The very term, "Ayurveda" gives us a feeling of "Nature". We can smell "Nature" through the various Ayurvedic remedies. The best gifts that we derive from the Nature come in the form of healers. And several such healers are available in the form of herbs and plants with medicinal values. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian Ginseng or Winter cherry,  is one such healer. It has been in use as a herbal remedy since hundreds of years.

Ashwagandha is a short shrub that grows in India and North America. The flowers of the plant are small and green, while the ripe fruit is orange-red and has milk-coagulating properties. The roots of the ashwagandha plant have been deployed for millennia in the Ayurvedic healing process. Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, includingflavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha shows great promise in the treatment of inflammation and stress. It is also believed to be effective in increasing mental activity and in contributing towards the body's rejuvenation process. The antioxidant properties of the plant cannot be underestimated either!

What are the Medicinal Uses of Ashwagandha?

The roots, seeds and leaves of Ashwagandha are used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. It is considered as one of the most essential herbs required for the body's rejuvenation. Some of the medicinal uses of ashwagandha are:

• It works as an anti-inflammatory agent, therefore helps in reducing swellings and restoring proper blood circulation.
• It reduces blood pressure and hypertension.
• It helps in decreasing high cholesterol levels.
• It ensures proper secretion of all the enzymes in the body, thereby, normalizing the body's functioning.
• It helps in strengthening the nervous structure.
• It also prevents early ageing.
• It greatly affects the healing of wounds and injuries.
• It improves mental ability and concentration.
• It works as a powerful immune booster that helps in fighting any foreign invasion in the body.
• It helps in increasing the sperm count apart from improving the quality of the sperms.
• It can be considered as a remedy for constipation.
• Dried roots are used as tonic for hiccup, cold, cough, female disorders, as a sedative and in the treatment of senile debility and ulcers as well.
• Leaves are applied for treating carbuncles, inflammation and swellings. Leaf juice is useful in conjunctivitis.
• Bark decoction is taken for asthma and applied locally to bed sores.
• Ashwagandha and its extracts are used in the preparation of herbal tea, powders, tablets and syrups.
• The plant has been used as an aphrodisiac, liver tonic, anti-inflammatory agent and more recently to treat asthma, ulcers, insomnia and senile dementia.
• Clinical trials and animal research support the use of ashwagandha in case of anxiety, cognitive and neurological disorders, inflammation and Parkinson's disease.
• It gives good results in leucorrhoea (a condition which involves the flow of an abnormal, whitish discharge from a woman's vagina).
• It also acts as an effective diuretic and hence, it is very helpful in treating urinary tract infections.
• It helps in increasing physical endurance in physically weak people or in those people who are in the process of recovery from surgeries or illnesses like tuberculosis.

What are the Specific Diseases in Which Ashwagandha has been Found to be Effective?

• Osteoarthritis: In a study, scientists tested ashwagandha's effects on human cartilage and found that the herb may help protect against inflammation and cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.
• Anxiety: A study conducted on rodents has shown that ashwagandha displays anti-depression and anti-anxiety effects similar to that of lorazepam (a medicine used to treat anxiety disorders).
• Antioxidants: Scholars at Banaras Hindu University, located in Varanasi, India, have conducted a research that has shown that many of the elements of ashwagandha are antioxidants. The study, conducted on animal subjects, revealed the presence of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
• Diabetes: Ashwagandha may help normalize high blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, according to a preliminary, animal-based research.
• Cancer: A research conducted on human tumor cell lines reveals that ashwagandha may slow the growth of lung, breast and colon cancer cells. The University of Arizona scientists have used a new, fast-growing technique to produce a water-soluble form of the withaferin A compound that combats cancer and encourages the survival of healthy cells.
• Sexual Dysfunction: It is a tonic which increases sexual potency. In the rural areas, vegetable made out of this plant is given to tuberculosis patients. It also increases the iron content in the blood.  

How can You Use Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is easily available in medical stores as capsules, powders and tinctures. The herb is also commonly used in adaptogen formulas, which may contain other herbs like ginseng and rhodiola.

Is There Any Side Effect?

It is generally safe to take ashwagandha but it may induce abortion when consumed in large doses. So, pregnant women should avoid using it. Ashwagandha may also increase the potency of barbiturates (a class of drugs that depresses the central nervous system).

You may need to ask your health advisor before you start taking any Ayurvedic remedies. Existence of health conditions may restrict the usage of such Ayurvedic remedies. Nevertheless, they can still be considered as effective and alternative forms of treatment. And who does not like to get rejuvenated with Nature as the doctor?

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Posted in: Alternative,Ayurveda,Health,Herb,Herbalism,India,Unani,Withania somnifera