Withania Somnifera

Botanical Name : Withania Somnifera English/Common Name : Winter cherry, Ashwagandha Ayurvedic Name : Ashwagandha Family : Solanaceae Part Used : Root
	Traditionally all parts of the plant are used as herbal remedies but the root, which has a damp horse smell, is much more effective. Habitat and Botany : Ashwagandha is a small shrub that grows to 1.5 meters tall. It is found in dry areas of India and Africa. Ashwa means horse. Gandha means fragrance. It indicates the property-the strength and sexual vitality of the horse. Main Active Constituents: Withaferin, Withanolides, Withanine, sitoindosides, Somniferine, Alkaloids and Ethanolides. Withanolides are believed to account for the multiple medicinal application of Ashwagandha. It stimulates the activation of immune system cells such a lymphocytes. It inhibits inflammation and improves memory. Taken together, these actions support the traditional reputation of Ashwagandha as a tonic or adaptogen. Action (pharmacology): Tonic, nervine, sedative, nerve restorative, adaptogen, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulator, free radical scavenger, antistress, rejuvenative, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiarthritic. Ashwagandha is called Rasawana, which means powerful rejuvenator in Ayurvedic terminology. It increases hemoglobin (red blood count) and hair melanin. Indications: Stress, general debility, depression & moodiness, aging, fatigue (temporary and chronic), anxiety, depressed immunity, sexual debility in males, infertility, memory loss, hormonal imbalances, weakness during pregnancy, stress induced disorders, rheumatic disorder, anxiety neurosis, wounds and ulcers, weakness due to prolonged illness, loss of body heat, lactation. Take with lots of liquid, milk, honey and ginger when under weight, bone weakness and premature aging are present. Useful for patients taking cancer chemotherapy and radio sensitization. Antitumor, anticancer, increases physical endurance, antioxidant due to antistress and immunomodulator. Ashwagandha in the Products: Ashwagandha in Femivita Ashwagandha in Gluco Health Ashwagandha in Heart Health Ashwagandha in Joint Health Ashwagandha in Male 40 Plus Ashwagandha in Reslim AYURVEDIC STUDY OF ASHWAGANDHA: According to Ayurvedic system of herbals there are seven tissues manufactured by body lymph namely blood, bone, muscle, fat, nerve and reproductive tissues. According to Ayurvedic theory thirty days series of enzymatic processes transform lymph into ojas, which is the body’s most specialized tissue. Ojas controls reproduction, immunity and general health and Ashwagandha specially builds ojas and supports these functions. Ojas depletion can be caused by stress, which triggers stress fighting hormones and free radicals that in turn cause degeneration of the immune and other physiological systems. This stress induced reaction can open the way for illness and disease. One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance ojas. Ojas is the most subtle, refined level of the physical body and is the end result of healthy food which is properly digested. It is responsible for a healthy immune system, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of Well being. It allows consciousness to flow within the body. With decreased ojas, we are less in touch with ourselves and more prone to diseases and having a feeling of disharmony. It prevents stress related gastrointestinal ulcers, increases physical endurance and prevents the depletion of vitamin C and Cortisol. It improves aging parameter such as graying hair, calcium level and increased libido & sexual function. In Ayurvedic theory Ashwagandha balances both nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is helpful with fatigue and nervous exhaustion and increases digestive heat in chronic conditions. In arthritis, which involves joints that are painful, dry, swollen and inflamed, Ashwagandha would be the herb of choice. Ashwagandha is effective for insomnia but does not act as a sedative. its rejuvenative and nervine properties produce energy which in turn help the body to settle and sleep. Thus it helps the body to address a stress related condition rather than masking it with sedatives. A herb that rejuvenates the nervous system, erases insomnia and eases stress. Deep Tissue Cleaning: Because Ashwagandha is a sweet root with secondary bitter qualities, it can penetrate the body’s deep tissue openings rather than constructing them. Very bitter roots construct and clean but do not deeply access the body and rejuvenate it. After tissues are penetrated, Ashwagandha’s secondary bitter and stringent qualities stimulate a deep tissue cleansing not possible with an exclusively bitter herb. Antistress: Ashwagandha directly opposes the reaction of stress by reducing the amount of Cortisol released by the adrenal glands of our body. Long term production of Cortisol has adverse effect on our health like: High Blood pressure, Stomach Ulcers, Immune depression and Insomnia, whilst having an anabolic, bodybuilding, restorative and Aphrodisiac effect. Ashwagandha is an anti exhaustion, rejuvenating, aphrodisiac agent. The alkaloids in Ashwagandha have been shown to be sedative and to lower the blood pressure. The withanoids are anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and protect the liver damage by Toxins. The main function of Ashwagandha is that it delays the release of cortisol by the adrenals. This prevents the negative effects like long term cortisol production on the body and prevents the adrenals from becoming exhausted, a direct anti-stress effect which has been reported by many researchers. Ashwagandha also has a sedative effect which claims the adrenaline fueled anxiety that accompanies stressful life styles, thereby dealing with another factor that is a result, and a cause of stress indeed. Ashwagandha has often been used to treat primary anxiety states. If your sleep is disturbed, this sedative effect can be used to encourage restful sleep, again helping the body or recover from the effects of stress. Ashwagandha has also been shown to lower blood pressure and is highly effective in stopping the formation of stress induced ulcers. It has been found that Ashwagandha increases the number of immune cells known as T cells and B cells – helping to fight infections. All these actions directly oppose the effects of stress. It increases red blood cell counts, improves hemoglobin level, increases endurance and stamina and increases lean weight. Natural Anabolic Training Aid: Another area where Ashwagandha is becoming popular is in sports and athletics. When you train hard, you walk a very fine line between overtraining and training just enough. Even in perfect circumstances, training by itself is a stress on the body. To get the maximum performance from your muscles, you require just the right amount of training coupled with appropriate rest and recovery periods. Overtraining means too much cortisol which means muscle protein is eaten up and performance suffers. Endurance athletes who train heavily, such as long-distance runner and cyclists, are very prone to infections. Excess cortisol produced in response to the heavy training load suppresses the immune system. It can also lead to muscle and tendon tears as the muscles are weakened due to protein loss under the influence of cortisol. With its muscle preserving qualities, Ashwagandha is the perfect natural anabolic training aid for the serious athlete. Many people have compared Ashwagandha with Chinese/Korean Ginseng, but modern science studies have shown Ashwagandha to be superior to ginseng. 1: J. Ethnopharmacol 1994 Dec., 44(3):131-5 A comparative pharmacological investigation of Ashwagandha and Ginseng. Grandhi A, Mujumdar AM, Patwardhan B Indian Drugs Research Association, Pune. The aqueous suspensions of roots of an Indian herb Ashwagandha and the Korean herb Gingseng were tested comparatively for 2 pharmacological activities, namely the anti-stress activity by the mice swimming endurance test and anabolic activity by noting gain in body weights and levator ani muscle in rats. A significant increase in mice swimming time was shown by Ginseng (P<0.001)> PMID: 7898119, UI:95205896 Contraindications, Toxicity, Cautions and Safety: Safe for human and animal use. This herb has been used safely by children in India and even by pregnant women. When taken in small quantities as a tonic. During lactation it increases the flow of mother’s milk. No side effects have been reported with Ashwagandha. According to Ayurveda herbs are best taken in combination with other herbs or vitamins or minerals in order to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of other and to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the that of the other. Caution: According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other. "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."