As a "tonic herb," ashwagandha has been used in traditional herbal medicine to boost health, physical vigor, mental function, fertility and infection resistance. You might take ashwagandha to improve your body's ability to adapt to stress or for a variety of other health purposes. Like any other herbal or natural remedy, you should consult your doctor before taking ashwagandha to discuss the potential side effects and drug interactions.
Identification
Ashwagandha is an herbal remedy made from the roots of the plant known as Withania somniferum, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Ashwagandha has a history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India and among tribes in Africa. The herb is also sometimes called Indian ginseng or winter cherry, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Historically, ashwagandha has been used to treat fatigue, stress, gastrointestinal ailments, arthritis, seizure disorders, diabetes and other medical conditions, as well as to support overall health and a long life.
Function
Ashwagandha is thought to have "adaptogenic" effects that enable the body to withstand stress, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ashwagandha contains alkanoids, saponins and steroidal lactones that appear to inhibit cyclooxygenase -- COX -- in the body to combat inflammation, specifically the kind that causes arthritis, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The herb also offers antioxidant, sedative-like, antitumor, anticancer, immunity-boosting and memory-enhancing effects.
Uses
Ashwagandha is most commonly used as an adaptogen to improve the body's resistance to the adverse effects of stress, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You could take ashwagandha to help treat osteoarthritis and improve your immune-system function as well, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Talk with your physician before taking ashwagandha to prevent or treat any medical condition.
Potential
Ashwagandha may also have the potential to treat anxiety and depression, infertility in both men and women, insomnia and a suppressed immune system, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The herb could possibly help prevent cancer, treat sexual dysfunction in men and improve physical and mental performance. Ashwagandha may also help in treating cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, skin infections, fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, pain and gastrointestinal conditions, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. No conclusive medical research supports the use of ashwagandha for preventing or curing any health problem, however.
Warning
Ashwagandha can cause side effects like elevated thyroid hormone levels, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The herb's sedative effects could cause an unsafe interaction when taken at the same time as sedative drugs. Specifically, you shouldn't take ashwagandha along with barbiturates, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Also, ashwagandha could potentially cause a spontaneous abortion in pregnant women. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as people with liver or kidney disease and hyperthyroidism should be especially cautious about taking ashwagandha.
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