Ashwagandha - Uses and Benefits

Ashwagandha or Indian winter cherry is considered one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic system of medicines. Because of its large scope, the Ayurvedic physicians used it much in curing people from their suffering. Because of its properties, it has plenty of respect in the eyes of herbal healers.

Ashwagandha is biologically known as Withania somnifera. It is a shrub, normally found everywhere in India especially in northwestern part of the sub continent but is now one day be grown in areas because of its great commercial demand. Plant size varies from 1 to 5 ft Plant part used is root. It derives its name "Ashwagandha" because of two reasons. The first reason is that its root smells horse and the second reason is that it vitalizes body to provide strength, like a horse possesses.

Ashwagandha is ushan virya in strength, has laghu (light) and ticket (penetrating) properties. Contains ticket, katu and Madhur rasa. Because of these combinations of superior properties, Ashwagandha acts in a variety of diseases with good results. Since it is ushan virya in potency, it acts as vata suppressant. There is therefore exempt from all the diseases caused by vata dominance. Also because of its hot strength, it opposes the increase of kapha therefore also occur in suppressing increased and unbalanced kapha dosha. Root been found to contain biochemical like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine etc. It is also glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acids. Ashwagandha is an herb with many uses.

The following are indications:

• It is considered as the main adaptogens in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.

• It works to suppress the pain of any sort. It has this property because of its ushan virya potentiation, which helps to eliminate vata is due to the initiation of pain in the body.

• Good results have been seen in diseases such as Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), sandhi gata vata (Osteoarthritis) vatarakt (gout), gridhasi (sciatica) and other vata dominant diseases.

• Works as an anti-inflammatory substance therefore helps to reduce swelling and to restore blood supply.

• Its local application also has great results in lymphadenopathy, goiter and any body part that is supposed to have inflammation and pain

• Possess great healing properties therefore has great effect in treating wounds and injuries

• It reduces stress due to the presence of vata suppressant properties which helps in nurturing the nervous system

• Helps to promote calmness and mental satisfaction in mind due to its good penetrating power, which helps to counter negative adaptogens.

• This helps to relieve the feeling of numbness and burning sensation in extremities.

• Helps to provide nutrition to the brain for its better functioning and greater ability to work.

• It is often a person who regularly suffers from dizziness, uncautiousness and depression as it helps to reduce mental and physical debilitation.

• Improves mental abilities, helps to keep power and improves mental concentration

• Increases muscular endurance and helps build stamina.

• revitalizes your body and reduces inappropriate fatigue caused due weak body strength accumulation of negative energies in the body.

• Works as rasayan i.e. a substance that helps prevent premature aging and rejuvenates whole body to give the youth.

• It acts as a powerful immune booster that helps to fight against any foreign invasion in the body.

• Its antioxidant properties help to avoid symptoms of premature aging

• A powerful aphrodisiac, thereby helping to enhance sexual powers and long endurance

• It also helps to increase sperm count, and also the quality of sperm.

• It gives good results in leucorrhoea, as it has the properties that suppress kapha.

• It is considered one of the most commonly used herb to relieve hypertension with excellent results.

• It is also found excellent addition that helps to prove the strength to heart muscles and the heart works normally

• It is also in possession of the properties that help it to behave like a diuretic, therefore is very helpful in treating urinary tract infections (UTI)

• Wonderful remedy increase physical stamina are widespread in physically weak people or people who are recovering from a long illness which, if tuberculosis or surgery.

• Favorable results have also been seen in the upper respiratory tract (URTI) and asthmatic condition with wonderful results.