Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera is a herb which is being used in ayurvedic medicines since our ancient times. it plays a major role in the regulation of vata dosha which is one of the fundamental bioelement.

Uses

Weight loss, Rheumatism, Joint pain, Sexual debility, Thyroid, Inflammation, Pimples, Diarrhea, Sore throats, Increases strength, Rejuvinative, Insomnia, Weakness, Aphrodisiac.

Parts Used

Dried folaige.

Chemical Composition

The ashwagandha consists of alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Withanine is the main alkaloid, where as somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo tropine, choline, cuscohygrine, isopelletierine, anaferine, anahydrine^[1]

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	ಅಂಗಾರ ಬೇರು Angara beru, ಅಶ್ವಗಂಧ Ashwagandha
Hindi	Asgandh, Ashwagandha
Malayalam	Amukkuram, Pevetti
Tamil	Amukkira
Telugu	Ashwagandha
Marathi	Ashwagandha, Askanda
Gujarathi	Aksand, Asvagandha
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Ashvagandha
English	Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng

^[2]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple		The leaves are alternate, simple, margins entire to slightly wavy, broadly ovate, obovate or oblong, 30-80 mm long and 20-50 mm broad

^[3]

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Bisexual	2-5 mm long	Yellow	5	The 1-7 inconspicuous bisexual flowers appear at the leaf nodes on 2-5 mm long stalks

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Oblong	5-8 mm	The fruit is a hairless spherical berry	orange-red to red when ripe and enclosed by the enlarged calyx	-	{{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

^[4]

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

A fairly easily grown plant, it requires a warm sheltered position in full sun and a well-drained moderately fertile soil^[5]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Open places, Cold areas.

Photo Gallery

Leaves
Flower
Fruits

References

External Links

[chemical_composition-1] "Chemical constituents"

[Common_names-2] "Common names"

[Leaf-3] "plant description"

[Ayurvedic_preparations-4] "Ayurvedic preparations"

[How_to_plant.2Fcultivate-5] "Cultivation details"

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha

Contents