Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is very popularly known as “Indian ginseng.” Ashwagandha is a Sanskrit name of Withania somnifera, which is a small tree or a shrub having pale yellow-green flowers and is cultivated in Indian sub continent and North America.

Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera is thought to foster and clear the mind, cools and fortify the nervous system, encourages sound sleep, and revitalize tissues of the body. Like ginseng, Ashwagandha has the powers act like a rasayana, there by promoting all-rounAshwagandha

d health and balance of the body. Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera is said to strengthen all the systems of the body, especially the nervous system.

Roots of Ashwagandha herb contain various alkaloids and steroidal lactones that relaxes the CNS, while acting on stress and promoting overall equilibrium. Withania somnifera also contains various important amino acids that can boost the production of brains own normal supplies like glycine, valine, tyrosine, proline, and alanine.

Mankind has used Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera since thousands of years as a folk remedy. Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera has only in recent times been subjected to scientific testing. In a double-blind randomized clinical trials conducted in New Delhi, scientists studied the aging process of hundred and one healthy male adult, between the ages 50 to 59yers, for a year. Results demonstrated that in men who were taking Ashwagandha, the senile changes slowed down. Their hair were less gray, their RBC counts raised, serum cholesterol levels decreased; and 3/4 of the men taking the herb reported up gradation in sexual performance.:

In the studies conducted in University of Leipzig in Germany in the year 1997 on male mice showed that an extract of Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera affects acetylcholine metabolism in the brain that could make clear its cognitive augmentation abilities.

No side effects have been linked with Ashwagandha, but large doses may cause irritation to mucous membranes or GI upset. As this herb may overstress the effects of barbiturates, it should not be used in combination with sedatives. Pregnant women should not take Ashwagandha, except under the medical guidance.

You can find Ashwagandha in a variety of forms, including the dried root, powder, capsules and tablets. The herbal supplement is available in most health foods stores. About 2 to 6 grams of powder or, one or two capsules or tablets twice daily is considered to be a rational daily dose, and it may be taken daily.