Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) (अश्वगंधा)| Introduction | Common Names | Usages | Gallery

Introduction Ashwagandha / Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been used since ancient times as it is caring for some miraculous medicinal value and other numerous benefits. It is also known as winter cherry and many other names. Ashwagandha gives energy to the body and increases concentration power. It is one of the best tonics for improving the body’s immune system.

Ashwagandha has many types in many countries but the real ashwagandha is that When it’s root is crushed and there is smell like horse urine, the smell is comparatively more in fresh roots of Ashwagandha. It is of two types

1. Small Ashwagandha, whose shrub is small but roots are longer and specially found in Nagaur, Rajasthan.
2. Big or Deshi Ashwagandha, whose shrub is big but roots are shorter. It can easily be found in gardens, fields, and mountains

Appearance of Ashwagandha (Morphology)

Withania somnifera (Dunal) –

Its shrub is erect, grey colored, 0.3-2 m tall. Its stem is branched, branches are spherical, while its leaves are simple, alternative, oval-shaped, 5-10 cm long & 2.5- 7 cm wide with hairs. And its roots are grey from outside & white from inside, thin, round, 30-45 cm long. It’s flowering & fruiting time is from March to August.

Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal

It’s shrub is shrubby (झाड़ीदार) & about 1.2 m tall while it’s leaves are lanceolate (भालाकार), and brown colored. Flowers are pale-colored, spherical, red, or brown colored. Its roots are thin and small.

Properties of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is having many properties like- Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant, making the immune system strong, providing strength to the body, reducing weakness, stress, anxiety, and it also reduces skin disorder, Heart-related disorders, blood sugar level, the pain of arthritis, helpful in urinary disorders and reproductive health, etc.

Ashwagandha contains many essential nutrients-Starch, Protein, Aminoacids, sugar, vitamin-B6, Magnesium, etc which are required for body growth and development.

25 Health Benefits of Ashwagandha

for Blood Sugar Level

A few studies on Ashwagandha suggest that it might help in reducing blood sugar levels due to its effect on the secretion of insulin hormone.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) as an amazing healer for Stress, Anxiety

Stress and anxiety reduce the efficiency and capacity of the body. Ashwagandha can be a boon for Suffering Person, it is used for decreasing anxiety or stress symptoms as it may block the pathway of stress. And many of the brands are giving only Withania somnifera ext. (ashwagandha ext.) as an anti-stress medicine.

  for Strength and Muscle development

Ashwagandha is one of the best tonics for giving strength to the body and increasing body muscles. It not only provides strength but also burn fat and ameliorate body composition.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Immunity

Ashwagandha is also helpful for boosting our immunity and reduces inflammation in the body by increasing immune cells which fight against the infectious cells. It assists the body to eradicate bacteria and others pathogens from the body.

for urinary Disorders

Ashwagandha is also having the properties to deal with urinary disorders. It helps to open sweat pores which let the liquid to come out.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Losing weight

According to some research, Ashwagandha may be helpful in the formation of new blood in the body. It also gives energy to the body and even helpful for losing the body weight, this might sound crazy that how can one plant helps in both losing and gaining weight, here is the secret- ashwagandha roots powder helps in gaining weight, building muscles and fresh ashwagandha leaves are said to be used in weigh loss.

for Insomnia

Ashwagandha is a very good brain tonic it works in many aspects of brain health, yes, one of its benefits is, it also helpful for reducing insomnia as it has the property of hypotonic.

for Head disorders

Using 2-4 gm powder of ashwagandha helps in suppressing white hairs in uncertain age and also helps in पालित*disorders.

for Increasing eyesight

Mix 2 gm ashwagandha powder, 2gm Dhatri (धात्री)fruit powder, and 1 gm mulethi (मुलेठी) powder. Taking one spoon of it in the morning & evening will increase eyesight.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Tuberculosis

Taking 2 gm powder of ashwagandha with 20 ml decoction of ashwagandha will help in Tuberculosis.

for Cough

Crush down 10 gm roots of ashwagandha and mix 10 gm mishri then boil it in 400 ml water till it remains 8th part of this solution. Feeding it is helpful in suppressing cough and whooping cough (कुकरखाँसी).

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Heart pain

Taking the 2 gm powder of Ashwagandha roots with water will give benefits in Vataj pain.

for Abdominal helminth

Mix equal part of Giloypowder in ashwagandha powder, take 5-10 gm with honey regularly will suppress abdominal helminthiasis.

for Constipation

Taking 2 gm powder of ashwagandha with water will remove constipation.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Reproductive parts related disorders

Ashwagandha has been used since ancient times for curing the disorders of reproductive parts. It helps to increase sperm count and make them healthy. With this, it also increases libido power in both male & female. Even it also assists to improve the rate of pregnancy.

for Leucorrhea

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Bones related disorders

As Ashwagandha has the property of anti-inflammatory which helps in reducing the pain of arthritis. Taking ashwagandha with milk will give strength to bones and reduce pain.

for Arthritis

Taking 2 gm of Ashwagandha’s powder with warm milk or water in the morning & evening will give good results in patients.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Arthritis

Mix 3 gm ghee & 1 gm sugar in 3 gm ashwagandha powder. Taking it in morning & evening suppress joint pain.

Mix four times ghee in Ashwagandha roots decoction &paste (कल्क)and fry it. Feeding this will suppress Vata Disorders.

for Skin disorders

Ashwagandha has good results for curing skin related disorder such as Ulcers, swelling, dark spots & wounds.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) as an Anti aging tonic

Ashwagandha helps the body to reduce old age symptoms because it doesn’t let the body get dehydrated and keep it healthy.

for Herpes (विसर्प)

Grind the roots of ashwagandha and warm it applying the paste of it will help in herpes.

for Healing Injury

In case of injury, Mix ghee in Ashwagandha powder and feeding this with milk is beneficial.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Weakness

Taking 2-3 gm ashwagandha’s powder with milk for one year will make body diseases free.

Mix 3 gm honey in 10-10 gm ashwagandha’spowder, sesamum, ghee. Taking 1-2 gm in winter regularly will make the body stronger.

Mix 125 mg mishri in 1 gm ashwagandha’spowder and feeding this with warmed milk will make sperm healthy and will give strength.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for Fever

Mix both 2 gm ashwagandha powder & 1 gm Giloy extract, feeding this with warm water daily in the evening will suppress fever.

Buy Himalaya Ashwagandha

Read more

Papaya (पपीता)(Carica papaya)