Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera
Traditional use: For debility, nervous exhaustion, convalescence, and as a general tonic; memory enhancement, raising testosterone and oestrogen.
Parts used: Roots, leaves and berries are edible, or can be made into a tincture or dried herbal capsule.
Active Ingredients
- Steroidal compounds like withaferin A
- sitoindosides
- alkaloids like tropane types
- isopelletierine
- anaferine
Ashwagandha is also know as
- Indian ginseng
- Winter cherry
Ashwagandha literally means, “sweat of a horse” due to the scent of the roots.
The herb was generally used as a tonic for promoting longevity, treating emaciation and for improving reproductive functions of both men and women helping to balance hormones like testosterone and oestrogen. It has been used medicinally in India as an Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years.
Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen, adaptogens help to adapt to stressful situations. Keep you calm when stressed, give you energy when tired.
Ashwagandha has a mild sedative effect, as the ‘somni’ part of its Latin name indicates. somniferous | tending to induce sleep;
