Pdf on jul 1, 2014, nikhil teli and others published withania somnifera. Today will look into the herbal plant ashwagandha, its medicinal benefits in ayurvedic medicine and how to grow and care ashwagandha plant. A tonic of dried roots is very effective in case of hiccup, cold andcough. Pdf studies of ashwagandha withania somnifera dunal. Ashwagandha extract is a derivative of the ashwagandha roots. The chemical components of ashwagandha show its potential in helping to treat a wide range of health issues and concerns. Adulteration of ashwagandha withania somnifera roots, and extracts keywords.
In animal studies, ashwagandha has been shown to support the activity of lymphocytes and macrophages, moderate occasional stress, enhance memory. Somnifera ashwagandha, ws a commonly used herb in ayurvedic. Ashwagandha is a dietary supplement known by the botanical name withania somnifera. What types of arthritis could ashwagandha help treat. Ashwagandha, a tropical herb used in indian ayurvedic medicine, has a long history of its health promoting and therapeutic effects. Ashwagandha the name ashwagandha means the sweat of a horse, indicating that a person who uses the herb will gain the energy and vitality of a horse. Ashwagandha medicinal uses and health benefits bimbima. Ashwagandha prefers light, sandy soil with an acidity level between 7.
Ashwagandha holds the most prominent place among all the ayurvedic rasayana herbs. One of the major health benefits of ashwagandha is that it has no side effects as compared to antidepressants and antianxiety medications. This could be ascribed to the efficacy and availabilities of these plants because they account for 25% of higher plants in the world comprising 5 400 with more than 16 300 medicinal uses. Ashwagandha with botanical name withania somnifera. Ashwagandha exhibits a wide range of therapeutic properties by tuning the endocrine. The active compounds in ashwagandha appear to be withanolides, a form of triterpene lactones. Adulterant, adulteration, ashwagandha root, ashwagandha leaf, ashwagandha aerial part, withania. Somnifera pdf a standardized withania somnifera extract. Ashwagandha root withania somnifera solanaceae nightshade family medicinal uses ashwagandhas use has been recorded for at least 3,000 years. Ashwagandha plant care and health benefits uses of. Solanaceae, a perennial shrub, found in waste land, cultivated field and open grounds throughout india, widely cultivated in certain areas of madhya pradesh and rajasthan, roots collected in winter, washed and cut into short pieces.
What is ashwagandha extract, health benefits, side effects. Ashwagandha withania somnifera restorative medicine. Economic part root major constituents total alkaloid 0. Ashwagandha withania somnifera an overview of the research and clinical indications s p o n s o r e d b y. While it was historically domesticated as a medicinal plant in india, this herb grew and was traditionally used as a rejuvenative herb across the ancient mediterranean countries into palestine, asia, and much of the arab countries and also into africa. Withania somnifera dunal ashwagandha, ws is widely used in ayurvedic medicine.
Ashwagandha increases the count of white blood cells and prepares the body to produce antigens against various infections and allergies. Medicinal uses of lemon grass alcorn state university. Mars, brigitte herbs for mental and emotional health. Since 6000 years, ashwagandha has been used as a traditional medicine in india. It builds chi, helps lower cortisol levels, and is excellent for those in convalescence. Withania somnifera, also known as ashwagandha, is an. It is the use of plants for medicinal purposes, and the study of such uses. Withanolides are key constituents of this herb and play an important role in ashwagandhas overall ability to promote physical and mental health. This benefit is brought by the antioxidant properties of this herb. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of withania somnifera. Aloe vera help to soothe skin injuries affected by burning, skin irritations, cuts and insect bites, and its bactericidal properties relieve. Though renowned as a natural sleep aid, it also has powerful effects on other aspects of your health. Alkaloids, saponins, steroidal lactones and withanolides are thought to be the biologically active components of ashwagandha. Ashwa means horse, gandha means smell because of the strong aroma of the root described as horselike.
Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine practiced in india can be traced back to 6000 bc charak samhita, 1949. Ashwagandha also called as, indian ginseng, stevia a natural non caloric sweetener, brahmi brain tonic and jatamansi are the important herbs which have very good medicinal values. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of withania. Ashwagandha is an important ancient ayurvedic plant and a kharif crop. Of all the medicinal plants used in indias several millennia old tradition of ayurveda, ashwagandha, withania somnifera, is the most highly prized. The literal meaning of ashwagandha is the smell gandhasmell of a horse ashvahorse, which perhaps is due to the characteristic smell of fresh roots or may be due to its quality of vajikaran and property of giving stamina of a horse ashwagandha is a medicinal plant. Herbs for mental and emotional health brigitte mars. Ppt medicinal plants powerpoint presentation free to. It acts mainly on the reproductive and nervous systems, having a rejuvenative effect on the body, and is used to improve vitality and aid recovery after chronic illness. Antidiabetic medicinal plants used by the basotho tribe of. It is an important medicinal plant and used in ayurvedic medicines for the. Ashwagandha ashwagandha consists of dried mature roots of withania somnifera dunal. Pdf withania somnifera dunal member of solanaceae family popularly known as ashwagandha, indian ginseng, or winter cherry has been used in ayurveda.
Ashwagandha, the indian ginseng or winter cherry has been used as a quiet valuable herb in the ayurvedic and indigenous. This herb functions via active constituents called withanolides, which have a number of positive effects including improved physical endurance and mental acuity. Ashwagandha, the magical herb, is considered to be natures gift to mankind. The extract is commonly used with other ayurvedic herbs and administered as an herbal supplement for overall improvement of health.
Other medicinal uses and benefits of ashwagandha root are as follows. Immunomodulatory effect of withania somnifera, asparagus racemosas and. The name ashwagandha is composed of two sanskrit words. While not approved by the food and drug administration fda, lemongrass reportedly has a wide variety of therapeutic effects. Are the most widely used medicmes in the world today ashwagandha was. The characteristics, benefits and application of ashwagandha in the. Also known as indian ginseng, this powerful herb used in ayurvedic medicine as a way similar to the use of ginseng in traditional chinese medicine. It is an ayurvedic herbal extract used for the treatment of general debility and stress related psychological diseases. Several components of this plant are used in herbal. Ashwagandha, the miraculous herb is just the ticket for you. For most of these 6000 years ashwagandha has been used as a rasayana.
Antioxidant properties ashwagandha root has been used for treating various ailments linked to nerve damage associated with the destructive free radicals. It can reduce anxiety and stress, help fight depression, boost fertility and testosterone in men, and even boost brain function. In historical ayurvedic texts, the root was thought to offer the strength and. Water extract of ashwagandha leaves has anticancer activity plos. In historical ayurvedic texts, the root was thought to offer the strength and sexual virility of a horse. Ashwagandha has been shown to improve cancerrelated fatigue in one clinical outcome study investigating breast cancer patients. The roots of ashwagandha have been found to be very useful in the treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation of joints, nervous disorders and epilepsy. The medicinal uses of extract of ashwagandha extract are due to the high levels of phenolic compounds present in it. Today many ashwagandha supplements are available in the market, in the form of capsules and tonics. The root of ashwagandha is regarded as tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, diuretic, anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic and stimulant. The exotic india herb, ashwagandha or withania somnifera has outstanding stress relieving capability that is comparable to powerful drugs used for the. Scroll down for the powerful health benefits and beauty benefits of ashwagandha. What is ashwagandha indian ginseng, nutritional value.
Its natural habitat is located around 2,000 feet above sea level, but it will grow in low lying areas with proper care. Stockleys herbal medicines interactions follows the same easytoread format as our other publications, with the text organised into a series of individual monographs, all with a common format. To make the tea just boil dried ashwagandha roots with tea for 15 minutes and then enjoy the refreshing tea. The powerful health benefits and beauty benefits you need to know by aashna ahuja, ndtv food ashwagandha, the magical herb, is considered to be a natures gift to mankind. Ashwagandha is one of the most widespread tranquillisers used in india, where it holds a position of importance similar to ginseng in china.
Ashwagandha powder churna is usually consumed by mixing it with ghee, milk, water or honey. Ashwagandha is used in traditional medicines to treat epilepsy, and modern research may be able to explain how the herb works. Ashwagandha increases hemoglobin red blood count and hair melanin. Early evidence the grave of a neanderthal man buried 60,000 years ago. Ashwagandha for weight loss ashwagandha is a commonly used herb in ayurvedic medicine. Introduction and importance of medicinal plants and herbs. No one knows where or when plants first began to be used to treat disease. Traditional and medicinal uses of withania somnifera the pharma. A famous ayurvedic rejuvenative botanical used in many tonics and formulas, ashwagandha is the best rejuvenative that helps maintain proper nourishment of the tissues, particularly muscle and bones, while supporting the proper function of the adrenals and reproductive system. These therapeutic indications and ashwagandhas associated healing properties will be described in this paper. Through its adaptogenic effects ashwagandha may help to encourage weight loss when used in combination with other weight. Medicinal plants ashwagandha benefits, uses and pictures. Medicinal plants 1 medicinal plants 2 prehistoric times. Because the herb has not been studied extensively in people, its effectiveness is based.
Natural rejuvenating stress relief, beauty, and health. One hand weeding at an early stage is sufficient to enable the ashwagandha plants to take over the growth of weed. Aloe vera is the oldest medicinal plant ever known and the most applied medicinal plant worldwide. Ashwagandha is known to improve the female reproductive system. The plant is also considered a good source of iron, though the extracts used for medicinal purposes often are. Pdf therapeutic uses of withania somnifera ashwagandha. Traditional and medicinal uses of withania somnifera. Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb with multiple health benefits. Dunal, commonly known as ashwagandha or indian ginseng or winter cherry, is a popular medicinal plant in ayurvedic medicine. Withania somnifera ashawagandha is very revered herb of the indian ayurvedic system of medicine as a rasayana tonic. Ashwagandha root preparations traditionally have been used to promote sleep, enhance mental function, and increase stamina and endurance, among other functions.
A tincture of ashwagandha also has medicinal uses ashwagandha can also be consumed in the form of tea. For centuries, ayurvedic medicine has used it to treat people for their day to day woes such as stress, anxiety, exhaustion, lack of sleep et al. It is also used as an adaptogen for many other conditions, but. Ashwagandha extract is obtained from the root and leaves of the ashwagandha plant. In fact, hundreds of studies have shown that ashwagandha contains chemicals which are antiinflammatory, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and help calm the nervous system. College of pharmacy, udaipur 3 002 rajasthan india.
Pdf therapeutic uses of withania somnifera ashwagandha with. Accidental discovery of some new plant food that eased pain might have been the beginning of folk knowledge. Herbal drugs, withania somnifera, therapeutic potential, rasayana herb. The plant is botanically identified as withania somnifera l. Ashwagandha is good for boosting the libido in men and can be used in the formulation of medicine for erectile dysfunction ed. For example, antiinflammatory properties have been investigated to validate abstract objective. Melatonin is a common dietary supplement that has gained widespread popularity around the globe. The term medicinal plant include various types of plants used in herbalism herbology or herbal medicine. Medicinal uses of ashwagandhaindian ginseng international.