- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- India and parts of the Middle East and Africa
- Sanskrit
- Ashvagandha
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Unani medicine, Western herbal medicine
Asia · Herb · № 17
Withania somnifera
Herb · Asia
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
An Ayurvedic medicinal plant. Some preparations have been studied for stress and sleep, but evidence is limited and products vary.
Safety notes
May cause drowsiness or stomach upset and has been linked rarely to liver injury. Avoid during pregnancy; interactions include thyroid, diabetes, blood-pressure, sedative, and immune medicines.
Cautions by tradition (3)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Ayurvedic materia medica: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with diabetes, blood pressure problems, stomach ulcers or autoimmune diseases.
Preparation
Traditionally prepared from root; commercial products include root, leaf, and combined extracts. No dose is provided here.
Use in traditions
NCCIH describes use for thousands of years, especially in Ayurveda.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Tonic, strengthens the nerves, calming, anti-inflammatory, antitumour.
Preparation and amount
Root powder 250 mg–1 g per dose (up to 5 g a day in warm, sweetened milk) as a restorative tonic for overwork, exhaustion, sleep problems and weakness; decoction for weakness in pregnancy and for weak children; in milk or with long pepper; wash for wounds; tonic wine for anaemia.
Caution: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Tonic, cleansing, astringent, aphrodisiac, calms the nerves, diuretic; sleep aid in alcoholism, for tuberculosis, wasting in children, weakness of old age, rheumatism, general weakness, nervous exhaustion, memory loss, muscle weakness, seminal loss; leaf expels worms, externally for stubborn ulcers.
Preparation and amount
Root powder 3–6 g (about 2 g for weakness); with ghee and honey for impotence; root and leaf externally.
Caution: Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Rejuvenating tonic (rasayana), adaptogen; fights viral infections and helps recovery afterwards; further for stress, fatigue, poor concentration, stabilises blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
Preparation and amount
simmer 1 level tsp powder gently for 10 min in a cup of milk, with a teaspoon of honey, ¼ tsp cinnamon or ginger and optionally ½ tsp ghee; twice a day, 1–3 months.
Caution: Not with diabetes, blood pressure problems, stomach ulcers or autoimmune diseases.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- DecoctionSyrup, honey and oxymelPowder and kitchen