Ashwagandha is a small shrub with yellow flowers and a potent root known for multiple health benefits. Ashwagandha or ‘Withania Somnifera,’ grows in warm temperatures in the dry regions of India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. It is commonly referred to as ‘Indian Ginseng” or “King of Ayurvedic herbs,” and its use can be dated back to around 6,000 BC. This medicinal herb has been used in India and Pakistan and has impressed the Chinese medicine system for centuries. Ashwagandha is known to improve brain function, boost energy, and reduce stress and anxiety. Known as the “Prince of Herbs” in Ayurveda, its roots are used internally, while its leaves are used topically.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen with powerful health benefits for fertility, athletic performance, sleep, and more. It contains several beneficial bioactive compounds, including Withanolides that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The bioactive compounds in Ashwagandha include alkaloids, steroidal lactones, and saponins. Specific compounds like sitoindosides and acylsterylglucosides act as anti-stress agents. Sitoindosides VII-X and Withaferin-A show significant anti-stress activity. Many of its constituents also support immune system modulation. The plant’s aerial parts contain 5-dehydroxy withanolide-R and withasomniferin-A.
Ashwagandha is also called “Indian Winter Cherry” or “Indian Ginseng,” and is known to promote youthfulness, mental and physical health, and happiness. It is given to children as a tonic and taken by adults to increase longevity. Known as a “Sattvic Kapha Rasayana” herb in India, it is an adaptogen that helps the body resist stress. Ashwagandha is available in powder form which can be mixed with water, clarified butter, or honey. It enhances brain function, memory, reproductive health, stress resilience, and immunity, and has potent antioxidant properties.
Ayurveda is an ancient alternative medicine system which has been practiced throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka for centuries and is still preferred over allopathic and modern medicine. Ayurveda translates into “knowledge of life.” Since around 6000 BC, Ayurveda has used Ashwagandha as a vital nutrition source for its numerous health benefits. The root of Ashwagandha is regarded as a tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, diuretic, anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic and stimulant among other properties. It is used to treat conditions like emaciation in children, debility in old age, rheumatism, constipation, insomnia, and more. The crushed root paste can be applied to reduce joint inflammation and treat carbuncles and ulcers. The root is also used to treat against snake venom, scorpion stings, leucorrhoea, boils, and piles while the leaves treat fever and swelling, the flowers are diuretic and aphrodisiac, and the seeds treat white spots on the cornea. Ashwagandharishta, a preparation from Ashwagandha, is used for hysteria, anxiety, and memory loss and is known to increase sperm count.
The bioactive compounds in Ashwagandha have been known to calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and affect the immune system. We do not have enough scientific evidence to support and validate the benefits of Ashwagandha and its effectiveness for insomnia, ageing, anxiety, or COVID-19, but the sentiment of the people who use Ashwagandha is completely in favour of this medicinal herb. At Organic Mushrooms, we offer Ashwagandha as a nutritional supplement in the form of extract powder, capsules, tinctures, and supplement gummies.