Current Uses

Sattvic herb with strong energy. Ashwagandha is as revered in Ayurvedic therapeutics as ginseng is in Chinese medicine. An extract of the root is used in Ayurvedic treatment for chronic fatigue. The leaves and berries can be applied topically in a poultice to treat tumors and ulcers in the skin. One of the herbs prescribed in Rasayana treatment for Vata. The powdered root can be boiled with milk and water into a decoction. Used in medicated oils and ghee.

Taste

Astringent, Bitter & Sweet

Plant Parts Used

Berries, Leaves & Root

Used in Spirits

Cultivation Regions

Perennial & Sub-Tropical

Origins

India & Nepal

Therapeutic Properties

Adaptogen, Aphrodisiac, Astringent, Nervine, Rejuvenative, Sedative & Tonic

Precautions

Do not use if severely congested or there is high Ama in the body.

Ayurvedic Character

Heating

Substitutions

History

In Sanskrit, Ashwagandha translates as "horse's smell," which refers to the sweaty horse smell of its roots.

Footnotes