Ashwagandha

Ashwaganda – Adaptogenic Magic

John Douillard, D.C., Ph.D.

In a world where eighty percent of all disease can be attributed to stress it is not surprising that we are attracted to the Ayurvedic herb, Ashwaganda. Winter Cherry in English, Withania somnifera (the latin name for Ashwaganda) is sometimes referred to as Indian Ginseng making reference to its nervous system rejuvenating and tonic actions. Numerous studies have exhibited it’s anti-stress adaptogenic properties, many of which were demonstrated as superior to that of Ginseng.1,2 While most adaptogens are stimulants in disguise, Ashwaganda, can give the energy in the morning to run a marathon and taken before bed, put you to sleep like a baby. This amazing herb neither stimulates nor sedates, it offers a deep rejuvenation to the whole body and mind that no herb has yet to match.

In one study, Ashwaganda demonstrated increased physical endurance, prevented the depletion of Vitamin C and cortisol while under stress and prevented stress related gastrointestinal ulcers3. Hence, Ashwaganda got it’s name which in Sanskrit means “the sweat or smell of a horse” indicating that one who takes it would have the strength and stamina of a horse or some say ten horses. It is quickly becoming well known as an herb for energy, endurance and stress.

It is called a “rasayana” in Ayurvedic medicine which means it is a powerful rejuventative which is rarely made up of just one herb as is the case with Ashwaganda. According to Ayurveda, there are seven tissues in the body resembling enzymatic and anabolic processes of the body. The seventh and most refined tissue of the body is called “Ojas” which governs the reproduction and immunity of the body. These are two of the most highly specialized functions of the body which are essential to keep the species alive. Ashwaganda is one the rare herbs that increase the Ojas and therefore supports these essential functions of the body. Stress as we now know triggers degenerative stress fighting hormones and damaging free radicals which are both considered to play a leading role in the disease process. In Ayurveda, the degenerative chemistry of stress depletes Ojas by interfering with the production of the seven tissues and leaves the body susceptible to what we call stress related illness. It is from this perspective that Ashwaganda can play such a leading role in so many processes of the body and gain such high status as an adaptogen and rejuvenative.

Ashwaganda is a small evergreen perennial shrub that grows to 1.5 meters tall. It is found in dry areas of India and as far west a Israel. It is a member of the Solanaceae family and resembles a large erect potato plant. Although all parts of the plant have been traditionally used for medicines the root which carries the damp smell of a horse is most commonly used today. Ashawaganda contains at least twenty six different bio-active alkoloids, steroidal lactones called withanolides, and sitoindosides.4 Due to it’s complex chemistry, much of which is still unknown, we can expect variations in levels of active constituents and a broad spectrum of therapeutic actions which include, tonic, nervine, sedative, nerve restorative, adaptogen, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory and respiratory stimulant properties.

According to Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwaganda balances both the Nervous System (vata = air) and the Musculo-Skeletal System (kapha = earth, water) simultaneously while it increases heat (pitta) in the body. In chronic conditions it is common to see Vata-Kapha imbalances which are usually long standing and difficult to treat. A classic example of such a condition is arthritis, which involves painfully dry joints (a vata condition) along with swollen and inflamed joints (a kapha condition). Ashwaganda would be the medicine of choice in such a condition as it balances both the vata and kapha aspects of this imbalance.

Ashwaganda is also indicated in many other conditions that combine both vata and kapha imbalances. Traditionally, Ashwaganda was used to treat, general debility, arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depressed immunity, sexual debility, infertility, memory loss, breathing difficulties, hormonal imbalances and more. Because of its powerful status as a rasayana it can stand on it’s own for any of the conditions mentioned above. It is more commonly prescribed however, along with other herbs to enhance its effectiveness. For example, it combines extremely well with Boswellia as an anti-inflammatory for arthritic conditions and in one study matched the effectiveness of hydro-cortisone.5 It combines very well with Shilajit and Turmeric as an anti- tumor agent and should be included in all such formulas.6 It used very effectively for insomnia, but not as a sedative. The most common cause of insomnia is not having too much energy but actually having too little. Most people with insomnia are exhausted and as a result end up wired and tired with the inability to settle down at night and sleep. Ashwaganda provides the body with the energy needed by the body to settle itself down and sleep. Instead of sedating an already exhausted body with a drug for insomnia, Ashwaganda rebuilds a depleted nervous system allowing the body to fall asleep naturally.

In Ayurveda, Ashwaganda is considered a sweet root. In ancient times herbs were classified by their taste. The sweet taste allows the herb penetrate into the deeper tissues of the body. The sweet taste would open the tissues rather than constrict them. Very bitter roots would constrict and cleanse but not deeply access and rejuvenate the body like Ashwaganda. It’s secondary taste of bitter and astringent would stimulate a deep tissue cleansing and rejuvenation that would not be possible with an aggressive bitter herb. Also because of its sweet taste, Ashwaganda is considered a heavy herb and may be necessary to take it with meals or with Ginger to effectively digest it. Commercially, standardized extracts are used offering the consumer a supposedly more potent product. Beware! These extracts concentrate the herb highlighting only one of its many active constituents rendering it more like a drug than a natural medicine. In this process, the intelligence of the herb, the full spectrum of botanical constituents and its therapeutic effect is lost. When buying Ashwaganda look for an organic or wild crafted, non extracted or full spectrum extracted product.

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John Douillard, D.C., Ph.D. is the author of Body, Mind and Sport, The 3-Season Diet, Perfect Health For Kids and The Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Massage. In March of 2008, Gaiam will release 3 Ayurvedic DVD’s by Dr. Douillard on Stress, Weight Loss and Detoxification. He directs the LifeSpa, an Ayurvedic Retreat and Panchakarma center in Boulder, Colorado. For more information he can be contacted at: 303 456 4848 or www.LifeSpa.com

References

1. Int. J. Crude Drug Research.,1982, 20 (1), p-29.

2. Battacharya, S.K. et al., PhytoTherapy Research 1:32, 1987

3. Karnick,C.R., Indian Medicine, 3(2,3):1-5, April-July, 1991

4. Duke, James, 1986. Handbook of Medicinal Plants, CRC Press, Boca Raton. FL.

5. Anon. Wealth of India (Raw Materials), 1976, 10: p-581-585 (PID)

6. Indian J Exp Biol (1993) 31(7) : p-607-11

7. Lawrence Review, Withania, July 1988.

8. Battacharya, S.K. et al., Phyto Therapy Research 1:32, 1987