Withania somnifera
(Ashwagandha)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anemia with emaciation
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antitumor activity, in animal studies
• Ayurvedic superior rejuvenative herb for the muscles, bone marrow and semen
• Catalyzes the anabolic processes of the body
• Free-radical scavenging activity
• Hypotensive
• Immunomodulating
• Increases phagocytosis and intracellular killing of peritoneal macrophages
• Inhibits aging
• Nervous exhaustion
• Nurtures and clarifies the mind promoting dreamless sleep
• Promotes the healing of tissue
• Regenerates the hormonal system
• Sedative
• Stimulates the immune system
• Stress-induced health conditions

Clinical Indications:

• Aging prevention
• Alzheimer's
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Hypertension
• Impotence due to aging or stress
• Insomnia
• Memory loss
• Multiple sclerosis
• Anemia
• Aspergillus infection
• Chronic inflammation
• Cognitive function deficits
• Depressed white blood cell count due to cytotoxic drugs
• Glandular swelling
• Infertility
• Problems of old age

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• No interactions have been reported

Chemical Constituents:

• Ashwagandholine, an alkaloid
• Withaferin A, has significant antitumor and radiosensitizing effects in experimental tumors of animals in vivo, without any noticeable systemic toxicity
• Withanolides, steroidal compounds whose action and appearance resemble the active constituents of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) known as ginsenosides

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity, this Ayurvedic herb is given to young children and elderly people in India

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).