For most of these 6000 years Ashwagandha has been used as a Rasayana.
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It also possesses potent antioxidant properties that help protect against cellular damage caused by free radicals.Īyurveda, the traditional system of medicine practiced in India can be traced back to 6000 BC ( Charak Samhita, 1949). Ashwagandha improves the body's defense against disease by improving the cell-mediated immunity.
Being a powerful adaptogen, it enhances the body's resilience to stress. It improves the function of the reproductive system promoting a healthy sexual and reproductive balance. It enhances the function of the brain and nervous system and improves the memory. Most of the Rasayana herbs are adaptogen / anti-stress agents.Īshwagandha is commonly available as a churna, a fine sieved powder that can be mixed with water, ghee (clarified butter) or honey. It is known as “Sattvic Kapha Rasayana” Herb ( Changhadi, 1938). Among the ayurvedic Rasayana herbs, Ashwagandha holds the most prominent place. These types of remedies are given to small children as tonics, and are also taken by the middle-aged and elderly to increase longevity. Rasayana is described as an herbal or metallic preparation that promotes a youthful state of physical and mental health and expands happiness. It is one of the most important herb of Ayurveda (the traditional system of medicine in India) used for millennia as a Rasayana for its wide ranging health benefits. Solanaceae) is commonly known as “Indian Winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng”. Large scale studies are needed to prove its clinical efficacy in stress related disorders, neuronal disorders and cancers.Īshwagandha ( Withania somnifera, fam. It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent and was found useful in clinical cases of Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. It has anxiolytic effect and improves energy levels and mitochondrial health. It has GABA mimetic effect and was shown to promote formation of dendrites. It was also found useful in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzeimer's diseases. It has a Cognition Promoting Effect and was useful in children with memory deficit and in old age people loss of memory. In some cases of uterine fibroids, dermatosarcoma, long term treatment with WS controlled the condition. It was also found effective against urethane induced lung-adenoma in mice. WS have anti-tumor effect on Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell carcinoma. Pretreatment with Withania somnifera (WS) showed significance protection against stress induced gastric ulcers.
In experimental models it increases the stamina of rats during swimming endurance test and prevented adrenal gland changes of ascorbic acid and cortisol content produce by swimming stress. Considering these facts many scientific studies were carried out and its adaptogenic / anti-stress activities were studied in detail.
It is used for various kinds of disease processes and specially as a nervine tonic. Withania somnifera (Ashawagandha) is very revered herb of the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine as a Rasayana (tonic).
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