Ashwagandha: Relax and Renew

Ashwagandha is a very popular herb used in Ayurveda. This herb helps to improve the body's ability to maintain physical effort and helps the body to deal with stress and anxiety. This revitalizing herb helps maintain the proper nourishment of tissues, particularly muscles and bones, while supporting the proper function of adrenals and the reproductive system.

Ashwagandha has been used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years. It has many applications, and has been used by Native Americans and Africans to treat inflammation, fevers, and to protect against infection or illness. It has also been used to boost the immune system, improve memory, and to promote overall wellness.

Ashwagandha has many beneficial elements, including flavonoids and members of the withanolide class. Numerous modern studies have found that ashwagandha shows great promise for being effective in reducing inflammation, decreasing stress, increasing mental activity, invigorating the body, and as an antioxidant.



Ashwagandha With a nia somnifera
Ashva = Horse, gandha = smell, Gives energy like a horse
Part used: root
Guna: Light, Moist
Rasa: Sweet, Bitter, Astringent Vipaka: Sweet Virya: Heating (ushana)
Effect on Dosha: decreases Vata and Kapha, increases Pitta and Ama if taken in excess
Main Action: Aphrodisiac, sedative, rasayana, antiaging, nervine, analgesic

Uses:

• Local – paste on enlarged lymph glands, oil in vata diseases
• Infertility, sexual or general debility, low sperm count, low vitality
• Useful for pregnant women for strengthening the uterus and the fetus
• Promotes sleep, used in stress, anxiety, nerve pain, muscle pain, overwork, emaciation, insomnia, nerve tonic
• Arthritis, sciatica, rheumatism, MS, paralysis
• Respiratory – Cough, Asthma, migraine headache
• Juice of Ashvagandha leaves is used as ear drops in ear discharge
• Builds Dhatus, especially mamsa and shukra
• Used in debilitating diseases, improves immunity
Forms used – Decoction, arishta, powder, ghrita, avaleha