Ashwgandha is also known as indian ginseng because of its aphrodisiac and adaptogen properties. in ayurveda its called rasayana, means anti-aging. in this mordern era everybody is suffring from stress & Anxiety, Ashwgandha is megical herb for all the mental disorders like depression, stress, anxiety, ADHD, parkinson’s disease etc. ashwgandha is also useful in weakness, impotency, infertility, premeture ejculetion & erectile disfunction.

Ashwagndha is used in ayurveda for incresing virality & longevity. its used in treating vata roga(all types of neurological deaseas), for improving memory & brain function, increse sexual power & rejuvenation.

Botanical Classification

• Kingdom : Plantae
• Subkingdom : Tracheobionta
• Super division : Spermatophyta
• Division : Magnoliophyta
• Class : Magnoliopsida
• Subclass : Rosidae
• Order : Solanales
• Family : Solanaceae
• Genus : Withania
• Species : Somnifera

 Morphology:

•  It is a under shrub, erect stem, 0.5-2 m high. Clothed with minute hairy tomentum.
• Leaves—simple, alternate, entire, ovate up to 10 cm long. subacute;
• Flowers— axillary, sessile or shortly pedicled, fascicled or solitary, hermaphrodite; calyx campanulate, acutely 5-6-toothed, fruit-calyx inflated, larger than the berry; corolla campanulate, 3-6 lobed, short, greenish or lurid yellow; stamens attached at the base of corolla.

Names in other language

• Latin Name – Withania somnifera
• Sanskrit name – Ashwagandha, Balada, Kamrupini, Gandhpatri, Vajini
• Hindi name – Asgandha, Asgandh
• Telugu name – Penneru Gadda/ Dommadolu Gadda
• Tamil name – Amukura, Askulang
• Malayalam name – Amukkura
• Marathi name – Asandh, Doragunj
• Gujarathi name – Aasandha, Ghoda Aakun
• Bengali Name – Asvagandha
• Kannada Name – Ashvagandhi

Ayurvedic properties

•  Rasa(taste on the tongue)          : Kashaya (Astringent), Madhura (Sweet), Tikta (Bitter)
• Guna(Pharmacological Action)  : Guru (Heavy)
• Virya(Action)                                  : Ushna (Heating)
• Vipaka (after digestion)               :  Madhura (Sweet)
• Dosha effect                                  : Vata and Kapha Reducing, Pitta increasing
• Dhatu(tissue)                                 : Blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve, reproductive
• Srota (effect on system)             : Reproductive, nervous, respiratory

Classification as per classical text

Charak Samhita :

Balya – Herbs which improve strength and immunity

Bhrimaneeya – Herbs which are good to improve body mass and nourishment.

Sushrut Samhita :

Balya Gana

Medicinal part

Generally, all the part of the ashwgandha are used as medicine in ayurveda but the root is the most important part of ashwgandha.

Roots

Root is the main part which is used as medicine, It is used as a adaptogen, narcotic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, anthelmintic and a stimulant. It is also used for the treatment and management of Leukoderma (a skin disorder), nervous breakdown, constipation and goiter.

Leaves

Ashwagandha leaves possess medicinal properties. These are recommended in painful swellings and fever.

Seeds & flowers

Ashwagandha seeds are anthelmintic, uses for  killing perasites in the body. whereas its flowers are diuretic and aphrodisiac.

Chemical constituents:

withananine, withananinine, pseudo-withanine, somnine, somniferine, somniferinine, Withaferin, withanone, somnirol, nicotine withanone, withanolide WS-1, withanolide A to Y; somnirol, somnitol; withasomniferin A, nicotine, preudotropine tropine, solasodifle, withasomnifle, sitoindosides VII-X, sominone, sominolide

Ayurvedic Action / Karma

• Balya: Increases strength
• Brimhaniya: Strength-promoting
• Hridaya: Heart Tonic.
• Medhya: Promotes the intellect
• Nidrajnana: Promotes sleep
• Ojasvardhanam: Increases ojas
• Rasayana: Rejuvenative
• Shothahara: Prevents consumption and wasting diseases
• Shukral: Increases semen and give force of ejaculation.
• Shwasa: Benefits breathing
• Vajikarana: Increases sexual desire and gives strength to the reproductive organs.
• Vatakaphahara: Reduces Kapha and Vata
• Vedanasthapana: Reduces pain
• Vrishya: Increases sexual potency

 MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

• Adaptogen
• Analgesic
• Antidepressant
• Tonic
• Aphrodisiac
• Rasayaya (Rejuvenating)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-depressant   
• Immunomodulatory
• Anti oxident

• Anti-arthritic
• Carminative
• Uterine tonic
• Cardioprotective
• Alterative
• Anti-diabetic
• Anti-ulcerogenic
• Anti-cancer
• Mild antihypertensive
• Mild Anti-asthmatic
• Hematogenic
• Anti-malarial
• Nervine sedative
• Mild Hypnotic
• Anthelmintic (leaves) 

Indications

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Irritability
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Anorexia nervosa
• Sleeplessness or insomnia
• Chronic headache
• Migraine
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Vertigo
• Parkinson’s disease
• Seizures
• Epilepsy
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Frozen shoulder
• Sciatica (sciatic nerve pain)
• Muscle pain
• Male infertility
• Impotency
• Erectile dysfunction
• Oligospermia
• Loss of libido
• Uterine weakness
• Frequency and recurrent miscarriages
• Leucorrhea
• Underdeveloped female organs
• Loss of libido
• Postpartum depression
• Female infertility of unknown origin

Indication: (accourding to classical text)

Sopha, Svitra, Ksaya, Jvara, Chardi, Kustha, Kandu, Krmi, Sonitha sukla, Leucoderma, Insomnia, Nerve Disorder, Ulcer, Constipation, Insomnia

Dosage:

Leaf juice 10-15 ml

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

External uses: It reduces oedema and pain, that is why leaves or root paste is applied on enlarged cervical glands or swelling of other glands. In vata diseases and weakness, oil massage is done. The juice of ashwagandha leaves is used as eardrops in ear discharge.

Important Yogas or Formulations ( in which Ashwagandha uses as ingridiant )

Ashwagandhadi churna, Ashwagandha rasayana, Ashwagandharishta, Askandpak, Maharasanadi, Sukumarghrut, Saubhagyasunthipak