Description
This potent herb has been used for millennia as a staple within the Ayurvedic system and by the general population as a tonic of India. Withania somnifera means ‘sleep-inducing’. The Hindi name for ashwagandha is asgandh, referring to the horse sweat-like smell of the root! Hah! This translates to granting the strength of a horse to those that use ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is:
- otherwise known as Indian ginseng, Withania somnifera, winter cherry
- a potent Jing herb; provides stamina
- a reproductive tonic
- able to stabilise the HPA axis
- used to support yoga and meditation
- unlike other aphrodisiacs, is not irritating and can be used without overstimulating the system
- known to reduce anxiety and depression
- able to counter the effects of sleep deprivation
- able to reduce inflammation
- a powerful antioxidant
- able to stimulate a healthy production of thyroid hormone
NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENTS
Ashwagandha contains the biochemical compounds steroidal alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These belong to a class of active constituents called withanolides. Within this constituent class of compounds, as both withaferin A and withanolide D.