Botanical name: Withania somnifera, Solanaceae
Common names: Ashvagandha ('horse smell') (S); Ashgandh (H), Amukkira (T), Winter Cherry (E)
Botany: Ashvagandha is an erect branching shrub that attains a height between 30-150 cm, covered in a wooly pubescence. The ovate leaves are up to 10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, margins entire, arranged in an alternate fashion. The flowers are green or yellow, borne in axillary fascicles, giving rise to red globose fruits when mature. The roots are fleshy and cylindrical, the epidermis light brown and medulla white. Ashvagandha is found throughout the drier parts of India, into West Asia and northern Africa (Warrier et al 1995, 409; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1774).
Part used: Root.
Dravyguna:
•Rasa: tikta, kashaya
•Vipaka: katu
•Virya: ushna
•Karma: medhya, nidrajanana, stanyajanana, vedanasthapana, balya, vajikarana, rasayana, Vatakaphahara (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 258; Warrier et al 1996, 409; Dash 1991, 59)
Constituents: Ashvagandha contains steroidal compounds of great interest to researchers, including ergostane type steroidal lactones, including withanolides A-Y, dehydrowithanolide-R, withasomniferin-A, withasomidienone, withasomniferols A-C, withaferin A, withanone and others. Other constituents include the phytosterols sitoindosides VII-X and b-sitosterol, as well as alkaloids (e.g. ashwagandhine, cuscohygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, isopelletierine, anaferine), a variety of amino acids including tryptophan, and high amounts of iron (Williamson 2003, 322; Yoganarasimhan 2000, 592; Mills and Bone 2000, 596).
Medical research:
•Adaptogen: The traditional use of Ashvagandha as an adaptogen has been assessed. Researcher found that rats treated with an extract of Withania somnifera showed better stress tolerance in cold water swimming tests, a classic experimental model of adaptogenic activity (Archana and Namasivayam 1999).
•Antiinflammatory: A methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Withania somnifera had antiinflammatory activities comparable to that of hydrocortisone sodium succinate in rats subjected to subcutaneous cotton-pellet implantation (al-Hindawi et al 1992). An 80% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera displayed significant antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats (al-Hindawi 1989).
•Antioxidant: An aqueous suspension of root extract of Ashvagandha prevented the rise of experimentally induced lipid peroxidation in rabbits and mice (Dhuley 1998a). An extract of Withania somnifera, consisting of equimolar concentrations of sitoindosides VII-X and withaferin A, induced an increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in rat brain, consistent with other research that reports an antioxidant, immunomodulant and antiinflammatory activity (Bhattacharya et al 1997).
•Cancer: The administration of Ashvagandha rasayana (an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation containing Ashvagandha) significantly reduced the lung tumor nodule formation by 55.6% in experimental animals (Menon et al. 1997). An alcoholic extract of the dried roots as well as withaferin A isolated from the extract showed significant antitumor and radiosensitizing effects in experimental tumors in Chinese hamster cells, without any noticeable systemic toxicity (Devi 1996). The steroidal lactone withaferin A displayed significant antitumor and radiosensitizing effects, inhibiting tumor growth and increasing survival in Swiss mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (Devi et al 1995; Sharad et al 1996). The administration of an extract of Withania somnifera was found to significantly reduce leucopenia induced by cyclophosphamide treated experimental animals, indicating its usefulness in cancer therapy (Davis and Kuttan 1998). The administration of methanolic extract of Ashvagandha was found to significantly increase the WBC count in normal Balb/c mice and reduce leucopenia induced by a sublethal dose of g-radiation. Withania increased bone marrow cellularity and normalised the ratio of normochromatic erythrocytes and polychromatic erythrocytes. This observed activity was thought to be due to stem cell proliferation (Kuttan 1996).
•Central Nervous system: Isolated constituents of Withania somnifera (sitoindosides VII-X and withaferin-A) increased cortical muscarinic acetylcholine receptor capacity, partly explaining the cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects traditionally attributed to Ashvagandha (Schliebs et al 1997). A methanolic extract of Withania somnifera inhibited the specific binding of [3H]GABA and [35S]TBPS, and enhanced the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to their putative receptor sites, suggesting a GABA-mimetic activity (Mehta et al 1991). A commercial root extract of Withania somnifera used repeatedly over nine days attenuated the development of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine and suppressed morphine-withdrawal jumps (Kulkarni and Ninan 1997).
•Diabetes: The hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effects of roots of Ashvagandha were assessed in six patients with mild NIDDM and six patients with mild hypercholesterolemia. The treatment consisted of the powder of roots over a 30 day period. At the end of the study, researchers noted a decrease in blood glucose comparable to that of an oral hypoglycemic drug, and a significant increase in urine sodium and urine volume, coupled with a decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (low density lipoproteins) and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) cholesterol, with no adverse effects noted (Andallu and Radhika 2000).
•Immunity: Myelosuppressed mice treated with an extract of Ashvagandha displayed a significant increase in hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count and body weight as compared to controls, as well as increased hemolytic antibody responses towards human erythrocytes (Ziauddin et al 1996). Researchers at the Amala Cancer Research Centre in Kerala, India, found that the administration of an extract from the powdered root of Withania somnifera enhanced the levels of interferon-g, interleukin-2 and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in normal and cyclophosphamide-treated mice, suggesting an immunopotentiating and myeloprotective effect (Davis and Kuttan 1999). Mice infected intravenously with Aspergillus fumigatus and treated for 7 consecutive days with an oral preparation of an extract of Withania somnifera at a dose of 100mg/kg displayed increased phagocytic activity and prolonged survival time (Dhuley 1998). The antifungal activity of Withania has been confirmed elsewhere, attributed to the withanolides (Choudhary et al 1995).
•Musculo-skeletal: A herbomineral formulation containing roots of Withania somnifera, the stem of Boswellia serrata, rhizomes of Curcuma longa and a zinc complex (Articulin-F), was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study in clients with osteoarthritis. The results produced a significant drop in severity of pain and disability, although radiological assessment did not show any significant changes. Side effects were minimal and did not necessitate the withdrawal of treatment. (Kulkarni et al 1991)
Toxicity: Ashvagandha appears to be very safe, with an LD50 of a 50% alcohol extract determined to be 1000 mg/kg in rats (Williamson 2002, 323; Aphale et al 1998).
Indications: Anorexia, bronchitis, asthma, consumption, leucoderma, edema, asthenia, anemia, exhaustion, aging, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, infertility, impotence, repeated miscarriage, paralysis, memory loss, multiple sclerosis, immune dysfunction, cancer, rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago.
Contraindications: Caution should be used with clients on anticonvulsants, barbituates and benzodiazepines due to its GABA-nergic and sedative properties. Ashvagandha is traditionally avoided in lymphatic congestion, during colds and flu, or symptoms of ama (Frawley and Lad 1986, 160).
Medicinal uses: Ashvagandha is often considered the Indian equivalent to Ginseng (Panax ginseng), but unlike Ginseng, Ashvagandha has a sedative (nidrajanana) rather than stimulant action on the central nervous system, making it a superior medicine for exhaustion with nervous irritability. Ashvagandha is a useful nervine, taken before bed to relax and nourish the body in deficiency diseases, but is only seen to be efficacious when taken on a sustained basis - it is not a sufficient sedative to treat acute insomnia. For poor memory, lack of concentration and in the treatment of ADD/ADHD Ashvagandha may be used in equal proportions with Brahmi and Ling zhi (Ganoderma lucidum). Ashvagandha is widely used in any debility, emaciation or consumptive condition, in both adults and children (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1775; Nadkarni 1954, 1294). One rejuvenating preparation can be made by mixing Ashvagandha with 10-15% Pippali, taken with one half part ghrita and one part honey on an empty stomach, morning and evening. As its name smelling like a horseš suggests, Ashvagandha is an important vajikarana dravya, indicating the sexual potency of a stallion, used in the treatment of infertility, impotence and "seminal depletion" (Nadkarni 1954, 1293). When mixed with equal parts Shatavari, it is an appropriate treatment for female infertility and frigidity, useful in threatened miscarriage, and is an excellent post-partum restorative. In the treatment of uterine prolapse a paste prepared from equal parts Ashvagandha, Vacha, Kushta, Haridra, Maricha (Piper nigrum) and Nilotpala (Monochoria hastata) is recommended by the Chakradatta to restore uterine tone (Sharma 2002, 579). In the treatment of infertility in both sexes a simple decoction of Ashvagandha in milk is indicated, taken with ghee as an anupana (Sharma 2002, 580). Similarly, a medicated taila called Ashvagandhadi taila is prepared by decocting Ashvagandha, Shatavari, Kushta, Jatamamsi and Brhati fruit (Solanum indicum) in sesame oil, massaged into the breasts and genitalia to make them stronger and larger (Sharma 2002, 654). Mixed with equal parts Vriddhadharu (Impomea pataloidea) Ashvagandha churna is allowed to sit in a pot with ghee for a few days, and is then administered in doses of 12 g taken with milk as a vajikarana rasayana (Srikanthamurthy 1984, 100). In the treatment of consumptive conditions the Chakradatta recommends a decoction of equal parts Ashvagandha, Guduchi, Shatavari, Dashamula, Bala, Vasaka, Pushkaramula (Inula helenium root) and Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), taken in conjunction with a diet of milk and meat broth(Sharma 2002, 134). A more recently developed formula by the Hospital of Integrated Medicine in Madras is Ashvagandhadi lehya, prepared by dissolving 1.356 kg of sugar in 452 mL of hot water, after which is gradually added 192 g each fine powders of Ashvagandha, Sariva (Hemedesmus indicus), Jiraka (Cuminum cyminum, Madhusnuhi (Smilax chinensis), and Draksha (Vitis vinifera), and 24 g Ela (Elettaria cardamomum). Following this, 226 g of ghee (226 g) is added, and when the mixture is cool, 452 g of honey is added. Ashvagandhadi lehya is used in dosages of 6-12 g in milk to strengthen the body, and promote fertility and long life (India 1978, 27). For poor eyesight Ashvagandha powder is mixed with equal proportions of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra root) powder and the fresh juice of Amalaki (Emblica officinalis fruit) (Nadkarni, 1294). Nadkarni mentions that Ashvagandha is used in the treatment of antiinflammatory joint disease (1954, 1293), but may facilitate the production of ama (Lad and Frawley 1986, 160), and thus an eliminative regimen is best implemented prior to using this botanical. Likewise, Ashvagandha is an appropriate remedy in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis (Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1775-6), but should be used concurrently with dravyas that have a dipanapachana property to avoid the production of ama. Warrier et al mention that a paste made of the roots and bruised leaves may be applied to carbuncles, ulcers and painful swellings (1996, 409). Based on its traditional use, and upon the experimental studies that support its usage in this way, Ashvagandha is an excellent choice to support the health of patients undergoing conventional cancer treatment, to protect against injury, improve immune status, and enhance recovery. Combined with Madhuka (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and used in sufficient doses, Ashvagandha can be used to wean a patient off of corticosteroid therapy, or may be used in place of it.
Dosage:
•Churna: 3-15 g b.i.d.-t.i.d.
•Kvatha: 1:4, 60-120 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
•Tincture: fresh root, 1:2, 95% alcohol; dried root, 1:3; 35% alcohol; 1-15 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
References:
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Andallu B, Radhika B. 2000. Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera, Dunal) root. Indian J Exp Biol. Jun;38(6):607-9
Aphale A.A., A.D. Chhibba, N.R. Kumbhakarna, M. Mateenuddin and S.H. Dahat. 1998. Subacute toxicity study of the combination of ginseng (Panax ginseng) and ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in rats: a safety assessment. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol Apr; 42(2):299-302
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