The Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha is also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry. The roots of this plant have been used for thousands of years by practitioners of Ayurveda. The herb has a number of medicinal uses, ranging from enhancing the immune system and rejuvenating health to improving sexual function and acting as an anti-inflammatory. It is particularly helpful in the treatment of stress.
Ashwagandha
In Sanskrit the word ashwagandha means "smell of a horse," meaning the herb bestows the vigor and strength of a stallion on individuals recovering from an illness. Belonging to the nightshade family, the plant grows as a stout shrub with yellow blossoms and red fruit about the size of a raisin. Ashwagandha is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa and the Middle East, but is also grown in milder climates including the United States. Medicinally, ashwagandha contains alkaloids, steroidal lactones, fatty acids, amino acids and sugars. Both the leaves and fruit have therapeutic value, but the roots are more commonly used in Western herbal remedies.
Benefits
One of ashwagandha's key functions is as an adaptogen, a substance that assists the body in becoming more flexible in its ability to handle change. This has particular effects for the muscles. Suhas Kshirsagar, medical director of the Maharishi College of Ayurvedic Medicine in New Mexico, explains that the herb strengthens and gives flexibility to the heart muscles as well as to uterine muscles that can cause menstrual cramps. "Yoga Journal" reports that ashwagandha has a reputation in the Western world as an aphrodisiac, and references a study in which 70 percent of men studied experienced increased libido and sexual function after taking the herb. Ashwagandha increases energy while offering a calming effect at the same time. Like its Chinese cousin ginseng, it is good for treating stress and exhaustion caused by physical or mental strain.
Research
According to The Chopra Center's website, a number of medical researchers have studied ashwgandha and found the following healing benefits: it offers immune system protection; combats the effects of stress; improves learning, memory and reaction time; stabilizes blood sugar; reduces anxiety and depression without drowsiness; lowers cholesterol; offers anti-inflammatory benefits; contains anti-malarial properties; and reduces brain-cell degeneration. Some studies have reported that ashwagandha inhibits cancer cell growth in small animals, but further research is needed to see if these effects apply to humans.
Use and Precautions
The Chopra Center reports the recommended dose of ashwagandha to be 600 to 1,000 mg, twice daily. People with insomnia and anxiety can benefit from a teaspoon of powdered ashwagandha in a cup of hot milk at bedtime. Liquid preparations of the herb may include sugar and alcohol and should be taken cautiously by people with diabetes, alcohol dependence or liver disease. Ashwagandha should not be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Because of its ability to increase heat in the head and heart which affects body and emotions, Ayurvedic doctors suggest formulas that combine ashwagandha with cooling herbs, such as licorice. Ashwagandha can also be taken with cooling foods, such as ghee, raw sugar, milk or rice.
Member Comments