Ashwagandha

(Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is a non native plant which can only be cultivated in certain areas of this country. I have only included it in this website because I feel it is the best adaptogenic plant I have ever used. I am not a medical professional, and I am not attempting to give medical advice. You should always consult a licensed physician before starting any herbal regime. The information contained herein will be a mixture of clinical studies, anecdotal evidence, and my own personal experiences.

Other Names:
Withania, Winter Cherry, Indian Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha

Range:


Family:
Solanaceae – Nightshade family

Habitat:
It is found online, in healthfood stores, local grocery stores, or perhaps even your spice cabinet.

Parts Used:
Roots

Uses:
Culinary Uses:
None Known

The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.

Energetics
Taste: Salty
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Moistening

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Ashwagandha root has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and memory problems, auto-immune disorders, arthritis and carpel tunnel, stress, and as a sexual tonic. It increases general stamina, and long-term endurance. Clinical triels outlined in the link below have demonstrated the efficacy of W. somnifera at improving cardiorespiratory endurance. I have personally seen this root work wonders in the treatment of anxiety, decreased energy, stamina, and strength.

Here is a link to a published paper outlining the findings of one of the myriad scientific studies performed demonstrating the efficacy of Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera, on a host of devastating diseases.

This link takes you to a published paper demonstrating the "Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in improving cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy athletic adults".

Conditions Treated: Proven By Scientific Studies
The following is a list of medical conditions treated using this plant, and links to scientific studies demonstrating said use.

Anxiety: Pratte, Morgan A., Kaushal B. Nanavati, Virginia Young, and Christopher P. Morley. "An alternative treatment for anxiety: a systematic review of human trial results reported for the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 20, no. 12 (2014): 901-908.

Alzheimer's Disease: Sehgal, Neha, Alok Gupta, Rupanagudi Khader Valli, Shanker Datt Joshi, Jessica T. Mills, Edith Hamel, Pankaj Khanna, Subhash Chand Jain, Suman S. Thakur, and Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath. "Withania somnifera reverses Alzheimer's disease pathology by enhancing low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in liver." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109, no. 9 (2012): 3510-3515.

Asthma: Ali, Nafaa Hasan, Sana Rehman, Maaz Naqvi, Kavita Gulati, and Arunabha Ray. "Modulation of immunological, biochemical, and histopathological changes of Airway Remodeling by Withania somnifera in an experimental model of allergic asthma in rats." Journal of Pharmacopuncture 26, no. 2 (2023): 158.

Bronchitis: Mehra, Pritha, Anil Khurana, Renu Mittal, Bhopal Arya, Rajpal Rajpal, Raj Manchanda, Karuna Singh, Anil Vichitra, and Goutam Rakshit. "Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Withania somnifera: A multicentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 11, no. 2 (2017): 97-108.kshit. "Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Withania somnifera: A multicentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 11, no. 2 (2017): 97-108.

Dementia: Kuboyama, Tomoharu, Chihiro Tohda, and Katsuko Komatsu. "Effects of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) on neurodegenerative diseases." Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 37, no. 6 (2014): 892-897.

Depression: Speers, Alex B., Kadine A. Cabey, Amala Soumyanath, and Kirsten M. Wright. "Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on stress and the stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders anxiety, depression, and insomnia." Current neuropharmacology 19, no. 9 (2021): 1468.

Dyspepsia: Mehra, Pritha, Anil Khurana, Renu Mittal, Bhopal Arya, Rajpal Rajpal, Raj Manchanda, Karuna Singh, Anil Vichitra, and Goutam Rakshit. "Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Withania somnifera: A multicentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 11, no. 2 (2017): 97-108.

Emaciation: Umadevi, M., R. Rajeswari, C. Sharmila Rahale, S. Selvavenkadesh, R. Pushpa, KP Sampath Kumar, and Debjit Bhowmik. "Traditional and medicinal uses of Withania somnifera." The pharma innovation 1, no. 9, Part A (2012): 102.

Erectile Dysfunction: Mamidi, Prasad, and A. B. Thakar. "Efficacy of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal. Linn.) in the management of psychogenic erectile dysfunction." AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda) 32, no. 3 (2011): 322-328.

Fatigue: Umadevi, M., R. Rajeswari, C. Sharmila Rahale, S. Selvavenkadesh, R. Pushpa, KP Sampath Kumar, and Debjit Bhowmik. "Traditional and medicinal uses of Withania somnifera." The pharma innovation 1, no. 9, Part A (2012): 102.

Hypothyroidism: Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Indraneel Basu, and Siddarth Singh. "Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 24, no. 3 (2018): 243-248.

Impotence: Chauhan, Sanjaya, Manoj K. Srivastava, and Anklesh K. Pathak. "Effect of standardized root extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on well‐being and sexual performance in adult males: A randomized controlled trial." Health Science Reports 5, no. 4 (2022): e741.

Insomnia: Speers, Alex B., Kadine A. Cabey, Amala Soumyanath, and Kirsten M. Wright. "Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on stress and the stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders anxiety, depression, and insomnia." Current neuropharmacology 19, no. 9 (2021): 1468.

Insulin Resistance: Ram, Heera, and A. K. Singh. "Improvements in insulin resistance and β-cells dysfunction by ddp-4 inhibition potential of Withania Somnifera (L.) dunal root extract in type 2 diabetic rat." Biointerface Res. Appl. Chem 11 (2020): 8141-8155.

Low Libido: Chauhan, Sanjaya, Manoj K. Srivastava, and Anklesh K. Pathak. "Effect of standardized root extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on well‐being and sexual performance in adult males: A randomized controlled trial." Health Science Reports 5, no. 4 (2022): e741.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Langade, Deepak, Vaishali Thakare, Subodh Kanchi, and Sunil Kelgane. "Clinical evaluation of the pharmacological impact of ashwagandha root extract on sleep in healthy volunteers and insomnia patients: A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study." Journal of ethnopharmacology 264 (2021): 113276.

Post Traumatic Stress Disroder (PTSD): Gerbarg, Patricia L., and Richard P. Brown. "Integrative treatments for masked anxiety and PTSD in highly sensitive patients."

Scabies: Mehra, Pritha, Anil Khurana, Renu Mittal, Bhopal Arya, Rajpal Rajpal, Raj Manchanda, Karuna Singh, Anil Vichitra, and Goutam Rakshit. "Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Withania somnifera: A multicentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 11, no. 2 (2017): 97-108.

Sexual Dysfunction: Chauhan, Sanjaya, Manoj K. Srivastava, and Anklesh K. Pathak. "Effect of standardized root extract of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on well‐being and sexual performance in adult males: A randomized controlled trial." Health Science Reports 5, no. 4 (2022): e741.

Stress: Speers, Alex B., Kadine A. Cabey, Amala Soumyanath, and Kirsten M. Wright. "Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on stress and the stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders anxiety, depression, and insomnia." Current neuropharmacology 19, no. 9 (2021&41;: 1468.

Ulcer: Mehra, Pritha, Anil Khurana, Renu Mittal, Bhopal Arya, Rajpal Rajpal, Raj Manchanda, Karuna Singh, Anil Vichitra, and Goutam Rakshit. "Homoeopathic pathogenetic trial of Withania somnifera: A multicentric, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial." Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy 11, no. 2 (2017): 97-108.

Medicinal Actions:
Adaptogen, Anti-Inflammatory, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Aphrodisiac, Nervine, Tonic - Brain, Tonic: Cardiac, Tonic: Nerve, Tonic: Sexual Male