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Withania, AshwagandaWinter Cherry
Ashwaganda (Ayurveda) Asgandh (Unani) Amukura (Siddha) |
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De plantis exoticis libri duo, Alpini, 1629
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Flora Graeca, Sibthrop, Smith, 1819
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Withania
(Calcutta Unani College)
(Calcutta Unani College)
Botanical name:
Withania somnifera (syn. Physalis somniferum)
Parts used:
Root
There are 4 Grades commonly differentiated on the market:
A. 7cm or more long, white internally
B. 5cm long, white internally
C. 3–4cm long
D. small rootlets, slightly yellowish.
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, neutral in respect of moisture. Sweet
Withania somnifera (syn. Physalis somniferum)
Parts used:
Root
There are 4 Grades commonly differentiated on the market:
A. 7cm or more long, white internally
B. 5cm long, white internally
C. 3–4cm long
D. small rootlets, slightly yellowish.
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, neutral in respect of moisture. Sweet
Uses:
1. Tonifies the Spleen, Increases Qi:
-Fatigue, Poor Appetite, poor Digestion, weakness
-growth promoter in children
-tonic to mother and fetus during Pregnancy (avoid excessive doses)
-enhances Immunity and increases disease resistance
-adjunct in many chronic diseases including Rheumatism and Arthritis, Hepatitis, AIDS.
-restores strength after chronic illness and during convalescence
-altitude sickness
-Rasayana (tonic to the 7 Body Tissues)
2. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Aphrodisiac; Impotence
-Male and Female Sterility (taken for several days following menstruation).
-Premature Aging and Senility; Neuro-degenerative diseases, Parkinson's, Dementia etc.
-regarded as promoting Longevity.
3. Regulates Qi, Calms the Mind:
-Nervousness, Irritability, Alcoholism
-Anxiety, mild Depression; Mental Illness including Schizophrenia
-Insomnia associated with Stress.
4. Moves the Blood, Clears Wind-Damp, Resolves Swellings:
-Scrofula, Rheumatism and Tumors
-auxiliary in Cancer treatment; benefits immunity and has direct anti-cancer activity against various Cancer cell lines
5. Resists Poison:
-Traditionally used in Scorpion sting.
6. Benefits Sight:
-strengthens the Sight (combined with suitable ingredients)
7. Externally:
-applied to obstinate Ulcers and Rheumatic Swellings.
-Scrofula and glandular swellings, apply a paste of the fresh green root made into a paste with cow urine or warm water.
-in various skin diseases, the powdered root is mixed with oil and applied.
-a paste is made with milk to apply to the breasts to keep their shape
-externally, the oil is applied to promote growth of the penis
-also used to restore a relaxed vagina
-powder is mixed with milk and applied to sagging breasts
DOSE:
Often taken with Milk for women and children; often taken with Ghee and Honey as a restorative tonic, in old age, chronic debility, impotence and senility.
Of the Powder: 500mg–6 grams;
In Decoction: 3–9 (to 12) grams;
Of the Tincture (1:3 in 45% alcohol): 6–15mls per day;
Of the Ash: 1–2 grams;
COMMENT:
Withania is regarded as the best tonic in all Vata (Wind) disorders and for Vata constitution. Used where Wind is affecting the bones, joints, back, nerves and colon.
CORRECTIVE:
1. Tragacanth
2. Gum Arabic (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
1. Centaurea behen (Unani)
2. Ginseng
Often taken with Milk for women and children; often taken with Ghee and Honey as a restorative tonic, in old age, chronic debility, impotence and senility.
Of the Powder: 500mg–6 grams;
In Decoction: 3–9 (to 12) grams;
Of the Tincture (1:3 in 45% alcohol): 6–15mls per day;
Of the Ash: 1–2 grams;
COMMENT:
Withania is regarded as the best tonic in all Vata (Wind) disorders and for Vata constitution. Used where Wind is affecting the bones, joints, back, nerves and colon.
CORRECTIVE:
1. Tragacanth
2. Gum Arabic (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
1. Centaurea behen (Unani)
2. Ginseng
Main Combinations:
1. Debility, Weakness, Emaciation, Digestive debility:
i. Withania with Long Pepper (Long Pepper enhances its tonic effects)
ii. Withania with Ginger, Long Pepper, Cinnamon, Cardamon (as in Withania Powder)
2. Immune deficiency:
i. Withania with Astragalus, Licorice
ii. Withania with Chebula, Tinospora
iii. Withania with Astragalus, Gaoderma (Ling Zhi)
2. As a strengthening tonic, for Impotence, Infertility and Senility:
i. mix Withania with ghee and honey
ii. Withania with Chebulic Myrobalan, Almond, Licorice mixed in ghee and honey
iii. Withania, Shilajit, Asparagus root
3. Nerve disorders with deficiency and aggravated Wind:
i. Withania with Centella, Calamus, Bacopa
ii. Withania, Chebulic Myrobalan, Sesame seed
4. Tonic for Wind disorders:
i. Withania, Chebulic Myrobalan
ii. Withania, Peony, Mistletoe
iii. Withania, Sesame seed, Licorice
iv. Withania, Chebulic Myrobalan, Aloeswood, Nutmeg, Clove
5. Brain tonic:
i. Withania, Peony, Mistletoe
ii. Withania, Walnut
iii. Withania, Frankincense, Cyperus Rotundus
iv. Withania with Centella, Chebulia Myrobalan
6. Reproductive tonic:
i. for women, Withania with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Morinda Bai Ji Tian, Dioscorea Shan Yao
ii. for women, Withania with Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Licorice, Sida cordifolia
iii. for men, Withania with Shilajit, Mucuna, Zinc Bhasma (oxide)
7. As an Aphrodisiac:
i. Withania with Mucuna
ii. Withania with Salep (Orchis)
iii. Withania with Shilajit, Zinc Bhasma (oxide)
8. To increase Sperm:
i. Withania with Sesame seed, Almond, mixed with Ghee
ii. Withania with Salep (Orchis)
8. Spermatorrhea:
i. Withania with Long Pepper
ii. Withania with Schisandra
9. Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis:
i. Withania with Cyperus rotundus
ii. Withania with Ginger, Frankincense, Turmeric
iii. Withania with Bdellium, Frankincense, Turmeric
iv. Withania, Frankincense, Cyperus rotundus, Zinc oxide
v. Withania, Chebulic Myrobalan, Shilajit
10. Cervical spondylosis, Withania with China root.
11. Scrofula, Withania, Long Pepper, Honey, Ghee (Chakradatta)
Cautions:
Generally Safe.
1. Caution in excess Heat or Bile, and for those with congestion ('ama')
2. While it is used as a tonic for mother and fetus during pregnancy, this is only in compounds; full doses of the single herb should be avoided.
3. Large doses are narcotic
Main Preparations used:
Generally Safe.
1. Caution in excess Heat or Bile, and for those with congestion ('ama')
2. While it is used as a tonic for mother and fetus during pregnancy, this is only in compounds; full doses of the single herb should be avoided.
3. Large doses are narcotic
Main Preparations used:
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'This plant bears the Sanskrit names of Asvagandha, Turagi or Turangi, and Turagi-gandha, "smelling like a horse or mare"; Varaha-karni, "boar-eared"; Vrisha, "amorous," &c. It is described in the Nighantas as tonic, alterative, pungent, astringent, hot and aphrodisiac, and is recommended in rheumatism, cough, dropsy, consumption and senile debility. Chakradatta recommends it in decoction with long pepper, butter and honey in consumption and scrofula. A ghrita or medicinal butter prepared by boiling together one part of the root with one part of clarified butter and ten of milk may be used in such cases.
As an aphrodisiac and as a remedy for rheumatism the drug is usually combined with a number of aromatics, each dose contains about 30 grains of the root. It is also made into a paste with aromatics for local application in rheumatism. Indian Mahometan writers merely repeat what the Hindus say about this drug, and do not recognise in it the Kaknaj-el-manoum of the Arabs, which is supposed to represent the [?] of the Greeks, the description of which by Theophrastus agrees tolerably well with W. somnifera. Rheede calls it Pevetti, and states that a vulnerary ointment is prepared from the leaves. Prosper Alpinus (i., cap. 33) describes and figures it under the name of Solanum somniferum antiquorum, |
Roxburgh states that the Telinga physicians reckon the roots alexipharmic. Ainslie (ii. 14) says:— "The root as found in the medicine bazars, is of a pale colour, and in external appearance not unlike our gentian; but it has little sensible taste or smell, though the Tamool Vytians suppose it to have deobstruent and diuretic qualities, given in decoction to the quantity of about half a teacupful twice daily; the leaves moistened with a little warm castor oil, are a useful external application in cases of carbuncle." The authors of the Bombay Flora say that the seeds are employed to coagulate milk like those of W. coagulane. We have tried the experiment and find them to have some coagulating power.
The plant is very common along the shores of the Mediterranean, where it has always been reputed to be hypnotic. The properties of W. somnifera have recently been investigated by Dr. Trebut with regard to its reputation for hypnotic properties; he states that he has obtained an alkaloid from it which has hypnotic action and does not produce mydriasis. P. L. Simmonds (Amer. Journ. Pharm., Feb., 1891) states that the plant is employed at the Civil Hospital, Alger, as a sedative and hypnotic. (Pharmacographia Indica, Dymock, 1891) |