Withania, Ashwaganda

Winter Cherry
Ashwaganda (Ayurveda)
Asgandh (Unani)
Amukura (Siddha)

Flora Graeca, Sibthrop, Smith, 1819

Withania somnifera
(Photo by Salicyna) (Wikimedia)

Withania root (Adam, 2019)

Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:

Withania somnifera (syn. Physalis somniferum)

Parts used:

Root

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, neutral in respect of moisture. Sweet

Classification:

3H. LACTAGOGUE 3I. APHRODISIACS 3J. INCREASE SEMEN
N. Tonics

Uses:

1. Tonifies the Spleen, Increases Qi:
-Fatigue, Poor Appetite, poor Digestion, weakness
-growth promoter in children
-enhances Immunity and increases disease resistance
-adjunct in many chronic diseases including Rheumatism and Arthritis, Hepatitis, AIDS.
2. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Aphrodisiac; Impotence
-Male and Female Sterility (taken for several days following menstruation).
-Premature Aging and Senility; Neuro-degenerative diseases, Parkinson’s, Dementia etc.
3. Regulates Qi, Calms the Mind:
-Nervousness, Irritability, Alcoholism
-Anxiety, mild Depression; Mental Illness including Schizophrenia
-Insomnia associated with Stress.
4. Moves the Blood, Clears Wind-Damp, Resolves Swellings:
-Scrofula, Rheumatism and Tumors
-auxiliary in Cancer treatment; benefits immunity and has direct anti-cancer activity against various Cancer cell lines
5. Resists Poison:
-Traditionally used in Scorpion sting.
6. Benefits Sight:
-strengthens the Sight (combined with suitable ingredients)
7. Externally:
-applied to obstinate Ulcers and Rheumatic Swellings.
-Scrofula and glandular swellings, apply a paste of the fresh green root made into a paste with cow urine or warm water.
-in various skin diseases, the powdered root is mixed with oil and applied.
-a paste is made with milk to apply to the breasts to keep their shape
-powder is mixed with milk and applied to sagging breasts
-externally, the oil is applied to promote growth of the penis
-also used to restore a relaxed vagina

Dose:

Powder: 500mg–6 grams;

Correctives:

… available in PRO version

Substitutes:

… available in PRO version

Main Combinations:

Major Formula:

Balivivan (Ayurveda)
Dhatuvallabha Churna (Ayurveda)
Gso Byed 6 Pa of Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:

Generally Safe.
1. Caution in excess Heat or Bile, and for those with congestion (‘ama‘)
2. While it is used as a tonic for mother and fetus during pregnancy, this is only in compound; full doses of the single herb should be avoided. It is recommended not to take more than 3 grams daily during pregnancy.
3. Large doses are narcotic

‘This plant bears the Sanskrit names of Asvagandha, Turagi or Turangi, and Turagi-gandha, “smelling like a horse or mare”; Varaha-karni, “boar-eared”; Vrisha, “amorous,” &c. It is described in the Nighantas as tonic, alterative, pungent, astringent, hot and aphrodisiac, and is recommended in rheumatism, cough, dropsy, consumption and senile debility. Chakradatta recommends it in decoction with long pepper, butter and honey in consumption and scrofula. A ghrita or medicinal butter prepared by boiling together one part of the root with one part of clarified butter and ten of milk may be used in such cases.
As an aphrodisiac and as a remedy for rheumatism the drug is usually combined with a number of aromatics, each dose contains about 30 grains of the root. It is also made into a paste with aromatics for local application in rheumatism. Indian Mahometan writers merely repeat what the Hindus say about this drug, and do not recognise in it the Kaknaj-el-manoum of the Arabs, which is supposed to represent the [?] of the Greeks, the description of which by Theophrastus agrees tolerably well with W. somnifera. Rheede calls it Pevetti, and states that a vulnerary ointment is prepared from the leaves. Prosper Alpinus (i., cap. 33) describes and figures it under the name of Solanum somniferum antiquorum,

Roxburgh states that the Telinga physicians reckon the roots alexipharmic. Ainslie (ii. 14) says:— “The root as found in the medicine bazars, is of a pale colour, and in external appearance not unlike our gentian; but it has little sensible taste or smell, though the Tamool Vytians suppose it to have deobstruent and diuretic qualities, given in decoction to the quantity of about half a teacupful twice daily; the leaves moistened with a little warm castor oil, are a useful external application in cases of carbuncle.” The authors of the Bombay Flora say that the seeds are employed to coagulate milk like those of W. coagulane. We have tried the experiment and find them to have some coagulating power.
The plant is very common along the shores of the Mediterranean, where it has always been reputed to be hypnotic. The properties of W. somnifera have recently been investigated by Dr. Trebut with regard to its reputation for hypnotic properties; he states that he has obtained an alkaloid from it which has hypnotic action and does not produce mydriasis. P. L. Simmonds (Amer. Journ. Pharm., Feb., 1891) states that the plant is employed at the Civil Hospital, Alger, as a sedative and hypnotic. (Pharmacographia Indica, Dymock, 1891)

–Effect of Withania somnifera root extract on spontaneous estrogen receptor-negative mammary cancer in MMTV/Neu mice.
–Pharmacological levels of Withaferin A (Withania somnifera) trigger clinically relevant anticancer effects specific to triple negative breast cancer cells.
COLON CANCER–Withaferin A induces apoptosis by ROS-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in human colorectal cancer cells.
GASTRIC CANCER–Withaferin A inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
HEAD & NECK CANCERS–Withaferin A induces apoptosis through the generation of thiol oxidation in human head and neck cancer cells.
LEUKEMIA–Withania somnifera Induces Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Effects on Human T Leukemia Cells.
LIVER–Antioxidant activity and apoptotic induction as mechanisms of action of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) against a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.
LYMPHOMA–Anti-cancer activity of withaferin A in B-cell lymphoma.
MELANOMA–Viwithan, a Standardized Withania somnifera Root Extract Induces Apoptosis in Murine Melanoma Cells.
–Withania somnifera Root Extract Has Potent Cytotoxic Effect against Human Malignant Melanoma Cells.
MULTIPLE MYELOMA:–Withanolide D Exhibits Similar Cytostatic Effect in Drug-Resistant and Drug-Sensitive Multiple Myeloma Cells.
OSTEOSARCOMA:–Withaferin-A induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma U2OS cell line via generation of ROS and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential.
–Antiproliferation potential of withaferin A on human osteosarcoma cells via the inhibition of G2/M checkpoint proteins.
OVARIAN CANCER–Withaferin a alone and in combination with cisplatin suppresses growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer by targeting putative cancer stem cells.
PROSTATE CANCER:–Withania somnifera targets interleukin-8 and cyclooxygenase-2 in human prostate cancer progression.
17. BLOOD-BRAIN PERMEABILITY:
–Blood-brain barrier permeability of bioactive withanamides present in Withania somnifera fruit extract.
18. NEURO-PROTECTIVE:
–In vitro screening of neuroprotective activity of Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera.
–Multifunctional neuroprotective effect of Withanone, a compound from Withania somnifera roots in alleviating cognitive dysfunction.
–Withania somnifera Extract Protects Model Neurons from In Vitro Traumatic Injury.
–Aqueous extract from the Withania somnifera leaves as a potential anti-neuroinflammatory agent: a mechanistic study.
19. ANTI-NEURODEGENERATIVE:
–Neuropharmacological Properties of Withania somnifera – Indian Ginseng: An Overview on Experimental Evidence with Emphasis on Clinical Trials and Patents.
–Effects of Ashwagandha (roots of Withania somnifera) on neurodegenerative diseases.
–Neuronutrient impact of Ayurvedic Rasayana therapy in brain aging.
20. MEMORY / COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING:
–Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) Root Extract in Improving Memory and Cognitive Functions.
21. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
–Evaluation of the efficacy of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
22. DEMENTIA:
–Ayurvedic Medicine for the Treatment of Dementia: Mechanistic Aspects.
23. ANTI-PARKINSON’S
–Withania somnifera alleviates parkinsonian phenotypes by inhibiting apoptotic pathways in dopaminergic neurons.
–Effects of five Ayurvedic herbs on locomotor behaviour in a Drosophila melanogaster Parkinson’s disease model.
24. SCHIZOPHRENIA:
–Adjunctive Use of a Standardized Extract of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Treat Symptom Exacerbation in Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
25. POST STROKE MANAGEMENT:
–Propensity of Withania somnifera to Attenuate Behavioural, Biochemical, and Histological Alterations in Experimental Model of Stroke.
–Withania somnifera: a pre-clinical study on neuroregenerative therapy for stroke
26. KNEE JOINT PAIN:
–A randomized, double blind placebo controlled study of efficacy and tolerability of Withaina somnifera extracts in knee joint pain.
27. POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS):
–Effect of combination of Withania somnifera Dunal and Tribulus terrestris Linn on letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats.