Talk:Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha

Section/Chapter	Herb database/Ashwagandha
Botanical name(s)	Withania somnifera
Contributors	--
Year of publication	2023
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)

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 Charak 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

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 Ghrit
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.

Important Formulations

• 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