Talk:Ashwagandha

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Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha
Section/Chapter Herb database/Ashwagandha
Botanical name(s) Withania somnifera
Contributors --
Year of publication 2024
Publisher Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre
DOI Awaited

English name

Winter cherry

Therapeutic Use

Swelling (Sotha), Tuberculosis (Ksaya), Generalised weakness (Dourbalya), Vataroga, Impotency (Klaibya)[1]

Other varieties / Other botanical names

  • Alicabon somniferum (L.) Raf.
  • Larnax morrisonii (Dunal) Miers
  • Physalis alpini J.Jacq.
  • Physalis flexuosa L.
  • Physalis scariosa Webb & Berthel.
  • Physalis somnifera L.
  • Physaloides somnifera (L.) Moench
  • Withania arborescens Dunal
  • Withania chevalieri A.E.Gonç.
  • Withania kansuensis Kuang & A. M. Lu
  • Withania microphysalis Suess
  • Withania morisonii Dunal
  • Withania mucronata Chiov.
  • Withania obtusifolia Täckh.
  • Withania sicula Lojac.

Identification Characters

  • Gandhapatri – Leaves too have the smell of horse.
  • Varahakarni – Leaves resembles pig’s ears.
  • Ashvakanda – The root smells like horse or on consuming it imparts sexual power like horse.

Types

  • Aswagandha (Withania somnifera)
  • Nagauri Aswagandha (Withania ashwagandha)


Synonyms in Charaka Samhita

Ashwagandha

Synonyms in Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

Vaji(the roots emit smell of horse urine), Hayahvaya(synonyms of house may be attributed to this drug), Varahakarni(Leaves resembles pig’s ears), Varada, Balada(it imparts strength), Kusthagandhini[2]

Ayurvedic pharmacological properties

Properties
Sr.no. Pharmacological criteria Properties
1 Taste (rasa) Bitter (tikta), Pungent (katu) and Sweet (madhura)
2 Potency (veerya) Hot (ushna)
3 Post digestion effect (vipaka) Sweet (madhura)
4 Qualities (guna) Light (laghu), Unctous (snigdha)
5 Actions (karma) Pacify Kapha and Pitta

Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions

Herbs and their activities
Sr.no. Reference in Charak Samhita Activity
1 Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(2) Bruhaniya mahakashaya(ingredient of group of herbs for promoting strength)
2 Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(7) Balya mahakashay(ingredient of group of herbs for promoting bala (tonic))
3 Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/136 Virechana Dravyani(List of medicines used in therapeutic purgation)
4 Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/139 Madhur skanda(group of sweet drug)
5 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 2/1/34 Ingredient in Vajikaran Ghrita
6 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 13/109 In treatment of Udara roga (for lepa)
7 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 14/50 Dhupan yoga in arsha roga
8 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 17/117 Kshara mixed with madhuk ghrit used in hikka svasa
9 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 18/75 As an ingredient of dhumapan yoga
10 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/123 For pradeha prayoga in granthi visarpa
11 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/70 As an ingredient of Gandha hasti agada
12 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/80 As an ingredient of Maha -Gandha hasti agada
13 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/244 As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita
14 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/43 As an ingredient of Kusthadi Taila
15 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 22/50 As an ingredient of Utsadana Yoga
16 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/166 As an ingredient of Ashwagandha Taila paka
17 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/170 As an ingredient of Vrushamuladi taila
18 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/173 As an ingredient of Mulaka taila
19 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/73 As an ingredient of Jeevakadi mahasneha
20 Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/260 As a paniya yoga, in the treatment of Stanya dosha

Dose

3 – 6 gm of the drug in powder form.[3]

Important Formulations

As per A.P.I.[4]

  • Ashwagandhadyarishta
  • Ashwagandhadi Leha
  • Balashvagandha Lakshadi Taila


Current availability

Available

  • In India – Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam
  • Out of India – Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, Morocco, Spain

Current researches

 This article is under development ..

References

  1. Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, guduchyadi Varga, Verse no. 161 - 162, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015;
  2. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10
  3. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10
  4. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10
  1. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10
  2. Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, guduchyadi Varga, Verse no. 161 - 162, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2015;
  3. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10
  4. Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume I:10