Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Withania somnifera ( popularly known as Ashwagandha) - Solanaceae, is a subtropical undershrub commonly used in Indian traditional medicines for more than 3000 years and has been categorized as Rasayana in Ayurveda, which is reported to elevate defense system against diseases, arrest aging, revitalize the body, increase resistance against adverse environmental conditions to create a sense of mental well-being.  The photos are: a branch, berries at different stages of maturity.  Reference  Surendra Parihar Ex.Professor and Head. Deptt. of Seed , Science and Technology. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa,  New Delhi,  India 110012

Ashwagandha   Botanical Name(s): Withania Somnifera Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Subfamily: Asteroideae Genus: Withania Species: W. somnifera Popular Name(s): Withania, Winter Cherry, Indian Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng, Ashgand, Achuvagandi Ashgandh, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi, Samm Al Ferakh Parts Used: Roots, leaves Habitat: Cultivated throughout drier parts of India Description Also known as Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry, ashwagandha is used in Indian traditional systems of medicine, namely Ayurveda and Unani. It is a stout shrub that reaches a height of about 170 cm (5 to 6 ft). The erect branched shrub is berry-like in shape and size and bears greenish or lurid yellow flowers and red fruits. The plant is grown in various parts of India like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is also cultivated...

Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha Did you know that the Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha, a herb which is a versatile ayurvedic medicine, a tonic used to rejuvenate the body and increase longevity? The Withania plant commonly known as Ashwagandha, a herb in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine is a genus of the Solanaceae or nightshade family of flowering plants distributed in the subtropical regions from the Mediterranean to India an South East Asia. The plant is also known as Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry. The plant 's various parts have been used to treat a variety of ailments that affect human health. It has antioxidant, abortifacient, diueretic, antibiotic, aphrodisiac, deobstruent, dioretic, sedative, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and nureroprotective properties. The Latin species name 'somnifera' means "sleep-inducing". The Indian name name "ashwagandha" is a combination of the...

Withania somnifera, commonly known as “Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng”, is an Ayurvedic herb known worldwide for its numerous beneficial health activities since ancient times. The root smells like horse (“Ashwa”), that is why it is called Ashwagandha (on consuming it gives the power of a horse). Botanical Name: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Common Name: Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, winter cherry Family: Solanaceae Habit: Perennial sub shrub Habitat: Cultivated throughout India Parts used: Roots, leaves Medicinal uses: It is commonly used in emaciation of children (when given with milk, it is the best tonic for children), stress management, debility from old age, rheumatism, constipation, insomnia, nervous breakdown, goiter and best immunity booster.  Propagation: Through seed Bio active compounds: Withaferin-A, Withanolides A–Y Climatic conditions for growth: Withania somnifera is grown as late rainy-season (Kharif) crop. Semitropical areas recei...

Withania somnifera (Hindi -Asgandh /Ashwagandha, Bengali -Asbagandha, Gujarati -Aksand /Asvagandha, Assamese -Asbagandha, Marathi -Ashwagandha, Oriya -Ashwagandha, Urdu -Asgand /Asgand nagori, Sanskrit -Ashvagandha /Rajgandha /Ashvakandika, Kannada -Angara beru /Sogade beru /Panneru, Malayalam -Amukkuram /Pevetti, Tamil -Amukkira, Telugu -Aswagandha, Popular -Ashwagandha /Indian ginseng /Poison gooseberry /Winter Cherry) Solanaceae. Syn -Physalis somnifera, W. kansuensis. It is a short woody shrub of 2 feet tall. Flowers are small, greenish and fruits are red small berries. Leaves are simple, ovate, 10 cm long. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent that grows naturally in India, Afghanistan Pakistan, Spain parts of the Middle East and Africa. Within India, it is distributed in the sub-Himalayan tracts upto an altitude of 1000 m. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, diuretic, antitumor, rejuvenating, aphrodisiac, antifungal, galac...