Ashwagandha Benefits and Medicinal Uses

What is Ashwagandha?

Withania Somnifera, popularly known as Ashwagandha is used as a single herb or used in polyherbal or herbomineral formulations in Ayurveda.  The word ashwagandha in Sanskrit means ‘horse’s odor’ because of the characteristic odor of the herb similar to horse’s sweat.  It can also mean that the herb bestows the strength and vitality of a horse to the user.   Lots of studies are going on worldwide to test and verify the various healing properties of this herb.

Also known as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha is used in Ayurveda to treat various disease conditions like epilepsy, tumors, gout, lumbosacral stiffness, stiffness of joints, cardiac failure, vitiligo, ulcers in genital area, diseases of the urinary tract in women, abscess, depression etc.  It has anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, cardioprotective properties.  It is used as a mild tranquilizer because of its sleep inducing property.  It has excellent thyroprotective and hypoglycaemic properties.  It is regarded as a broad spectrum remedy for various disease conditions.  Ashwagandha benefits all parts of human body and can be taken in powder, tablet or capsule form.  Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha Health Benefits

 Ashwagandha Root Powder

Ashwagandha is also called winter cherry and grows as a small evergreen shrub to a height of 4 or 5 feet. It belongs to the Solanaceae family of which the tomatoes and eggplants belong. It is cultivated widely in central and north western India and used in more than 100 Unani, Siddha and Ayurveda formulations.  All parts of this wonder herb have medicinal value.  Ashwagandha leaves have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antibacterial properties.  The fruits and seeds of the plant are used as diuretic.  It is the root that is mainly used in Ayurvedic formulations.  The root has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in treating swellings, tumors, rheumatism etc.

Chemical Constituents of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has steroidal lactones called withanolides.  The pharmacological activity of the herb can be attributed to these steroidal lactones.  In addition to that, Ashwagandha also contains 18 fatty acids, some of which are sedative and hypnotic.  It has amino acids aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, alanine, glutamic acid and cysteine present in its roots.

Ashwagandha as Adaptogen

Adaptogens help our bodies to adapt to the stresses they are subjected to on a daily basis. They help normalize the physiological functioning of our bodies.  Ashwagandha is clinically proven to have excellent adaptogenic capabilities.  Double blind trial involving 60 healthy children of 8-12 years with oral intake of 2 gm a day of root powder showed an increase in mean corpuscular haemoglobin, total protein and body weight of the children.  No toxic effects were observed even after eight months of daily consumption.  Another study conducted on adults showed increase in haemoglobin and red blood cell count. There was a good reduction in ESR levels and improvement in sexual performance.  Thus Ashwagandha is found to be very helpful in restoring and maintaining general health. 

Ashwagandha for Skin

Ashwagandha for Stress and Anxiety

Ashwagandha root powder was tested in highly stressed individuals and found to safely and effectively increase an individual’s threshold levels to stress, thereby improving his/her quality of life.  Ashwagandha is found to be effective in treating insomnia.  It helps the body generate the necessary energy to settle and sleep and act as a rejuvenator and nervine tonic.  Thus it helps overcome stress related conditions in a positive way.  It rejuvenates the nervous system, eases out stress and takes care of insomnia.  Ashwagandha root powder can be taken with cow’s ghee or sugar to cure sleeplessness.  How much ashwagandha should I take for anxiety?  The usual ashwagandha dosage for anxiety is 3-6 grams a day.

Ashwagandha’s Diuretic, Hypoglycaemic and Hypocholesterolemic Effects

Ashwagandha was found to decrease blood glucose levels comparable to that of an oral hypoglycemic drug. It helps normalize high blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.  Ashwagandha is an excellent diuretic and complements weight loss efforts.  A decrease in serum cholesterol levels was also observed on regular consumption of ashwagandha root powder.  Ashwagandha lowers blood pressure and is found to arrest formation of stress induced ulcers.

Ashwagandha and Cancer

Growth Promoting Effects of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is well known for its growth promoting effects in children.  Studies showed that a 60-day consumption of ashwagandha root powder 2 gm/day along with punarnava 2gm/day had a marked increase in haemoglobin levels, serum iron, MCV and increase in body weight of participants.  Ashwagandha root powder is an excellent growth promoter in children.  It is a well known memory booster.  Children can benefit from drinking a glass of warm grass-fed cow’s milk mixed with a spoonful of ashwagandha root powder every day morning after breakfast.

Ashwagandha has anti-arthritic effects and brings down arthritic pain in joints when taken regularly. A painful, dry, swollen and inflamed joint is taken care of with Ashwagandha herb.  One teaspoon of the root powder is taken in warm milk to reduce the arthritic pain.

Ashwagandha for Young and Old

Ashwagandha Benefits for Weight Loss

When used along with other weight loss supplements, Ashwagandha is found to improve their weight reduction capabilities.  This is due to its adaptogenic property of stabilizing stress related fluctuations.  This helps people who gain weight due to overeating. 

For weight loss efforts to succeed a strong immune system is imperative.  A vibrant immune system facilitates the body to continue its fat burning activities as the general tendency of the body in an immuno-compromised situation is to move away from fat burning mode as fighting the pathogens takes priority.  Hence a strong immune system is necessary for an effective weight loss regimen.  Ashwagandha comes in handy with its immunity boosting capabilities.  Ashwagandha reduces inflammation commonly observed in overweight people.

When adrenal glands produce cortisol in excess in a stressful condition, and when this happens day in and day out, it leads to weight gain, nervous eating, muscle loss etc.  Cortisol being a survival hormone, also stimulates production of glucose and triggers a hunger response in the brain.  Ashwagandha is known to bring down cortisol to reasonable levels thus protecting the adrenal glands and helping weight loss.

How to take Ashwagandha Powder for Weight Loss?

Ashwagandha powder is either mixed in milk or honey, and taken in the mornings after food.

Ashwagandha boosts Immunity

Ashwagandha Leaves for Inflammation

A paste made of ashwagandha leaves is applied topically on local inflammation for quick relief from pain.  Ashwagandha oil (made by adding ashwagandha powder to coconut oil) is used as massage oil for paralysis, sleeplessness etc.

Ashwagandha for Skin

Ashwagandha oil is also used in treating certain skin conditions.  Vitiligo responds favorably to the action of ashwagandha.  Paste made of ashwagandha powder is used in treating keratosis.  It is also an excellent skin toner.  For this purpose, a spoonful of fine ashwagandha root powder is mixed in organic coconut oil and made into a thick paste.  This is applied as a thin layer on affected areas of the skin.

Ashwagandha for Debility and Weakness

Regular intake of Ashwagandha churna helps improve old age weakness, brain fag, tiredness, spermatorrhea, loss of muscular energy etc.  Ashwagandha is very much helpful in patients suffering from chronic diseases like rheumatism, syphilis, and post-surgery recuperation etc.  It rebuilds the system that has been ravaged by the disease.  It is found to be very effective in treating retinopathy and conjunctivitis.  It is also recommended for treating uterine fibroids in women. 

Ashwagandha for Men and Women

Ashwagandha churna taken with honey and ghee in the prescribed format helps improve semen quality.  When taken regularly it helps overcome erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.  It boosts libido and heightens sexual experience while promoting a calm state of mind.  It also benefits the female reproductive system and increases weight of the ovaries.

Ashwagandha and Cancer

Studies done in 2003 and 2007 have shown that ashwagandha is found to be beneficial in inhibiting the growth and spread of breast, lungs and colon cancers.

Ashwagandha an Excellent Anti-oxidant

Ashwagandha neutralizes and eliminates free radicals in our body’s immune system.  It is these free radicals that wreak havoc and cause breakdown of tissues which leads to rapid aging.  Lactating mothers can improve their breast milk’s nutritive quality with consumption of ashwagandha tablets.

Ashwagandha for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Ashwagandha is found to enhance memory and stabilize mood.  It improves the capacity to learn.  Further research in this direction is ongoing.

Though not many studies have been conducted with regard to bipolar disorders, a very limited study has shown promise in the mood stabilizing capacity of ashwagandha.  Mood and anxiety score levels remained stable in the subjects during the period of intake of ashwagandha.  Ashwagandha also benefits people with ADHD and ADD disorders.

The health benefits of ashwagandha are well known in the Ayurvedic world for thousands of years.  It has been used to treat a range of disease conditions.

Ashwagandha Dosage

There no recommended dosage of ashwagandha but it is safe to take 3 to 6 gm a day.  For better results fresh ashwagandha powder should be used, preferably organically grown.  Due to the increase in demand for the herb, commercial cultivation has gone up considerably.  Hence it is wise to look out for organically grown ashwagandha to reap full benefits of the herb.

How to take Ashwagandha Churna?

The term churna means powder and Ashwagandha can be taken in powder, tablet or capsule form. 

Side Effects of Ashwagandha Root Powder

Caution should be exercised when taking Ashwagandha along with barbiturates or sleep inducing compounds.  It is advised not to take Ashwagandha in such conditions.  Similarly, consumption of Ashwagandha when under the influence of alcohol is not advised.  No toxic effects were noted on regular ashwagandha root powder dosage of up to 6 gm per day.  Excessive consumption of the herb can cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea.  It has a tendency to induce abortion in women, hence pregnant women should desist from taking this herb.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Triphala Health Benefits

Triphala is one of the most popular and effective Ayurvedic remedies used over the millennia to treat various illnesses.  This powder with excellent medicinal properties is effective in treating constipation as well as detoxifying the body.  It is a gentle detoxifier par excellence.  It regulates glucose levels in diabetics, controls hypertension and even stops the progression of cancers.

Indian Gooseberry

Triphala means ‘three fruits’ in Sanskrit; the three fruits are Indian gooseberry, kadukkai (Terminalia chebula) and thanrikkai (Terminalia Bellirica).  The three fruits on their own have immense medicinal value and are used in the preparation of various home remedies.  When these fruits come together in Thiripala, their medicinal powers multiply synergistically, resulting in a remedy that has a wide range of healing applications.

Triphala balances the tridoshas vata, pitta and kapha.  It is mentioned in Ayurvedic text Sushrut Samhita.  Generally Ayurveda physicians prescribe Triphala for constipation as it is cleanses the bowel in a gentle manner while acting as a detoxifier.  Hence this preparation can be taken in moderation every day without any nasty side effects.  But when we limit its usage to just a laxative, we might miss out on its other health promoting properties.

Regular intake of triphala benefits lungs and reduces the intensity of an asthmatic attack.  It is rich in antioxidants, hence effective in combating cancers and signs of aging.  It guards you against infectious diseases and tackles chronic ulcers and arthritis effectively.  Triphala’s detoxifying effect results in healthy skin and good hair growth.

Thiriphala powder can be taken with water or honey.  A tablespoon of the powder is mixed in water and taken at nights at bedtime (one hour after supper) for constipation.  It can also be taken with honey for cleansing and other health purposes.  Some find it hard to stomach the taste of the powder.  They can take the powder in capsule form.

Triphala tea is yet another easy way to consume the remedy.  Boil a glass of water and add a teaspoon of triphala powder.  Allow the water to cool and add honey as needed to hide the taste. 

Triphala can also be used an eyewash for eye infections.  For this purpose triphala powder steeped water kept overnight is used.  Splashing this water on eyes is found to be beneficial in redness of eyes etc.

Pregnant women should desist from taking Triphala as it has a tendency to favor miscarriage.  Excessive intake can lead to dehydration and stomach troubles due to its laxative properties.

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A Simple Remedy for Joint and Muscular Pains

Joint and muscular pains flare up during the winter season. Ayurveda has very effective formulations to mitigate this pain.

Described below is the method of making 'Karpoorathi thailam' a famous remedy for joint and muscular pains. This oil is applied on areas of pain and massaged gently. For good results, a warm water bath 30 - 45 min after application of oil is recommended.

Though it is available in market readymade, the home made one is more effective. Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty of making the oil.

The ingredients are 1 kilogram of ajwain (Bishop's Weed), 1 litre of coconut oil and 200 gm camphor.

800 gm of ajwain is powdered. This powdered ajwain is added to 6 litres of water and boiled and reduced to 2 litres. This is called kashayam.

The remaining 200 gm of ajwain is then ground to a fine paste using water.

Take a wide bottomed pan and pour 1 litre coconut oil into it. Add the 2 litre kashayam to this coconut oil. Now add the fine paste of ajwain. Heat the mix and let it boil in simmering heat. Once you get a sort of sandy deposit at the base, remove it from stove. Place 200 gm camphor in a steel vessel and pour the somewhat hot oil into this vessel. Allow the oil to cool to room temperature. Now store this oil in glass bottle.

Now the 'karpoorathi thailam' is ready. Apply it on painful joints and muscles and massage gently as explained above.

Courtesy: Dr. Hareendran Nair, Jeevanam

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Some Ayurvedic Home Remedies and Tips for Joint Pain in Winter

How to resolve osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis pain? This question bothers the elderly especially during winter times. Dr. Hareendran Nair provides a simple solution.

Jeevanam is an Ayurveda awareness program telecast in Kairali TV on Saturday mornings. Dr Harindran Nair of Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Limited answers the questions of viewers and also recounts his own experiences in treating various ailments. He offers excellent ayurvedic home remedy tips both curative and preventative, for many diseases. A very articulate individual, Dr Nair is well known for his espousal of the Ayurvedic way of life. I view his program often and can vouch for its usefulness.

In one of his episodes he talks about the aggravation of joint pains during the winter season, especially among the elderly and suggests some excellent remedies. He mentions that rheumatoid arthritis and arthritic pain in general can be lessened to a great degree by following certain simple instructions.

He insists on intake of easily digestible food preferably vegetables. This will help the digestive system to process the food easily. He advocates usage of carrot, cucumber etc in plenty. He says that these vegetables have diuretic properties and help eliminate waste products from our bodies. He also mentions frequent intake of an ayurvedic drug ‘yogaraja guggulu’ if needed.

Then he goes on to elaborate the role of honey and lemon in lessening the arthritic pain. He came to know of this remedy from some of his friends and experimented on it. He further refined it based on his own personal experience.

Two teaspoonful fresh plain lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey (preferably honey obtained from small honeybees called cheruthen in malayalam) is added to one glass of warm water and taken first thing in the morning and similarly on empty stomach in the evening.

Another alternative is, two teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon cinnamon powder (karuva) mixed together and taken once before bedtime.

You can follow any one of the two methods mentioned above.

Also, as an external application mix one teaspoon honey and one teaspoon cinnamon powder to two teaspoons of water and prepare a thick paste. Apply a thin layer of this on the inflamed painful areas.

Eat a piece of dry coconut everyday in the mornings.

Follow this regimen for 3 months for a noticeable reduction in joint pain. This can be followed by people with diabetes also.

Thus osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis pains can be eased without side effects.

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Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

The word ‘arthritis’ means ‘inflammation of the joints’. It is, generally, a chronic disease process.

Mostly arthritis occurs as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which usually occurs in the older age-group.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease which affects not only the joints of the fingers, wrists, hips, knees and feet, but also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body.

Causes and Symptoms

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness in the joints. The pain usually increases after movement. It usually develops gradually over several months, with persistent pain and stiffness in one or more joints. Ultimately the whole body is affected.
Given below are a few ayurvedic herbal and home remedies for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Potato Juice : The method of preparing potato juice is to cut a medium-sized potato into thin slices, without peeling the skin, and place the slices overnight in a large glass filled with cold water. The water should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Fresh juice can also be extracted from potatoes. A medium-sized potato should be diluted with a cup of water and drunk first thing in the morning.

Other Raw Juices : One cup of green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed in equal proportions with carrot, celery and red beet juices is good for arthritis. The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of deposits around the joints and in other tissues. A cup of fresh pineapple juice is also valuable, as the enzyme bromelain in fresh pineapple juice reduces swelling and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Garlic : Garlic is another effective remedy for arthritis. It contains an anti-inflammatory property which accounts for its effectiveness in the treatment of this disease. Garlic may be taken raw or cooked according to individual preference.

Castor oil : Treatment with castor oil has been found beneficial in arthritis. The procedure, as prescribed by a Spanish doctor, is to boil two tablespoons of castor oil over a stove burner. The oil should then be poured into a glass of fresh orange juice and taken before breakfast daily till the disease is cured. This treatment is believed to have been adopted by an American doctor, called Dr. Taylor, in 1990. He advised his patients to take it for three weeks, wait for another three weeks and then repeat it again for another three weeks. It is, however, essential that the patient must take an alkaline diet while adopting this mode of treatment; otherwise the value of the treatment will be lost.

Dietary Considerations : The diet of an arthritis patient should be planned so as to produce alkalinity in the blood. It should include fruits and vegetables in the form of salads, and, at least, two cooked vegetables. In server cases, it would be advisable to put the patient on raw vegetables juice therapy three times a day, for about a week. Repeated juice fasts are recommended at intervals of every two months.

Courtesy: www.home-remedies.in

Some more herbal remedies for external use.

Juice of Nochi leaves (Vitex Negundo) applied externally on affected parts brings down pain considerably.

Grind omam using water and make it into a thick paste. Heat the paste and then apply a thick layer of the warm paste on affected parts before going to bed.

Pour one teaspoon of onion juice in mustard oil two teaspoons and apply on the affected parts.

Mix camphor in pudhina (mint) juice and apply on affected parts.

Make a paste of dried ginger (chukku) and heat it. Apply the warm paste on affected parts.


Disclaimer: All information provided in this blog is for historical and educational purposes only; statements contained here are reported in an effort to preserve traditional cultural lore and information. Nothing here should be construed as an attempt to diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment for any disease or condition. Please consult your physician for medical advice regarding any medical condition and do not use any of the historical information on this site without your physician’s approval.

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