Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal [Indian Ginseng]

 Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Poison Gooseberry - an Ayurvedic medicine !!
BOTANICAL NAME: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

SYNONYMS: Physalis somnifera L., Withania kansuensis Kuang & A. M. Lu, Withania microphysalis Suess.

FAMILY: Solanceae (nightshade family)

COMMON NAME: Ajagandha, Amangura, Amukkirag, Asan, Asana, Asgand, Asgandh, Asgandha, Ashagandha, Ashvagandha, Ashwaganda, Ashwanga, Asoda, Asundha, Asvagandha, Aswagandha, Avarada, Ayurvedic Ginseng, Cerise d'Hiver, Clustered Wintercherry, Ghoda Asoda, Ginseng Ayurvédique, Ginseng Indien, Hayahvaya, Indian Ginseng, Kanaje Hindi, Kuthmithi, Orovale, Peyette, Physalis somnifera, Samm Al Ferakh, Samm Al Rerakh, Sogade-Beru, Strychnos, Turangi-Ghanda, Vajigandha, Winter Cherry, Withania, Withania somnifera.

ETYMOLOGY: ~The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing"
in Latin.

~The name Ashwagandha is from the Sanskrit language and is a combination of the word ashva, meaning horse, and gandha, meaning smell. The root has a strong aroma that is described as “horse-like.”

HABITAT DISTRIBUTION: The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, but today is also grown in more mild climates, including in the United States. Prefers rich, loose soil, moderate water, full sun.
1) found naturally in dry areas and in waste areas
2) Soil: sandy loam to light red soils
3) Climate required: dry climate having 65-75 cm per annum of rain and temperature of 20-38 C.
4) Altitude: up to 1500 m above sea level

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:# Plant : A much branched, erect, perennial undershrub, from a more or less tuberous root

# Branches: Terete, clothed with mealy, stellate-hoary tomentum, at length some what glabrous.

# Leaves: 5-10×3.6 cm, ovate, obtovate, or oblong, subacute or rarely obtuse, entire, rounded or somewhat produced at base, Pubescent on lower surface and glabrous on upper surface.

# Flowers: in sessile, axillary, 4-6 flowered cymes, greenish-yellow.

# Fruits: Orange-red berry, smooth, more or less globose.

# Seeds: Yellow, somewhat scurfy

# Roots: long, fleshy tubers.

CULTIVATION: Withania somnifera is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India, such as Mandsaur District of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat,and Rajasthan. It is also found in Nepal.

PATHOLOGY: Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases.

~ Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent disease, which is most severe in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Biodeterioration of its pharmaceutically active components during leaf spot disease has been reported.

~ The Choanephora cucurbitarum causes a stem and leaf rot of Withania somnifera.

~ Oxyrachis tarandus, a treehopper, feeds on the apical portions of the stem, making them rough and woody in appearance and brown in colour. The apical leaves are shed and the plant gradually dies..

~ The carmine red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is the most prevalent pest of the plant in India.

CULINARY USE: The berries can be used as a substitute for rennet in cheesemaking.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. The leaves contain the steroidal lactones, withanolides, notably withaferin A, which was the first to be isolated from the plant.

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USES: ~The plant's long, brown, tuberous roots are used for medicinal purposes.

~In Ayurveda, the berries and leaves are applied externally to tumors, tubercular glands, carbuncles, and ulcers.

~The roots are used to prepare the herbal remedy ashwagandha, which has been traditionally used to treat various symptoms and conditions.

~In two published clinical trials of W. somnifera, the side effects were not significantly different from those experienced by placebo-treated individuals. Ashwagandha exhibits greater clinical benefit than psychotherapy in mental health (anxiety level), concentration, fatigue, social functioning, vitality, and overall quality of life.

~Multiple studies have shown positive effects in reducing physiological and psychological stress as well as restoring and increasing energy levels. More than one study had findings showing a significant improvement in both cardiovascular and respiratory endurance.

~In addition, ashwagandha is also used to enhance sexual potency for both men and women.

~Ashwagandha is used for arthritis, anxiety, trouble sleeping (insomnia), tumors, tuberculosis, asthma, a skin condition marked by white patchiness (leukoderma), bronchitis, backache, fibromyalgia, menstrual problems, hiccups, and chronic liver disease.

~Ashwagandha is also used as an “adaptogen” to help the body cope with daily stress, and as a general tonic.

~Some people also use ashwagandha for improving thinking ability, decreasing pain and swelling (inflammation), and preventing the effects of aging. It is also used for fertility problems in men and women and also to increase sexual desire.

~Ashwagandha is applied to the skin for treating wounds, backache, and one-sided paralysis (hemiplegia).

~In Ayurvedic, Indian, and Unani medicine, ashwagandha is described as “Indian ginseng.” Ashwagandha is also used in traditional African medicine for a variety of ailments.

Don’t confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry.

How does it work?Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling (inflammation), lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.

SIDE EFFECTS: ~Ashwagandha is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. The long-term safety of ashwagandha is not known. Large doses of ashwagandha might cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.

~It’s not known whether it’s safe to apply ashwagandha directly to the skin.

~Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Do not use ashwagandha if you are pregnant. It is rated LIKELY UNSAFE during pregnancy. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might cause miscarriages. Not enough is known about the use of ashwagandha during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

~Stomach ulcers: Ashwagandha can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Don’t use ashwagandha if you have a stomach ulcer.

~“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using ashwagandha.

~Surgery: Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

SOURCES:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withania_somnifera

>> http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-953-ASHWAGANDHA.aspx?activeIngredientId=953&activeIngredientName=ASHWAGANDHA

>> https://www.chopra.com/ashwagandha

>>https://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/jun2006_report_ashwa_01.htm

>>http://en.mr-ginseng.com/ashwagandha/

>>http://happyherbcompany.com/ashwagandha

>>http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail205.php

>>http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/asgandh.html

>>http://withaniasomnifera.com/

>>http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantwxyz/withaniasomnifera.htm

>>http://www.indo-world.com/withania_somnifera_extracts/withania_somnifera_extracts.htm

>>http://essenherb.com/plant7.html

>>http://ayurveda-foryou.com/ayurveda_herb/ashwagandha.html

>>http://www.herbalnet.org/SHRUBS/withania_somni.asp

>>http://www.allayurveda.com/herb_month_august2011.asp