Ashwagandha: A Health Rejuvenator

Ashwagandha is said to be a most potential herb for general toning of the body and immunity. The botanical name of the plant is Withania somnifera and it belongs to family Solanaceae. Common names of the plant include: Ashwagandha, Dunal, Winter cherry, Indian ginseng, Ajagandha, Samm Al Ferakh etc.

Ashwagandha is a dense, hairy, stout herb bearing greenish-yellow flowers and red fruits. Its fruits are berry-like, enclosed in green enlarged calyx. The seeds are many, yellow and kidney-shaped. Its aromatic roots are tuberous, stout and fleshy. The leaves are simple, alternate or sub-opposite, oval-shaped. Its useful parts are seeds, roots and leaves that are usually administered in powder form. It is a native of India, Pakistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh. In India, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are the major Ashwagandha producing states.

Ashwagandha is bitter in taste, hot, germicidal, aphrodisiac, liver-tonic and diuretic. It is one of the well known valuable ayurvedic herbs, known to cure cough, fever, ulcers, dropsy, impotency, insomnia, rheumatism, leukoderma and toxicosis. It is also known to increase physical endurance and enhance body immunity. Ashwagandha improves nerve function to help maintain calm during stressful situations. It is prescribed in all general debilities. It is known to regenerate the hormonal system and promote healing of tissues. Also, it is known to increase the production of bone marrow and inhibit the aging process.

Ashwagandha and its extracts are used in many tonics and preparations, such as chavanaprash, preparation of herbal tea, powders, tablets and syrups. Dried roots are used as tonic for cold, cough, hiccup, ulcers, female disorders, as a sedative, in care of senile debility, etc. The leaves of Ashwagandha are applied for inflammation and swellings (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008).

Clinical trials and animal research support the use of Ashwagandha for anxiety, cognitive, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease. Many studies have also explored the positive effect of the plant on the central nervous system, which depict strong anti-stress actions, increased memory and learning capabilities. Clinical studies have documented that Ashwagandha has Anti-tumorigenic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. In many laboratory studies, Ashwagandha has shown to have modulated and stimulated immune function.

The active ingredients found in Ashwagandha (alkaloids and withanoloids) impart its medicinal and pharmacological properties. Withanoloids consist of steroidal molecules which act to fight inflammation. Ashwagandha is often compared to Asian ginseng which contains compound similar to withanoloids, called ginsenosides. For this reason, Ashwagandha is occasionally called Indian ginseng. These all facts clearly show why Ayurveda has such a high opinion of this herb as a general tonic and rejuvenator.

Reference

Acharya, Deepak and Shrivastava Anshu (2008): Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices, Aavishkar Publishers Distributor, Jaipur- India. ISBN 9788179102527. pp 440.