Ashwagandha root information
Ayurvedic herbal medicine practitioners most commonly use Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera or Winter Cherry) root as a tonic, an aphrodisiac and a sedative. The word 'ashwagandha' means "that with the smell of a horse" as it gives the vitality and sexual energy of a horse.
Ashwagandha can be used as:
A general tonic for vitality and energy
An aphrodisiac
A sedative allaying pains, calming the mind and promoting deep dreamless sleep.
Treating urinary ailments and easing the flow of urine.
An anti-inflammatory helping atrhritis and rheumatic conditions
As an antibiotic and an antibacterial agent
Active
Compounds:
Ashwagandha contains somniferine, a bitter alkaloid which
is present in all parts of the herb. The oil extracted from its roots is
composed of water soluble elements and water insoluble elements. The water soluble part contains some sugar, while the
water insoluble part contains fatty acids including Vithenyle oil, Hentiroctane
and Phitosteryl among other vital substances. Ashwagandha oil is also rich in
tannin, glucose, potassium nitrate and other alkaloids as well as somniferine.
Side effects and contraindications
It is advised that pregnant women should not take Ashwahgandha
What Herbal Practitioners say about Ashwagandha
Ayurvedic herbal practitioners define Ashwagandha as the 'Indian Ginseng'. It strengthens without being over stimulating and in facts calms the nervous system. While it is most famous for raising libido in men, it is also widely used for a myriad of different ailments including treating the common cold, digestive disorders,, insomnia, lumbago, sciatica, and tuberculosis.