Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Benefits, Uses, Dosage & Precautions

What is it?

Ashwagandha is the dried2>

Ashwagandha is the dried mature root of Withania somnifera, a small shrub of the Solanaceae mature root of Withania somnifera, a small shrub of the Solanaceae family. In Ayurveda it is valued as a strengthening, rejuvenative family. In Ayurveda it is valued as a strengthening, rejuvenative and Vata and Vata-pacifying herb, especially where fatigue, tissue depletion, nervous exhaustion, poor resilience, convalescence or musculoskeletal weakness are present. The name is commonly explained as “that which has the smell of a horse,” referring-pacifying herb, especially where fatigue, tissue depletion, nervous exhaustion, poor resilience, convalescence or musculoskeletal weakness are present. The name is commonly explained as “that which has the smell of a horse,” referring both to the characteristic odour of the root and to its traditional association with strength and both to the characteristic odour of the root and to its traditional association with strength and vitality.

Names

The principal Sanskrit name is Aśvagandhā, commonly written as Ashwagandha. Classical vitality.

Names

The principal Sanskrit name is Aśvagandhā, commonly written as Ashwagandha. Classical and pharmacopoeial synonyms include Hayagandhā and Vāj and pharmacopoeial synonyms include Hayagandhā and Vājigandhā. Common English names include winter cherry and Indian ginseng, although it is not botanigandhā. Common English names include winter cherry and Indian ginseng, although it is not botanically related to true ginseng. Commonically related to true ginseng. Common Indian names include Asgandh or Asgand in Indian names include Asgandh or Asgand in Hindi and several regional variants. The accepted botanical name is Withania som Hindi and several regional variants. The accepted botanical name is Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, family Solanaceae.

Ayurnifera (L.) Dunal, family Solanaceae.

Ayurvedic profile

According to the Ayurvedicvedic profile

According to the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Ashwagandha root has tikta and Pharmacopoeia of India, Ashwagandha root has tikta and kaṣāya rasa, laghu guna, uṣṇa kaṣāya rasa, laghu guna, uṣṇa virya and madhura vipaka. Its karma are rasāyana virya and madhura vipaka. Its karma are rasāyana, vātakaphāpaha, balya and vājīkara, vātakaphāpaha, balya and vājīkaraṇa. This profile explains its dual nature: the uṣṇa virya andṇa. This profile explains its dual nature: the uṣṇa virya and Vata Vata-Kapha pacifying action help in coldness, stiffness, sluggishness and Vata-type weakness, while the madhura vipaka supports nourishing, building and reproductive actions. It is therefore best suited to Vata-kapha-Kapha pacifying action help in coldness, stiffness, sluggishness and Vata-type weakness, while the madhura vipaka supports nourishing, building and reproductive actions. It is therefore best suited to Vata-kapha patterns with depletion, fatigue, patterns with depletion, fatigue, poor strength, disturbed sleep from nervous exhaustion or chronic musculoskeletal strain. In strong pitta conditions, active poor strength, disturbed sleep from nervous exhaustion or chronic musculoskeletal strain. In strong pitta conditions, active heat, burning sensations, acute fever, loose stools or inflammatory states with marked heat, it should be used cautiously and heat, burning sensations, acute fever, loose stools or inflammatory states with marked heat, it should be used cautiously and only with appropriate clinical judgment.

Classical references

Ashwagandha appears in the Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana, only with appropriate clinical judgment.

Classical references

Ashwagandha appears in the Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 4, Shadvirechanashatashritiya Adhyaya, among the Brimhaniya Chapter 4, Shadvirechanashatashritiya Adhyaya, among the Brimhaniya Mahakashaya and Balya Mahakashaya groups. It is described in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Guduchyadi Varga, where its Vata-Kapha Mahakashaya and Balya Mahakashaya groups. It is described in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Guduchyadi Varga, where its V pacifying, strength-promoting, rejuvenative and reproductive uses are emphasised. The official Ayurvedicata-Kapha Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume I, includes a monograph on Aśvagandhā root, giving its identity, part pacifying, strength-promoting, rejuvenative and reproductive uses are emphasised. The official Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Volume I, includes a monograph on Aśvagandhā root, giving its identity, part used, organoleptic and microscopic features, rasa-guna-virya-vipaka, karma, dose, constituents and important formulations.

Key benefits & traditional uses

• Strength and nourishment: Traditionally used, organoleptic and microscopic features, rasa-guna-virya-vipaka, karma, dose, constituents and important formulations.

  Key benefits & traditional uses

  • Strength and nourishment: Traditionally used as a balya and bṛṃhaṇīya herb where low strength, poor tissue tone, emaciation or convalescent weakness are present.
  • Rasāyana support: Used to support resilience, vitality, healthy ageing and recovery when chosen according to constitution, digestion and disease stage.
  • Vata disorders: Traditionally used as a balya and bṛṃhaṇīya herb where low strength, poor tissue tone, emaciation or convalescent weakness are present.
  • Rasāyana support: Used to support resilience, vitality, healthy ageing and recovery when chosen according to constitution, digestion and disease stage.
  • Vata disorders: Traditionally used in Vata-predominant weakness, stiffness, tremulousness, dryness, fatigue and chronic musculoskeletal discomfort.
  • Reproductive vitality: Classified as vājīkaraṇa and traditionally used to support śukra dhatu and reproductive strength, especially in depletion used in Vata-predominant weakness, stiffness, tremulousness, dryness, fatigue and chronic musculoskeletal discomfort.
  • Reproductive vitality: Classified as vājīkaraṇa and traditionally used to support śukra dhatu and reproductive strength, especially in depletion patterns.
  • Sleep and nervous exhaustion: Often used where sleep patterns.
  • Sleep and nervous exhaustion: Often used where sleep disturbance is linked with stress, depletion or aggravated Vata rather than acute pitta heat or heavy kapha dullness.
  • Swelling and wasting conditions: The pharmacopoeial therapeutic uses include śotha, kṣ disturbance is linked with stress, depletion or aggravated Vata rather than acute pitta heat or heavy kapha dullness.
  • Swelling and wasting conditions: The pharmacopoeial therapeutic uses include śotha, kṣaya, daurbalya, vātaroga and klaibya, reflectingaya, daurbalya, vātaroga and klaibya, reflecting its traditional use in swelling, depletion, weakness its traditional use in swelling, depletion, weakness, Vata disorders and impaired virility.

  Modern research

  <p, Vata disorders and impaired virility.

Modern research

Modern human research is most>Modern human research is most developed for stress, anxiety and sleep. Several developed for stress, anxiety and sleep. Several randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that selected randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that selected Ashwagandha extracts may reduce perceived stress, anxiety scores Ashwagandha extracts may reduce perceived stress, anxiety scores and cortisol, and may modestly improve sleep quality, especially in people with stress-related sleep problems or and cortisol, and may modestly improve sleep quality, especially in people with stress-related sleep problems or insomnia. However, most studies are short-term, use proprietary extracts, vary in dose and standardisation, and are often small; insomnia. However, most studies are short-term, use proprietary extracts, vary in dose and standardisation, and are often small; therefore the evidence is encouraging but not definitive. Research on exercise performance, fatigue therefore the evidence is encouraging but not definitive. Research on exercise performance, fatigue, male reproductive parameters and cognition is promising but still preliminary. Laboratory, male reproductive parameters and cognition is promising but still preliminary. Laboratory and animal studies show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuro and animal studies show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activity, but these findings should not be treatedprotective and immunomodulatory activity, but these findings should not be treated as proof of clinical efficacy for serious as proof of clinical efficacy for serious disease.

Active constituents

The root contains steroid disease.

Active constituents

The root contains steroidal lactones known as withanolides, including withanolide A and related compounds, along with withanosides, sitoindosides, alkaloids such as withanineal lactones known as withanolides, including withanolide A and related compounds, along with withanosides, sitoindosides, alkaloids such as withanine and somniferine, saponins and other secondary metabolites. The Ayur and somniferine, saponins and other secondary metabolites. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India identifies alkaloids and withanolides as constituents and specifies not less than 0.2% totalvedic Pharmacopoeia of India identifies alkaloids and withanolides as constituents and specifies not less than 0.2% total alkaloids in the powdered drug. Root and leaf extracts alkaloids in the powdered drug. Root and leaf extracts are chemically different; classical Ayur are chemically different; classical Ayurvedic use and the pharmacopoeial monograph are centred on the mature root.</vedic use and the pharmacopoeial monograph are centred on the mature root.

How to use & dosage

Common forms include rootp>

How to use & dosage

Common forms include root powder (churna), tablets or capsules made from root powder (churna), tablets or capsules made from root powder, standardized root extract, medicated ghee, medicated oil, leh powder, standardized root extract, medicated ghee, medicated oil, lehya and arishta preparations. The Ayurvedicya and arishta preparations. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India gives a dose of 3–6 g of the powdered Pharmacopoeia of India gives a dose of 3–6 g of the powdered root. In contemporary supplement studies root. In contemporary supplement studies, standardized root extracts are often used around 300–, standardized root extracts are often used around 300–600 mg per day, but extract strength varies widely and should not600 mg per day, but extract strength varies widely and should not be equated directly with crude root powder. Traditional be equated directly with crude root powder. Traditional anupana is commonly warm milk, anupana is commonly warm milk, milk with ghee, or ghee for Vata, deb milk with ghee, or ghee for Vata, debility and tissue depletion; warmility and tissue depletion; warm water may be used where heaviness or kapha water may be used where heaviness or kapha is a concern. It is best taken after food is a concern. It is best taken after food or at bedtime when used or at bedtime when used for Vata-related weakness or sleep support, unless a physician advises for Vata-related weakness or sleep support, unless a physician advises otherwise.

Classical formulations

Important formulations listed in otherwise.

Classical formulations

Important formulations listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia include the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia include Aśvagandhādyariṣṭa, Aśvagandh Aśvagandhādyariṣṭa, Aśvagandhāi Leha and Balāśvagandhā Lākādi Leha and Balāśvagandhā Lākṣādi Taila. Other traditional Ashṣādi Taila. Other traditional Ashwagandha-based preparations include Ashwagandha churna, Ashwagwagandha-based preparations include Ashwagandha churna, Ashwagandha ghrita and Ashwagandha taila, selected according to whether the clinicalandha ghrita and Ashwagandha taila, selected according to whether the clinical goal is internal nourishment, reproductive support, Vata pacification, goal is internal nourishment, reproductive support, Vata pacification, external oleation or strengthening during convalescence.

Precautions external oleation or strengthening during convalescence.

Precautions & contraindications

Ashwagandha is not suitable for everyone & contraindications

Ashwagandha is not suitable for everyone. Avoid self-medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid self-medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding; use only under a qualified physician if considered; use only under a qualified physician if considered necessary. Use caution in high-pitta states necessary. Use caution in high-pitta states, active fever, severe acidity, loose, active fever, severe acidity, loose stools, acute inflammatory conditions with marked heat, known stools, acute inflammatory conditions with marked heat, known liver disease, hyperthyroidism or thyroid instability liver disease, hyperthyroidism or thyroid instability, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, autoimmune disease, or before, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, autoimmune disease, or before surgery. Possible adverse effects include nausea surgery. Possible adverse effects include nausea, loose stools, stomach irritation, headache, loose stools, stomach irritation, headache, drowsiness and, rarely, liver injury reported with supplements. Stop, drowsiness and, rarely, liver injury reported with supplements. Stop use and seek medical advice if jaundice, dark urine, severe itching, persistent nausea, abdominal pain or unusual fatigue occurs. Children, older adults and medically complex patients should use it use and seek medical advice if jaundice, dark urine, severe itching, persistent nausea, abdominal pain or unusual fatigue occurs. Children, older adults and medically complex patients should use it only with professional guidance.

Drug interactions

Ash only with professional guidance.

Drug interactions

Ashwagandha may add to the effects of sedatives, alcohol,wagandha may add to the effects of sedatives, alcohol, sleep medicines, anti-anxiety medicines and other central nervous system depressants. It may affect thyroid hormone levels sleep medicines, anti-anxiety medicines and other central nervous system depressants. It may affect thyroid hormone levels and should be used cautiously with thyroid medication. Because it and should be used cautiously with thyroid medication. Because it may influence blood glucose, blood pressure, immune activity and may influence blood glucose, blood pressure, immune activity and reproductive hormones in some reproductive hormones in some users, caution is advised with ant users, caution is advised with antidiabetic drugs, antihypertensives, immunosuppressants, testosteroneidiabetic drugs, antihypertensives, immunosuppressants, testosterone-related therapies and treatment-related therapies and treatment for hormone-sensitive cancers. People taking multiple medicines or hepat for hormone-sensitive cancers. People taking multiple medicines or hepatotoxic drugs should consult a clinicianotoxic drugs should consult a clinician before using concentrated extracts.

Sourcing & quality

Choose products before using concentrated extracts.

Sourcing & quality

Choose products made from authenticated mature Ashwagandha root, not unspecified made from authenticated mature Ashwagandha root, not unspecified “whole plant” material, unless specifically prescribed. Good “whole plant” material, unless specifically prescribed. Good root material is buff to grey-yellow, wrinkled, fib root material is buff to grey-yellow, wrinkled, fibrous, with a characteristic odour and bitter-acrid taste. Prefer suppliersrous, with a characteristic odour and bitter-acrid taste. Prefer suppliers who provide botanical identity testing who provide botanical identity testing, part-used declaration, batch, part-used declaration, batch testing for heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxins and microbial contamination, and clear extract testing for heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxins and microbial contamination, and clear extract ratio or with ratio or withanolide standardisation when an extract is used. Avoid products with undisclosed blends, exaggerated claims, very high-strengthanolide standardisation when an extract is used. Avoid products with undisclosed blends, exaggerated claims, very high-strength extracts without safety data, or added extracts without safety data, or added stimulants. Store in a cool, dry, airtight container stimulants. Store in a cool, dry, airtight container away from light and moisture.

References

1. Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homoeopathy. The Ayurypertensive drugs should seek professional advice before use.