Ashwagandha - Withania Somnifera
This Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) monograph is an excerpt from the 1999, first edition of Dr. Sharol's book "Herbal Medicine From The Heart of The Earth." You can purchase the 2020, third edition of this book with an expanded materia medica/monograph section, herbal formulas and directions on making herbal products in Dr. Sharol's Book Store. You receive free shipping in the USA. The expanded 3rd edition materia medica, and additional herbal tidbits are also available as a kindle ebook at Amazon and details on this e-book are here.
Ashwaganda - Withania somnifera in the Solanaceae or Nightshade family
Parts used: Root.
Taste/smell: A complex of tastes and smells: bitter, flowery and earthy.
Dosage: Decoction: 1 tablespoon of the dry root per cup of water; or 1:1 fresh plant liquid extract: 10 - 60 drops 3 - 4 times per day in a little water.
Use: (a) Sedative, (b) Hypotensive, (c) Anti-inflammatory, (d) Immunomodulating, (e) Adaptogenic, (f) Tonic.
Ashwagandha supports vitality, strength, endurance and rejuvenation. The adaptogenic effects are best suited to individuals who are debilitated, or exhausted while agitated or under stress. Although other parts of the plant have been used, the root is the usual part used medicinally. The root is used for nervous exhaustion, stress-induced health conditions, anemia with emaciation, impotence, chronic inflammation, depressed white blood cell count due to cytotoxic drugs, and cognitive function deficits including those with aging and hypertension.
Contraindications: Ashwagandha should not be used during pregnancy. The leaf is processed to remove toxicity. As with most Solanaceae family plants, the raw, unprocessed leaves should not be ingested. Ashwagandha has been reported to potentiate the sedative effects of triazolam.
If you are looking for directions on making teas or tinctures, please see our "Making Herbal Products" page.
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Copyright 1999 by Sharol Tilgner, N.D. (ISBN 1-881517-02-0) - all rights reserved.
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