Benefits of Ashwagandha

Introduction:

 Ashwagandha is a plant of the shrub category. It is an evergreen shrub of the Solanaceae/nightshade family. It is also known as winter cherry. It grows in India as well as in the Middle East and some parts of Africa. Its scientific name is Withania somnifera. It is described in Ayurveda as Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is a word made up of two Sanskrit words ‘Ashwa’ means horse and ‘Gandha’ means smell. The root of this plant smells like the body of a horse, which is why it is named ‘Ashwagandha’. Though all the five parts, roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the plant are used as medicine in the Ayurvedic stream of medical science, especially the root powder of this plant is recommended to TB patients as medicine by Ayurvedic and Yunani stream of medical treatments.

Description:

Ashwagandha shrub is a short tender shrub growing 50 – 90 cm. tall; branches extend radially from a central stem. Leaves are almost elliptical in shape, dull green in color usually 10 – 12 cm. long. Flowers are small green, and bell-shaped. Fruits are small spherical shiny green in the raw state but turn shiny yellow, deep orange, and red in the ripe state. Each fruit contains hundreds of seeds extremely small in size with a hard and slippery coating.

Cultivation:

Ashwagandha is cultivated in drier areas, it does not require frequent irrigation. It is grown in plain as well as plateau regions of India, Nepal, China, Sri Lanka, and Middle East countries. Dry stony and sandy soil is suitable for its cultivation. A hot and mild climate is the best condition to cultivate Ashwagandha. It can be grown from seeds and also propagated from stem cuttings in the early spring or at the end of winter. It is mainly grown for medicinal purposes but also for food items in some eastern Asian countries.

Chemical Composition:

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) contains alkaloids (isopelletierine, anahygrine, anaferine, cuseohygrine etc.), steroidal lactones (withanolides and withaferines), and saponins. It also contains Sitoindosides and acylsterylglucosides which are anti-stress agents.

Uses and Side Effects of Ashwagandha

Uses:

According to experts of Ayurvedic and Yunani streams of medicine, the roots and leaves of Ashwagandha are a very effective medicine for the treatment of problems related to the brain and nervous system. It enhances the function of the brain and nervous system and improves memory. The fruits and seeds of the plant improve the functions of the reproductive system promoting a healthy sexual and reproductive balance. Being a powerful adaptogen, it enhances the body’s resilience to stress. Ayurvedic pharma industries developed a herbal and metallic preparation of Ashwagandha as ‘Rasayana’ that promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and expands happiness. These types of remedies are given to children as tonics and also taken by the middle-aged and elderly to increase longevity. Ashwagandha improves the body’s defense against disease by improving the cell – mediated immunity. It also possesses potent antioxidant properties that help protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals. Some practitioners claim that the herb may be beneficial for the treatment of certain types of cancers, Alzheimer and anxiety. After some experiments and their results, it is found that Ashwagandha may act as a pain reliever, preventing pain signals from traveling along the central nervous system. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties. For this reason, some researchers conclude that it is an effective treatment for arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis.

Side Effects:

It is suggested by experts to have small to medium doses of Ashwagandha in the early period of treatment and doses should be increased gradually. Taking a large amount of the Rasayana may lead to digestive upset, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Conclusion:

Ashwagandha is no doubt a boon to human beings given by nature. It is the best medicine in one of the world’s oldest medical systems and one of India’s healthcare systems. It is a herb whose all five parts root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit (seeds) are used for the treatment of so many health issues like Stress, Anxiety, Fatigue, Pain, Skin conditions, Diabetes, Arthritis, Hyper Tension, and TB. Some recent studies say that it can reduce certain cell growth to cure cancer and lung tumors.

FAQs:

1.What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is a herb traditionally used as medicines in Ayurveda to treat various ailments.

2.What are the benefits of taking Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha has many health benefits as it reduces stress, improves brain functions, reduces inflammation etc.

3.How do I take Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is available in various forms like powders, capsules and teas.

4.Are there any side effects of taking Ashwagandha?

No, it is quite safe unless taken in large amount.

5.Can Ashwagandha be taken during pregnancy or while breast feeding?

Pregnant women and breast feeding women should take suggestion from their doctors.

6.where can I buy Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is widely available at health food stores and ayurvedic medical stores.

7.Is Ashwagandha suitable for vegans?

Yes, it is a herb.