Botanical Name : WITHANIA SOMNIFERA

Family Name : SOLANACEAE
 
Common Name : WITHANIA, WINTER CHERRY, INDIAN WINTER CHERRY, INDIAN GINSENG, ASHWAGANDHA

Part Used : Root, Leaves

Habitat : Cultivated throughout drier parts of India.

Active Compounds:  

 alkaloids and withanoloids

Compounds known as withanolides are believed to account for the multiple medicinal applications of ashwagandha. These molecules are steroidal and bear a resemblance, both in their action and appearance, to the active constituents of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) known as ginsenosides. (Some people do call ashwagandha as “Indian ginseng”.)

Generally, ashwagandha stimulates the immune system. It has also been shown to inhibit inflammation and improve memory.

Uses : It is Tonic, Abortifacient, Astringent, Deobstruent, Nervine, Aphrodisiac and Sedative. It is official Indian Pharmacoepeia. It is popularly known as Indian Ginseng. It gives vitality and vigor and helps in building greater endurance.It has been used in diseases such as rheumatism, leprosy and arthritis.

Product Offered : Roots

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses:

Ashwagandha has many significant benefits, but is best known for its powerful adaptogenic properties, meaning that it helps mind and body adapt better to stress.

It nourishes the nerves and improves nerve function to help you maintain calm during stressful situations.

It is also good for people who do physical labor or exercise a lot, to help the body adapt to physical stress.

It is a powerful Rasayana, meaning that it acts as an overall tonic for greater vitality and longevity.

It nourishes all the bodily tissues (Dhatus), including the joints and nerves.

It is also a powerful Medhya Rasayana, which means that it enhances all three aspects of mind power (Dhi -- comprehension; Dhriti -- memory; and Smriti -- recollection).

Ashwagandha nourishes the crucial mind-body connection and psychoneuro immune response (called PNI). It helps coordinate the mind and senses, as well, which is essential for good quality sleep.

Ashwagandha enhances virility and has aphrodisiac properties, especially for men.

It is also well known for its powerful immune enhancing benefits.

It is considered among the best of all substances for balancing Vata. It also pacifies Kapha at the same time, which is a rare combination.

Stress: Investigation both clinical and experimental have observed that Ashwagandha acts as an anti-stress and adaptogenic herb.

Digestive Disorder

The root of the plant is used for treating digestive disorders like dyspepsia and loss of appetite. It corrects the disorder processes of nutrition and restores the normalcy in the system.

General Debility

Its root finds its use in treating general debility. It is taken in 2-gram doses for this purpose.

Arthritis

The root is effective in the treatment of rheumatic affections. It should be taken in 3-gram doses in treating this condition.

Insomnia:

The root is also narcotic, inducing deep sleep and hence beneficial in treating insomnia without inducing the effects of sedatives and tranquilizers

Women's Diseases: (click here for more details)

The herb helps to cure female sterility. Powder of the roots in 6gram doses can be taken with milk for 5 to 6 successive nights after menstruation.

Skin Disorders: (click here for more details)

The leaves of the plant are beneficial in treating several skin disorders. Fomentation of the leaves is good for boils and swollen hands and feet. A paste of the leaves is locally applied to kill lice infesting the body and on carbuncles (painful swelling inside the skin) and syphilitic sores. An ointment prepared by boiling the leaves in fat such as ghee can be applied in case of bedsores and wounds. A paste made of it roots and; leaves is also a useful application over carbuncles, ulcers and swelling.

Ashwagandha an effective Brain Tonic:

Ashwagandha as " Rasayana " and "Balya". Roots of winter Cherry are highly acclaimed tonic for brain and nervous system in ayurveda. Regular use of Ashwagandha improves Stress tolerance. It is also to improve the immune functions and acts as an anabolic during convalescence period.

Dosage:

Preparation: Decoctions, ghee, oil, powder (1/4-3 tsp.) herbal wine
 
Some experts recommend 1–2 grams of the whole herb, taken each day in capsule or tea form.

To prepare a tea, ashwagandha roots are boiled for 15 minutes and cooled; 3 cups (750 ml) should be drunk daily. Tincture or fluid extracts can be used in the amount of 2–4 ml three times per day.

Home remedies:

A decoction of ashvagandha root is useful as nutrient and health restorative to the pregnant and old people. You can also take its powder with milk as an alternative. 

For curing the sterility of women, Ayurveda practitioners often prescribe a boiled down decoction of ashvagandha, milk and ghee. Take this for a few days, soon after the menstrual period.

For spermatorrhoea, loss of strength etc., a powder consisting of Asvagandha, sugar, ghee, honey and long pepper is often given daily, with milk and rice diet.

Ashvagandha Herbal Invigorator is useful for consumption, seminal debility, and to help the nutrition of weak children. 

The powder of Aswagandha and sugarcandy, in ghee is often prescribed for lumbago, pains in the loins or small of the back. 

Fresh green root of Asvagandha reduced to paste with cow's urine or with water heated applied to the parts affected is useful for scrofulous and other glandular swellings. 

Apply Ashvagandha powder well mixed with oil to the skin