Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is also known as “Indian ginseng” or “Indian Winter Cherry.” It is an important ancient plant that has been used in the Ayurvedic and indigenous medical system for over 4000 years. The roots, leaves, and fruits (berry) hold enormous medicinal value.
It is one of the important
ingredients of ayurvedic rejuvenate,
which is used in various tonics and formulas. Ashwagandha is the best
rejuvenate that helps maintain proper nourishment to the tissues, particularly
muscle and bones while supporting the proper function of the adrenals and
reproductive system.
It is a shrub with yellow flowers and red fruit, its extract is
typically obtained from the berries or roots to the plant. Ashwagandha is a
Sanskrit word that translates to “smell of horse,” and is right to some extent.
Traditionally, it is believed that a person who consumes this herbal remedy
will gain horse-like energy and strength.
It is a shrub that grows at a height to (35–75 cm) with a middle
stem from which branches extend radially in stellate (a star pattern). It is
covered with a dense lusterlessness of wooly hairs. The flowers are green and
small, when the fruit ripe, it is orange-red and has milk-coagulating
properties. It has long brown tuberous roots that are important for medicinal
purposes.
Other Common Names:
§ Withania
§ Winter
Cherry,
§ Indian
Winter Cherry,
§ Indian
Ginseng,
§ Ashwagandha
Plant Parts Used Medicinal
Purpose
Ashwagandha roots, leaves and seeds have medicinal properties and
are used in the preparation of several medications.
Synonyms
§ Sanskrit:
Hayagandha, Vajigandha
§ Assamese:
Ashwagandha
§ Bengali:
Ashwagandha
§ English:
Withania somnifera
§ Gujrati:
Asgandha
§ Hindi:
Asgandh
§ Kannada:
Angarberu, Hiremaddina-gida
§ Kashmiri:
Asagandh
§ Malayalam:
Amukkuram
§ Marathi:
Asagandha, Askagandha
§ Oriya:
Aswagandha
§ Punjabi:
Asgandh
§ Tamil:
Amukkaramkizangu
§ Telugu:
Pennerugadda
§ Urdu:
Asgand
Properties & Action
§ Rasa:
Tikta, Kasaya
§ Guna:
Laghu
§ Virya:
Usana
§ Vipaka:
Madhura
§ Karma:
Rasayana, Vatakaphaja, Balya,
§ Vajikara
Dosha effect: VK
§ Dhatu
(tissue): Blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve, reproductive
§ Srota
(channel): Reproductive, nervous, respiratory
Ayurvedic Action
§ Balya:
Increases strength
§ Medhya:
Promotes the intellect
§ Ojasvardhanam:
Increases ojas
§ Nidrajnana:
Promotes sleep
§ Shukrala:
Increases sperm production
§ Shwasa:
Benefits of breathing
§ Shothahara:
Prevents consumption and wasting diseases
§ Rasayana:
Rejuvenative
§ Vatakaphahara:
Reduces Kapha and vata
§ Vrishya:
Increases sexual potency
§ Vedanasthapana:
Reduces pain
Where Is Ashwagandha Plant
Found?
The Ashwagandha plant grows in dried and sub-tropical places. It
is an erect branching low lying shrub that grows to a height of about 1.50 m.
It is mainly found in dry regions of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh is the major Ashwagandha producing
states throughout the country. Madhya Pradesh alone is a state that cultivates
more than 5000 hectares and the rest of India is about 1500 tonnes; so annual
growth with the requirement is about 7000 tonnes.
Benefits of Ashwagandha
Powder
In Ayurveda Ashwagandha was used as traditional medicine
for centuries, Ashwagandha powder is an herbal remedy obtained from the
powdered root of the Ashwagandha shrub, scientifically
it is known as Withania somnifera. Ashwagandha is getting
increased attention in light of medical study providing evidence of its
therapeutic properties. Below are some of the health
benefits.
1. It improves the
reproductive system
Consuming Ashwagandha can have been rejuvenating effect on Shukra
dhatu that can help to alleviate asthenospermia (increasing sperm motility),
oligospermia (increasing sperm count), poor sexual performance
and aids to reduce impotency. Due to its unique action (prabhava) it can boost
sexual energy and sperm production. Ashwagandha oil can also be used externally
as a massage for impotence.
2.Increase muscle growth
It is very beneficial for any imbalance of the muscles;
it is helpful in reducing inflammation as well as strengthens
muscle tone. Ashwagandha is a significant decoction (Rasayana) for mamsa dhatu
and it is an ananabolic muscle builder. It is an important remedy for all
muscle tissue it is used as a uterine tonic, lung tonic, as a heart tonic, as
well as for growing muscle weight, for the tone in convalescents and
slow-growing children as well as elderly.
3. It Increases Male
Fertility
The roots Ashwagandha is commonly used in Ayurveda, to boost
physical and mental health, to provide defense against disease and antagonistic
environmental factors, and pull in the aging process. Besides this, it has also
known for its aphrodisiac properties that can be helpful to treat male sexual
dysfunction and infertility.
Much research was done, and some do claim that it can increase
semen volume, the sperm motility, and the sperm Count. A randomized
placebo-controlled trial study was conducted to calculate the spermatogenic
activity of Ashwagandha root extract in 46 oligospermia patients.
It was found that after 90 days of
trial, there was about 167% increase in sperm count and 53% increase in semen
volume beside this, they also found 57% increase in sperm motility and overall
improvement in regulation of serum hormone levels.
4. It improves immunity system
We generally use a painkiller and
anti-inflammatory in a condition such as swollen or painful arthritic conditions.
Consuming Ashwagandha can boost our weak immune system and it can help us to
protect from becoming addict to medications due to the way of living.
Beside this, it also improves white blood cell counts so ti can be
beneficial as both immunosuppressive and immune tonic abilities so it can be a
‘true’ adaptogen. It is helpful in Auto-immune conditions, osteoarthritis,
neutropenia, rheumatoid, cancer and chronic connective tissue disorders.
5. It reduces insomnia anxiety
Ashwagandha is advantageous for the people with insomnia but does not
act as a tranquilizer. Due to it’s rejuvenated and nervine properties it
produces energy which in turn helps the body to resolve the sleeping problems.
So it can be the best remedy that can help the body to denominate
a stress-related disorder rather than cloaking it with sedatives. It is a
powerful herb that rejuvenates the nervous system erases insomnia and ease stress.
6. It improves the nervous system
Consuming Ashwagandha can be very useful in all conditions that are caused by
‘stress’ as it has a specific bond for the majja dhatu and it helps in controlling
the movement of vyana Vayu in the heart.
Its tropism activity improves the nervous system and enhances
multiple sclerosis. So it relaxes annoyed nerves and toxifies the central
nervous system to reinforce tolerance to stress.
7. It Is Good For Weight Loss
Ashwagandha herb is generally used in Ayurvedic medicine for
weight loss. Due to its adaptogenic effects, it can be very helpful to promote weight loss. It is mostly
used in combination with another weight loss enhancing supplements. Ashwagandha
has adaptogen properties that can help to minimize stress-related instability
that causes to be eaten more.
This ancient Ayurvedic herbaceous plant is believed to be beneficial
for a person who either overeats or under eats due to environmental factors
that caused stress. It is an herb that can also help to boost metabolism and
eliminate irregularities indigestion.
Ashwagandha Side Effect
In Breastfeeding Pregnancy: It is not advisable to use
Ashwagandha if you are pregnant as it might be unsafe during
pregnancy. Some evidence has been found that Ashwagandha
might cause miscarriages. Not much evidence is known about the use of
Ashwagandha during breastfeeding. However, it is necessary to be on
the safe side and avoids using.
For Diabetes patient: Consuming Ashwagandha
might lower blood sugar levels. This might cause a
problem if used along with medications used for diabetes; results may cause
blood sugar levels to be too low.
It is necessary to monitor diabetes regularly.
Before Surgery: Consuming
Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system, so the doctors might
worry to provide anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery
this might increase problems. So take care and stop
using Ashwagandha at least for 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Ashwagandha yields
all the aforementioned advantages to health without any significant known side
effects. It is indeed a wonderful herb that has been proven effective
throughout its long history of use in India spanning many millennia.
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