Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Latin Name: Withania somnifera
Common Names: Ashwagandha, Winter Cherry, Withania, Indian Ginseng, Poison Gooseberry.
Family Name: Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)
Plant Family Relatives: Tomatoes, potatoes, bell/chili peppers, eggplant and tobacco (the Nightshade family is very large and contains a diverse range of plants).
Origin: Native to South Asia, Central Asia, India and Africa.
Historical Uses: Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine where it is described as a ‘promoter of learning and memory revival.’ Other research indicated the name Ashwagandha being translated from the Sanskrit term for ‘the smell like a horse’ and was described as instilling the vitality of a horse to the consumer who was debilitated or exhausted in order to add to one’s life longevity.
Botanical description: Ashwagandha is a shrub that grows to 2-5 feet in height with one central stem. The leaves are oval shaped and alternate 90 degrees in pairs along the stem. Leaves are dull green and about 4-inches long. The flowers are green on the outside and yellow on the inside. The ripe fruit are smooth red berries with a papery covering reminiscent to that of a tomatillo. The roots are long, brown, and wood-like.
Growing Conditions: Ashwagandha is a drought-tolerant plant that grows well in dry soil. Seeds should be planted in moderate temperatures (70 F) and will germinate in approximately 2 weeks with regular watering. Once established, plant can be maintained in full sun with intermittent watering.
Harvesting Guidelines: Fruit and root are harvested in autumn from plants allowed to experience one full year of growth. Seeds are harvested from fruit and replanted. Roots can be used fresh or dried.
Parts Used: Roots
Constituents: Alkaloids, steroidal lactones, withanolides, and iron.
Taste: Sweet, flowery, earthy, slightly bitter.
Uses of the Herb:
o Ultimate Ashwaganda by Swanson Vitamins – 1 Veggie Capsule contains 250 mg of dried Root Extract. I took 1 capsule each morning and felt a calm stimulation without jitters which I enjoyed.
o Ashwagandha Tea by Buddha Teas – Steeped one bag in a cup of boiling water for 3-5 minutes. I enjoyed drinking this in the afternoons. It helped my focus which I appreciated, but it also had a slightly sedative effect which I did not expect, but it did help with taking naps.
o Stamina Builder Tea by Nectar Apothecary – Tea blend contained Ashwagandha, Eleuthero, Goji Berries, Orange Peel, Licorice Root, and Roasted Chicory Root. 1 heaping tablespoon was added to boiling water and left to steep for 15-20 minutes. This mix had a sweet taste and did give me relaxed energy when taken in the afternoon or evening time.
o Whole Root Ashwagandha Tincture by Herb Pharm – organic Ashwagandha root with organic cane alcohol and distilled water. I took 5-10 drops 2-3 times per day with water. It was extremely bitter tasting which made it so that I did not want to continue taking it. I enjoyed the tea more and had better effects with the teas as well.
Actions:
o Adaptogen
o Anti-inflammatory
o Anti-tumor/antiproliferative
o Anti-stress
o Hypotensive
o Antioxidant
o Immunomodulatory
o Hematopoietic
o Mild Sedative
o Tonic
Effect on body energy: As described in depth in the ‘Mechanism of Action’ section below, this plant works to calm the consumer down in essence. To do so, it primarily works to decrease cortisol release, decrease heart rate, and decrease respiration rate which is stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.
Current Clinical Uses:
o Promote protections from effects of stress
o Improve resilience to and recovery from stress
o Generalized weakness
o Poor stamina
o Low energy and vitality
o Low immune function
o Hypercholesterolemia
o Chronic stress recovery
o Anxiety
o Oncology
o Post-partum energy
o Female reproductive tonic
o Poor muscle tone
o Hypothyroid disorders
o Poor endocrine function
Biochemistry: The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. Tropine is the chemical derivative from which atropine is made. This compound is known as a muscarinic antagonist which are anticholinergic drugs that block the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the body. Cuscohygrine is known as a pyrrolidine alkaloid which is also found in nightshade plants. This alkaloid has a neurological effect as it is known for its central sedative and peripheral anticholinergic effects. It is also known to decrease gastric motility and gastric secretion. It is responsible for the bitter taste of Ashwagandha.
Mechanism of Action: The main effect of the constituents of Ashwagandha are anticholinergic in nature. In particular, these compounds act on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Binding to, and blocking these receptors decreases amounts of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine in the nervous system and peripheries. Primarily, this will decrease heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and initiate vasodilation in the peripheries which results in a relaxing/calming effect. In the CNS, the same effect will cause stimulation which is responsible for the increased focus often described when taking this plant.
Safety factors:
o Not recommended during acute infections or severe congestion.
o May potentiate the action of barbiturates.
o Not recommended during pregnancy.
o Not recommended if you have an allergy or sensitivity to the nightshade family.
o Not recommended if you are hyperthyroid.
o Large doses have been known to cause gastrointestinal upset and vomiting.
Pairs:
o Reproductive Health – Ashwagandha + Shatavari
o Adrenal Health – Ashwagandha + Milky Oats
o Heat Balancing – Ashwagandha + Rose of Lemon Balm
o Kidney and Immune Support – Ashwagandha + Nettle + Elderberry
o Fibromyalgia – Ashwagandha + Kava Kava + Skullcap
o Improved Flavor in Tea – Ashwagandha + Cardamom + Dates
Plant’s Energetics: Ashwagandha is moistening and warming. For example, upon introduction to tissues, these energetic properties encourage blood flow by promoting vasodilation. Further, the warming energy of Ashwagandha allows for its building, strengthening, and nourishing nature. Examples of this are brain, adrenal, and vitality recovery. Other examples are the plant’s healing effects in gut dysbiosis and in cancer patient.
Experimental Summary: Based on my positive experience with the herb, I would say that Ashwagandha lives up to the hype of being a calming herb that helps you adapt to the environments you deal with on a daily basis. Speaking with my other classmates about their experiences, I think intention and individual biology has a large effect on the workings of the herb as everyone had different effects. So, with recommending this herb to others, I would use caution and give a full education on the possible outcomes as with any herb or medicine. After doing the research for this Materia Medica and learning about the many pairs that work with Ashwagandha, I am intrigued to see what mixtures of herbs would do for certain ailments, not just for my patients, but for myself as well. I am excited to keep experimenting and experiencing. And, in light of this experience, I have recently purchased a small Ashwagandha plant and planted it in my garden. Hopefully, I can have an annual harvest of this amazing adaptogenic plant!