASHWAGANDHA

 A powerful herb in Ayurvedic Medicine. 

It Also known commonly as  Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry. Aswagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing, has been used since ancient times for a health benefits. Sanskrit Name: -Ashwagandha- Means 'the smell of a horse' as its fresh root smells like a horse's urine, and also perhaps because it is renowned for imparting the sexual stamina of a horse.

Synonyms:                                                

                  Withania Root, Asgandh

Biological Source:

It consists of dried roots and stem bases of “ Withania somnifera” belonging to family Solanaceae.

Geographical Source:

This plant grow wildly in all drier part and subtropical India. It occurs in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and north western parts of India like Gujrat and Rajasthan. It is also found in Congo, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Pakisthan and Afganistan.

Chemical Constituents:

The Mail constituents of ashwagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones.

Main Alkaloid – Withanine.

Other Alkaloids – Somniferine, Somnine, Somniferinine, Withananine, Pseudo-withanine, Tropine, Pseudo-Tropine, Choline, Isopelletierine and Anaferine.

The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called as

“withanolides”.

Uses :

• Ashwagandha is effective for insomnia but does not act as a sedative and hypnotic effects.
•  Its rejuvenative and nervine properties produce energy which in turn help the body to settle and sleep. A herb that rejuvenates the nervous system, erases insomnia and eases stress.
•  It has Hypotensive Respiratory stimulant actions along with dradycardia.
•  It is an immuno – modulatory agent.
•  Ashwagandha has also been shown to lower blood pressure and is highly effective in stopping the formation of stress induced ulcers.
•  Improves learning, memory, and reaction time
•  Reduces anxiety and depression without causing drowsiness
•  Helps reduce brain-cell degeneration
•  Stabilizes blood sugar
•  Helps lower cholesterol
•  Offers anti-inflammatory benefits
•  Contains anti-malarial properties
•  Enhances sexual potency for both men and women-

Ayurvedic uses

Traditionally, it has been used in treatment of Rheumatism, Gout, Hypertension, Nervine, and Skin disease. It has been widely used as sex-stimulant and Rejuvenator and is considered as strength and vigour promoting drug especially in geriatric cases.

Ashwagandha Preparations : -

Ashwagandha is used in Ayurvedic medicine in many different ways. Some of the more common methods include as a Ashwagandha powder/ Ashwagandha churna, Ashwagandha extract , a decoction, medicated ghee -Ashwagandha ghruta, as a medicated wine- Ashwagandharishta, Ashwagandha rasayana, Ashwagandhadi churna.

Ayurvedic properties of Ashwagandha:

Vajikara- Increases sexual desire 
Rasayani- Rejuvenates the body 
Balya- Increases strength 
Ati shukrala- Improves quality and quantity of semen 
Shwitrapaha- Useful in management of white discoloration of the skin 
Shothahara- Useful in management of edematous conditions.it helps clear impurities (Ama) from the various channels of the body. 
Kshayapaha- Useful in treating emaciation and under nutritive conditions 

Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter); Katu (Pungent); Madhura (Sweet) 
Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Snigdha (Unctuous) 
Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Warm) 
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Madhura (Sweet)

Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors): 
Pacifies Kapha and Vata Doshas i.e. it is useful in management of all diseases originating from aggravated Kapha and Vata.

Ashwagandha as an Adaptogenic Herb

In Ayurveda, there are specific herbs with adaptogenic benefits, Ashwagandha is one of them. Adaptogens are substances (a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs) that modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia.