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Ashwagandha Root; Withania somnifera; Asgandh (Unani); Winter Cherry; Asvagandha; Ajagandha.
The dried root of Withania somnifera, a small shrub in the nightshade family. It grows from southern Europe and Africa across the Middle East to South Asia and China, though most is farmed in India. Ayurveda has long used it as a restorative tonic for feeling run down.
⚕ Educational content · traditional and historical use · not medical advice
A withanolide-rich root extract. Clinical RCTs consistently show modest reductions in perceived stress, anxiety scores, and morning serum cortisol, consistent with HPA-axis modulation (the best-supported mechanism). Animal and in-vitro data suggest acetylcholinesterase inhibition and neurite-outgrowth effects, but these are NOT confirmed in human pharmacodynamic studies. The herb can also raise circulating T3 / T4 and suppress TSH - this is a SAFETY consideration (the same pharmacology has produced published thyrotoxicosis case reports), NOT a therapeutic mechanism (see Cautions and Contraindications).
Sanskrit asvagandha = asva ("horse") + gandha ("smell") - both for the root's horse-like odour and the belief that the consumer gains a horse's strength. One of the most important Ayurvedic Rasayana (rejuvenative) drugs, also classified as Balya (strength-promoting), Vajikarana (reproductive tonic), and Medharasayana (cognitive tonic); cited in the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas for karshya (wasting), kshaya (depletion), vatavyadhi, klaibya (impotence), and nidra (sleep - reflected in the epithet somnifera). Used in Unani as "Asgand" and in Siddha. Traditional preparations: ashwagandha churna (root powder, 3 to 6 g with milk, ghee, water, or honey as anupana - the lipid vehicle matches the fat-soluble withanolides), ashwagandharishta (a fermented preparation for insomnia / debility / anxiety), ashwagandha pak, and ashwagandha taila. Major cultivation is in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; the "Nagori" landrace (Nagaur, Rajasthan) is the premium type. IMPORTANT: most modern clinical evidence is on 20th-21st-century STANDARDISED extracts (KSM-66, root-only, >=5% withanolides; Sensoril, root+leaf, >=10%; Shoden) that concentrate withanolides ~10-50x over raw root and are pharmacologically distinct from the classical crude churna - doses and effects are not interchangeable.
Traditionally taken as root powder stirred into warm milk, ghee, water, or honey. Modern products are usually standardized extracts (KSM-66, Sensoril, Shoden). Most research is on those extracts, not the raw powder, so the doses don't swap one-for-one.
With food if it upsets your stomach. Traditionally taken with warm milk or ghee, the idea being that the fat helps absorb its active compounds, though that hasn't been confirmed in people.
Most modern research is on standardized root extracts (KSM-66, Shoden, Sensoril), not the traditional raw powder, so doses and effects don't transfer between them. Many of the positive studies were funded by the companies that make those extracts, so read the results with that in mind, and the two independent reviews both rated the evidence low-certainty. Despite the nickname 'Indian ginseng,' it's unrelated to real ginseng and has different active compounds. It carries a known liver-injury signal, and Europe declined to approve a traditional monograph for it, both worth taking seriously. Get your liver and thyroid checked if you use it beyond about 8 weeks.
Cautions: Can cause drowsiness and mild stomach upset (nausea, loose stools). Liver: linked to rare but real cases of liver injury, usually in the first 2 to 12 weeks and clearing within a few months of stopping, though severe cases have happened, especially in people with existing liver problems. Several countries have restricted it for this reason. Thyroid: can raise thyroid hormone levels. Stop and see a doctor for yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, belly pain, a racing heart, unexplained weight loss, or feeling overheated. Adds to the effect of sedatives, sleep or anxiety medication, opioids, and alcohol.
Contraindications: Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding (several health agencies advise against it without safety data). Avoid with active liver disease, cirrhosis, or other liver-stressing medications, given the risk of serious liver injury. Avoid with an overactive thyroid, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's, or thyroid medication, since it can affect thyroid hormones. Use caution with sedatives, anti-anxiety medications, opioids, or alcohol (added drowsiness). Check with a clinician if you have an autoimmune condition or take immunosuppressants. Stop at least 2 weeks before surgery. Use caution with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Avoid if you're allergic to nightshade plants.
For informational purposes only. This entry does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take prescription medications.