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Ashwagandha

Fri, 03/19/2010 - 15:46 — john


Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera (Solanaceae)


Sanskrit Names: Aswagandha
English Name: Winter cherry
Hindu Name: Asgandha
Telugu: Penneru gaada/Dommadolu gaddas
Botanical Name: Withania somnifera
Synonyms: Gatrakari, Turagi, Pivari, Balya, Vajikari, Vajigandha, Varahakarni
Family: Solanaceae

Description


It grows as a stout shrub that reaches a height of 170 cm (5.6 ft). Like the tomato which belongs to the same family, it bears yellow flowers and red fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape. Ashwagandha grows prolifically in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is commercially cultivated in Madhya Pradesh (a state in India).

Medicinal use


Withania somniferaIn Ayurveda ashwagandha is considered a rasayana herb. This herb is also considered an adaptogen which is an herb that works to normalize physiological function, working on the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system. In Ayurveda, the fresh roots are sometimes boiled in milk, prior to drying, in order to leach out undesirable constituents. The berries are used as a substitute for rennet, to coagulate milk in cheese making.

Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell," probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of sweaty horse. In Tamil language|Tamil, it is called Amukkrang Kilangu and is used in several medicines.

The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing" in Latin, indicating that to it are attributed sedating properties, but it has been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen. Some herbalists refer to ashwagandha as Indian ginseng, since it is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Seven American and four Japanese firms have filed for grant of patents on formulations containing extracts of the herb Ashwagandha. Fruits, leaves and seeds of the Indian medicinal plant withania somnifera have been traditionally used for the Ayurvedic system as aphrodisiacs, diuretics and for treating memory loss. The Japanese patent applications are related to the use of the herb as a skin ointment and for promoting reproductive fertility. The U.S based company Natreon has also obtained a patent for an Ashwagandha extract.

Another US establishment, the New England Deaconess Hospital, has taken a patent on an Ashwagandha formulation claimed to alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis. The product called "ashwagandha oil" is a combination of ashwagandha with almond oil and rose water designed to be used as a facial toner, and should not be consumed orally.1

Principle Constituents

Classical Categories (Gana)


This herb belongs to the following classical groups:

Caraka Ganas: Balya, Brmhaniya, Madhuraskanda
Susruta Ganas: none

Energetics

Rasa (taste): Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (pungent)
Guna (quality): Lagu (light), Snigdha (unctuousness)
Virya (energy): Ushna (heating)
Vipaka (post digestive effect): Katu (pungent)
Prabhava (Special quality): none
Dosha Effect: KV-
Dhatus: Sukra, Mamsa, Meda, Majja
Srotas (channels): Rasavaha, Shukravaha, Artavaha, Majjavaha, Pranavaha

Chemical Constituents

The main constituents of ashwagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloids, withanine is the main constituent. The other alkaloids are somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo-tropine, cuscohygrine,anferine and anhydrine. Two acyl steryl glucoside viz. sitoindoside VII and sitoindoside VIII have been isolated from root. The leaves contain steroidal lactones, which are commonly called withanolides. The withanolides have C28 steroidal nucleus with C9 side chain, having six membered lactone ring.

Ayurveda Actions

Anulomana - causing downward movement of apana
Balya - gives the body strength and increases strength to dhatus (tissues)
Brumhana - growth promoting
Deepana - enhances digestion
Gardhasathapara - prevents abortion
Hridya - heart tonic
Kandughna - anti pruritis – anti itching
Kaphaghana - Kapha pacifying
Krmighna - Destroying parasites
Kusthaghna - relieves skin diseases
Medya - brain tonic
Mutrala - diuretic
Nadibalya - nerve toning
Prajasthapana - promoting reproduction
Raktasodhaka - blood purifier
Raktaprasadana - good for the blood
Rasayana - rejuvenative tonic
Sothahara - anti-inflammatory
Swasahara - relieving asthma
Tvacya - skin disorders
Vaijkarana - building good shukra and sexual tonic
Vatahara - Vata pacifying
Vedanasthapana - relieving pain

Important Actions


One of the best rejuvenating herbs, particularly for muscles, marrow and semen and for Vata constipation and amavata. Used in all conditions of weakness and tissue deficiency in children, for the elderly, debilitated by chronic diseases, or those suffering from overwork, lack of sleep and nervous exhaustion. Increases weight, improves immunity and is an aphrodisiac. Given in asthma, cough, inflammation and conception. For rheumatic disorders and arthritic complaints. Given for paralysis, memory loss, multiple sclerosis, impotence, infertility, skin disorders and swollen glands.

Indications

External use


Leaves or root paste applied to enlarged cervical glands or swollen glands reduce oedema and pain. Used in oil massage for Vāta diseases. Juice of Ashwagandha leaves used as eardrops in ear discharge.

Internal use


Circulatory system: Good for weak heart, purifies the blood and reduces oedema. Decoction used for rheumatoid arthritis.
Digestive system: Bark powder is an appetizer, carminative and anthelmintic – good for abdominal pain, constipation and worms..
Nervous system: Sedative and nerve tonic. Helps with fainting, giddiness and insomnia.
Respiratory system: Expectorant and an antiasthmatic property. Ash along with ghee is effective for asthma. A bark decoction in low dose for cough and asthma.
Reproductive system: Aphrodisiac property, used in semen disorders and leucorrhea caused due to endometritis.
Urinary system: Diuretic and so used in oliguria and anurea. Used to strengthen meda dhatu
Skin: Used in vitilgo and other skin diseases, blisters heal when black ashes of the root are applied to them.
Temperature: It Febrifuge. In chronic fever it not only helps as antipyretic but also acts a general tonic.

Precautions


High Pitta and ama, with congestion. (High does of Ashwagandha can have abortificaton
properties; it is inadvisable to take during pregnancy for this reason.)

Withania somnifera stimulates the thyroid leading to thyreotoxicosis in some humans2

Safety


No drug-herb interactions are known.

Parts Used


Parts used: Roots, fruits and leaves.
Dosage: Roots – powder, 3-6 grms., salts and ash 1-3 gms.

Important Combinations

Asvagandharista (herbal wine -easy to assimilate and promote agni and get stronger with age), 10-20 ml three times a day. Asvagandha rasayana (a herbal tonic preparation), asvagandha ghrta (Medicated ghee preparation which makes it idea for majja, shukra dhatus. 10 ml three times a day.

Research

1) Dravyaguna Vijnana by Dr J.L.N. Sastry3 gives 32 research references. Among these was a 1 yr study giving the root with milk to healthy volunteers which resulted a significant increase in Hb%, RBC, hair melanin, serum cholesterol and calcium levels decreased. Other tests showed significant relief of anxiety neurosis, rheumatoid arthritis, OA, periarthritis, immunosuppressive activity and anti-pyretic. In rats the root powder showed decreased locomotive activity, reduction in inflammation,. When root-powder administered to 91 patients was good in management of amlapitta. Aqueous and organic extracts showed antibacterial activity against mycobacterium tuberculae in vitro. An antidepressant and psychotropic activity is reported. An antioxidant and detoxifying properties and anti tumour activity.

Some good research notes here going a wide spectrum of human and animal research.

2) Use of Withania somnifera Dunal as an adjuvant during radiation therapy4. Administration of a 75% methanolic extract of the plant was found to significantly increase the total WBC count in normal Balb/c mice and reduce the leucopenia induced by sublethal dose of gamma radiation. Treatment with W. somnifera was found to increase the bone marrow cellularity significantly, the percentage increase being 146.3. Treatment with W. somnifera had normalised the ratio of normochromatic erythrocytes and polychromatic erythrocytes in mice after the radiation exposure. Major activity of W. somnifera seemed to be in the stimulation of stem cell proliferation. Interesting research of use of ashvagandha in helping many people today in quick recovery of chemo-therapy.

3) Nootropic-like effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) in mice5 Interesting research show the retention and attenuated the amnesia produced by acute treatment with electroconvulsive shock.

4) Chemopreventive activity of Withania somnifera in experimentally induced fibrosarcoma tumours in Swiss albino mice6.

5) Dendrite extension by methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) in SK-N-SH cells7. The results suggest that the methanol extract of Ashwagandha promotes the formation of dendrites.

6) There is a great deal of research done with Ashwagandha which confirms the properties that the Ayurveda texts mention. It seems the most useful use for it is for anything related to the nerves and as a good boost of the WBC in a patient undergoing chemotherapy.

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