Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
English: Winter Cherry
Arabic: سم الفراخ (سِم الفِراخ)، مرجان (مُرجان)
Chinese: 睡茄
Gujarati: અશ્વગંધા
Hindi: अश्वगंधा
Kannada: ಅಶ್ವಗಂಧಾ, Kanchuki
Telugu: అశ్వగంధ
Tamil: அமுக்கிரா amukkira
Malayalam: അമുക്കുരം Amukkuram
Punjabi: ਅਸ਼ਵਗੰਧਾ
Description: A suffruticose shrub, 60-90 cm tall. Branches ascending. Shoots stellate-tomentose. Leaves 4-13 x 2-9 cm, elliptic-ovate to broadly ovate, acute, cuneate or oblique, entire to repand. Petiole 10-20 mm long. Flowers sessile to subsessile, greenish-yellow, in axillary clusters of 2-5.Calyx 2-2.5 x 2.5-3 mm, up to 2.0 x 14 mm in fruit, stellately hairy, becoming glabrescent and membranous; teeth 1-1.5 mm long, up to 8 mm in fruit, acute. Corolla lobes 2-2.5 mm long, triangular, tomentose to the outside. Anthers sub included; filaments 1-2.5 mm long. Berry globose, 6-8 mm broad, red. Seeds sub pyriform to reniform, minutely reticulate-foveolate, yellowish-brown.
Used for phthisis, weakness, diseases of the nervous system, inflammation, and impotency (therapeutic uses based on a sixteenth century text). (Some wild variety was used.) Charaka (1000 bc) included Ashvagandha in the vajikarana (aphrodisiac and sex-stimulant) group. Ashtāngahridaya (seventh century) included it in the age-sustaining group. Shārangadhara Samhitā (thirteenth century) considered Ashvagandha to be spermatogenic and a libido stimulant; it was recommended topically for stimulating the growth of the penis, as well as for restoring the original shape to the relaxed vagina. By the sixteenth century, Ashvagandha entered into more than 30 compounds as a nourishing, rejuvenating, restorative and aphrodisiac drug for debility, anxiety neurosis, muscular atrophy, and nervine dysfunctions. [Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs: Expanded Therapeutics]
Historically used as a general tonic to enhance energy and health, ashwagandha is used in a variety of Ayurvedic formulae prescribed for arthritis and rheumatism, and to prevent disease in the el der ly as well as in pregnancy. [Clinical Botanical Medicine]
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Poisoning due to seeds. Plant decoction said to increase fertility in women, used for conception. diuretic. Bark for disease of the rectum. Roots abortifacient, sedative, narcotic, general tonic, hypotensive, stimulant, diuretic, used for conception in sterility, gangrenous rectitis, insomnia, cardiac diseases, malaria, venereal diseases, syphilis, ulcers, asthma, urinary troubles, renal calculi; root decoction given to cure spermatorrhea; boiled root infusion used for women’s stomachache; powdered roots in diabetes, gout, rheumatism; fresh root juice tonic, aphrodisiac. Leaves for wounds, sores, skin diseases; arthritis, swellings, wounds, boils, crushed leaves applied as a poultice to affected areas; paste of leaves and fresh roots applied on tumours, boils, swellings, rheumatism; against malaria, leaves and roots boiled. Fruit soaked in water and the decoction applied to eye diseases. Rhizome powder mixed with seed powder of Hygrophila schulli and Ionidium suffruticosum mixed with water and taken orally as aphrodisiac. Veterinary medicine, stem bark of Deccania pubescens ground with those of Carissa spinarum, Chloroxylon swietenia and tubers of Withania somnifera given in anthrax. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
Root is one of the most highly regarded herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. W. somnifera, an Ayurvedic rasayana (memory facilitating drug), was shown to attenuate amnesic effects in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease by reversal of cholinergic dysfunction induced by ibotenic acid. [Evaluation of Herbal Medicinal Products]
In West African folk medicine, both roots and leaves are used internally, and the freshly pounded leaves (also used internally) are used against fever, chills, and rheumatism, among several other uses. In southern Africa, the Sotho use the plant as an anthelmintic and as a ritual plant against witchcraft. The Zulu administer an enema of the decorticated root for the treatment of hyperpyrexia in infants. The Xhosa and the Pedi use the plant to disinfect meat, particularly if suspected to be infected with anthrax. A decoction of the root and leaf is used by the Swati for the treatment of eruptive diseases such as smallpox. The plant is reported to be used in southern Africa in the treatment of asthma and bronchial diseases and syphilis and other venereal infections, as a remedy for “blach gall-sickness,” and as a general antiseptic for wound dressing. [Handbook of African Medicinal Plants, Second Edition]
Use of ashwagandha root originates in Ayurvedic medicine and it is used as a tonic for debility and as an adaptogen and immune modulator. It has sedative and anti-inflammatory effects and is used for a wide range of conditions including hypercholesterolaemia. [Stockley's Herbal Medicines Interactions]
The root is regarded as tonic, alterative, and aphrodisiac, and is used in consumption, emaciation of children, debility from old age, rheumatism, &c. (Dutt). It has also narcotic and diuretic properties. The root sold in the bazars of South India resembles Gentian root in external appearance. The ground root and bruised leaves are employed as a local application to carbuncles, ulcers, and painful swellings (Pharm. Ind.). The root is also said to have deobstruent properties. The leaves are very bitter, and are given in infusion in fevers. The fruit is diuretic. [Indian medicinal plants - 1918]
Narcotic, analgesic, antibacterial, useful for impotency. Caution, it is a poisonous herb. Among the Jordanian tribes it is used for impotency. [Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Middle-East]
The root of this plant is a tonic, alterative, aphrodisiac and used in consumption, emaciation, debility due to old age, rheumatism, etc. It has also narcotic, diuretic and deobstruent properties. In Sind, it is used to cause abortion. The root ground into a paste is applied on ulcers, carbuncles and painful swellings with beneficial results. The Zulus use an infusion of the root as an enema for gangrenous rectitis and the whole plant for treating syphilis. The green berries are rubbed on ringworm with beneficial effect. A decoction of the leaf is used externally and internally in the treatment of haemorrhoids. A paste of the leaf is applied on syphilitic sores. In Tanganyika, the root of the plant is used as a sexual stimulant and also as an abortifacient, while in southern and eastern Africa it is given for diarrhoea and proctitis and the leaf for nausea and rheumatism. In Ceylon, the powdered root is taken as an aphrodisiac and for consumption. A special preparation is made along with other drugs for treating insanity, apoplexy and nervous diseases. The plant has milk-coagulating properties and can be used for cheese-making. It is also an insecticide. [Medicinal Plants (Indigenous and Exotic) Used in Ceylon]
In West African local medicine, both roots and leaves are used internally, and the freshly pounded leaves also externally, against fever, chills, rheumatism, colics, etc. The juice of the plant is said to be diuretic and emmenagogic. In local medicine in East Africa, the root is considered to have narcotic and antiepileptic actions. [Medicinal Plants in Tropical West Africa]
Reduces stress. Has anti-inflammatory effect. Boosts sexual energy in men (aphrodisiac) [Pharmacodynamic Basis of Herbal Medicine 2nd Ed]
Since ancient times ashwagandha has been considered a nervine tonic, alterative, aphrodisiac, deobstruent (having the property of removing obstruction in any system of the human body) and a sedative. It has been used in rheumatism, consumption and in debility. Ashwagandha can be used by persons of both sexes, of all ages and at all stages of their lives. In elders it provides energy, relieves inflammations, pains and aches of the back, hand and feet, and in the generative system, nervous debility and diseases [Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation]
Over 1700 Published articles of Withania somnifera
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Brassica rapa L.Family: Brassicaceae
