Ashwagandha 

(Winter Cherry)

Department of Dravyaguna
Uttaranchal Medical College of Ayurveda & Research

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Basic Details

• Botanical Name: Withania somnifera

• Family: Solanaceae

• Synonyms: Balya, Vajikari, Vagigandha, Hayagandha, Turangagandha

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Morphological Description

Habit:
A short shrub growing 35–75 cm (14–30 inches) tall, found naturally and cultivated throughout India, especially in temperate regions.

Stem & Branches

• Tomentose (covered with fine hairs)

• Branches extend radially from a central stem

Leaves

• Dull green

• Elliptic

• Up to 10–12 cm long

Flowers

• Small

• Green

• Bell-shaped

Fruits

• Ripe fruit is orange-red

Etymology

The name Ashwagandha comes from:

• Ashva = horse

• Gandha = smell
  Refers to the horse-like odor of the root.

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Rasa Panchaka

• Rasa: Katu, Tikta, Kashaya

• Guna: Laghu, Snigdha

• Virya: Ushna

• Vipaka: Katu

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Pharmacological Properties (Karma)

• Tridoshahara (especially Kapha-Vata hara)

• Balya

• Rasayana

• Shukrala

• Hridya

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Therapeutic Uses

• Aphrodisiac / Vrishya

• Hridya roga (heart diseases)

• Sandhivata (Osteoarthritis)

• Anidra (Insomnia)

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Useful Parts

• Leaf

• Root

• Alkali (Kshara)

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Dose

• Decoction: 50–100 ml

• Fruit powder: 5–10 g

• Extract: 3 g

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Important Formulations

• Ashwagandharishta

• Ashwagandha Kshara

• Ashwagandhadi Churna