Ashwaghandha for Overall Health and Height

Ashwagandha is also known as Withania somnifera, is an herb used in Ayurveda.

Ashwagandha means ‘Smell of Horse,’ which is due to two main reasons; the fresh root smells like a horse, and the root is supposed to confer the strength and virility of a horse.

Withania somnifera belongs to the family of solanaceae and has other common names such as King of Ayurveda, Indian Ginseng, and Winter cherry.

Ashwaghandha Uses

Ashwaghandha is classified as rasayana due to being a general tonic and it is called as bhalya (Increases strength) and vajikara (Aphrodisiac).    

Ashwaghandha is used for anxiety, arthritis, tumours, insomnia, asthma, leukoderma, bronchitis, menstrual problems, hiccups, liver disease, backache, diabetes, high cholesterol. It is also used as an “adaptogen” to cope with daily stress and INCREASING HEIGHT.

Ashwaghandha is also used for decreasing pain and swelling,for improving thinking ability,increasing sexual desire.It is also used for preventing the effects of ageing and fertility problems in men and women.

Composition

Ashwagandha (roots unless otherwise specified) tends to include:

•  The steroidal lactones Withanone (Dry weight of the roots at 5.54+/-0.4mg/g and 18.42+/-0.8mg/g leaves), 27-deoxywithanone (1.63+/-0.2mg/g in the leaves and 3.94+/-0.4mg/g in the roots), and 27-hydroxywithanone (0.50+/-0.1mg/g dry weight leaf and root)
• The 5, 6-epoxy steroidal lactones Withaferin A (22.31+/-1mg/g dry weight of leaves and 0.92+/-0.4mg/g in roots) and 17-hydroxy-27-deoxy-Withaferin A (3.61+/-0.5mg/g dry weight of leaf and 0.66+/-0.2mg/g root)
• The Withanolide series of 6, 7-epoxy steroidal lactones mostly looking at Withanolide A (root at 3.88+/-0.7mg/g, leaf at 2.11+/-0.5mg/g) but also B-D; there are some variants such as 27-hydroxy Withanolide B (0.55+/-0.2mg/g root and 2.78+/-0.5mg/g dry leaf weight)
• The Withanoside series of steroidal lactones, usually Withanoside IV (0.44+/-0.1mg/g in the root dry weight and 1.60+/-0.2 in the leaves) and VI (1.90+/-0.2mg/g in the leaves and 3.74+/-0.2mg/g in the roots) although up to 19 exist
• Diepoxy variants of the withanolides such as 5β, 6β, 14α, 15α-diepoxy-4β, 27-dihydroxy-1-oxowitha-2, 24-dienolide
• Chloronated withanolide variants such as 27-acetoxy-4β, 6α-dihydroxy-5β-chloro-1-oxowitha-2, 24-dienolide and Withanolide Z
• Withanolide glycosides, which are referred to as Sitoindosides (or glycowithanolides)
• 12-deoxywithastromonolide at 2.15+/-0.5mg/g in the leaves and 1.90+/-0.5mg/g in the roots.
• Physagulin (3.46 ± 0.4mg/g in the leaves; not detectable in the root) with variants (4, 16-dihydroxy-5β, 6β-epoxyphysagulin D) and glycosides (27-O-β-d-glucopyranosylphysagulin )
• Ashwagandhanolide (Withaferin A dimer bound by a sulfur bridge which breaks the epoxide site, or 'thiowithanolide'), the same molecule but with a sulfoxide rather than a sulfur bridge (Withanolide sulfoxide)
• Viscosa lactone B
• Other sulfated steroidal lactones
• Kaempferol at 0.06mg/g (fruit dry weight, none in roots nor leaves)
• Naringenin at 0.50mg/g in the fruit by dry weight (none in roots nore leaves)
• (+)-Catechin at 12.82mg/g (roots), 19.48mg/g (fruits), and 28.38mg/g dry weight (leaves)
• Gallic acid at 0.18mg/g dry weight of the leaves (none in root nor fruit)
• Phenolic acids such as Syringic acid (0.30mg/g in the leaves), p-coumaric acid (0.80mg/g in the leaves), vanillic acid (0.15mg/g leaf dry weight), and benzoic acid (0.80mg/g in the leaves)
• A 1, 4-dioxane derivative (2, 5-Dioxo-3-tetratriacont-3′-enyl-1,4-dioxane)
• Β-sitosterol and stigmaterol , as well as each molecule's glucoside.
• Trigonelline (1.33+/-0.3mg/g in the leaves)
• Palmitic acid in the leaves (3.55+/-0.5mg/g dry weight) and root (1.18+/-0.2mg/g dry weight)
• Oleic acid in the leaves (0.71+/-0.1mg/g dry weight) and root (0.39+/-0.1mg/g dry weight)
• Linoleic acid in the leaves (1.52+/-0.2mg/g dry weight) and roots (1.31+/-0.2mg/g dry weight)
• Linolenic acid in the leaves (4.38+/-0.5mg/g dry weight) and roots (0.15+/-0.1mg/g dry weight)

There is also a polysaccharide content in the roots (196mg per 20g dry root), which are 65% sugars (52% arabinose, 22% galactose, 18% glucose, 6% rhamnose, and 2% fucose) with 22% protein and 9% uronic acid. An acidic 28kDa glycoprotein also exists in the roots of ashwagandha which has inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase.

• Ashwaghanda Dosage

  Ashwaghnada is available in capsules/tablets as well as        powdered/liquid extracts.
 The traditional use of Ashwaghandha is as a powder mixed  with honey and warm milk and taken before bed,fostering  healthy sleep patterns,strength and reproductive system.
 Traditionally ashwaghandha is taken with ghee and  honey(equal parts) for rejuvenation and nourishment.Adding sugar (sugar candy or cane) adds a cooling effects and can be used as a substitute for honey.
If you are using capsules/tablets then take 3-4 capsules/tablets everyday in the evening.
Tablets are preferred over capsules as there is a mild taste of herb that still occurs.This taste starts the digestive system and sends signals to the body initiating your body's inner pharmacy.
In case of decoctions or infusions take 1-2g  of dried root for one infusion.
In order to extract all the active ingredients boil the plant for 15-20 minutes and then leave it to infuse for 15 minutes.Do not consume more than 2 cups per day of decoction.
Liquid extract are also easy to use and has a long shelf life.

            Organic Ashwagandha Powder 1 kg 

• Ashwaghandha in Height Growth

Ashwaghandha indirectly influences Human Growth Hormones(HGH) which is responsible for growth of height.
Ashwaghandha remedy to increase height before and after age of 18-21 years.Follow the remedy for 45 days then take one week or rest and then use it again for 45 days.

• Ingredients

       1) Ashwaghandha Powder(Indian Ginseng)
      2) Sugar Candy or jaggery
      3) Cow Milk

• How to use
• Take 2 tablespoon of ashwaghandha and add it to  glass of warm milk.Add one tablespoon of sugar candy or jaggery and mix them properly.
• Drink this mixture every night before going to sleep.
• For small kids take one tablespoon of ashwaghandha with cow milk and sugar candy.


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• Special Precautions and Warnings

• Pregnancy and breast feeding

• Ashwaghanda should not be used if you are pregnant as it might cause miscarriages.

   Stomach Ulcers

 Ashwaghnadha can cause problem in the gastrointestinal (GI)          tract.So,don't use ashwaghandha if you are suffering from stomach     ulcers. 

  Surgery

 Ashwaghandha can slower down your nervous system and    this effect  might increase when you are  given anaesthesia and other medications  at the time  of surgery.Do not consume ashwaghandha  at least 3 weeks  before surgery.

  Thyroid disorders

 If you have a thyroid condition its better to avoid consuming        ashwaghandha as it might increase thyroid hormone level.

  High or low blood pressure

 Ashwaghandha should be used cautiously if you have low blood  pressure or take medications for your blood  pressure as it      might decease blood pressure. This can cause problem  for people who  are suffering from low blood pressure.It can  also interfere with  medications used to treat high blood    pressure.

 If you are suffering from cough and congestion do not consume  ashwaghandha

 Do not take ashwaghandha on an empty stomach.

Side Effects

Long usage of a ashwaghandha can cause diarrhoea,stomach upset and vomiting.
Modern Research

Ashwaghandha has attracted researchers due to its various benefits.

Ashwaghanda when used in combination with shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivillanum),and sesame seeds (seeds of Sesamum indicum),licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has shown to support healthy cholesterol levels and antioxidant properties.

Ashwaghandha has been a subject of studies as its benefit on the immune system including possible support of immune system during Chemotherapy and radiations.

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