The Indian Wonder Herb Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is named such because some say it smells like a horse and it vitalizes the body to providing strength just like that of a horse! This herb is considered one of the most important adaptogens in the ayurvedic system of medicine.

* For suppressing pain.
* Good results have been seen in diseases like Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), sandhi gata vata (Osteoarthritis), vatarakt (gout), gridhasi (sciatica) and other vata dominant diseases.
* Anti-inflammatory properties, helps in reducing swellings and restoring blood supply.
* Healing properties for wounds and injuries.
* It relieves stress due to presence of vata suppressant properties which helps in nurturing nervous system
* Promotes calmness.
* Immune system support.
* Is an antioxidant.
* An aphrodisiac helping increase sperm count and quality.
* Diuretic properties so can be helpful in treating urinary tract infections (UTI)
* Helpful in increasing physical endurance.

The above is sourced from:
www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/ashwagandha-uses-and-benefits-75185.html

Please note that the information given here is not intended to act as medical advice.It is shared for information purposes only. Please consult your medical doctor for diagnosis and medical advice.

The day after I first posted this lens Montel Williams came on the Dr Oz show sharing what supplements he takes.
Ashwagandha was one of the herbs that was mentioned!

"Mid-afternoon Slump: A Cup of Three Root Tea
This tea is a special blend of three herbs: ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, rhodiola and schisandra. This tea is said to restore energy without the side effects of a come-down.
In ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India and the oldest surviving healing system in the world, ashwagandha is thought to promote physical and mental health, rejuvenate the body, and increase longevity."

Check the rest of the article out at:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/montel-williams-daily-energy-boost-plan?page=2#copy

The usual recommended dose is 600 to 1000 mg, twice daily- people who suffer from insomnia and anxiety.
Approximately a teaspoon.

The Chopra Center has more information on Ashwagandha on their site:

http://www.chopra.com/ashwagandha

Review on some plants of Indian traditional medicine with antioxidant activity from Pubmed.

Abstract
"A lot of medicinal plants, traditionally used for thousands of years, are present in a group of herbal preparations of the Indian traditional health care system (Ayurveda) named Rasayana proposed for their interesting antioxidant activities. Among the medicinal plants used in ayurvedic Rasayana for their therapeutic action, some of these have been throughly investigated. In the present paper seven plants (Emblica officinalis L., Curcuma longa L., Mangifera indica L., Momordica charantia L., Santalum album L., Swertia chirata Buch-Ham, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal)."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10904144

Scientific basis for the use of Indian ayurvedic medicinal plants in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders: ashwagandha.

Abstract
"Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, which means "the scripture for longevity". It represents an ancient system of traditional medicine prevalent in India and in several other south Asian countries. It is based on a holistic view of treatment which is believed to cure human diseases through establishment of equilibrium in the different elements of human life, the body, the mind, the intellect and the soul."

"In Ayurveda, the herbal preparation is referred to as a "rasayana", an elixir that works, in a nonspecific, global fashion, to increase human health and longevity. It is also considered an adaptogen, a nontoxic medication that normalizes physiological functions, disturbed by chronic stress, through correction of imbalances in the neuroendocrine and immune systems [9, 10].

The scientific research that has been carried out on Ashwagandha and other ayurvedic herbal medicines may be classified into three major categories, taking into consideration the endogenous or exogenous phenomena that are known to cause physiological disequilibrium leading to the pathological state;
(A) pharmacological and therapeutic effects of extracts, purified compounds or multi-herbal mixtures on specific non-neurological diseases;
(B) pharmacological and therapeutic effects of extracts, purified compounds or multi-herbal mixtures on neurodegenerative disorders; and
(C) biochemical, physiological and genetic studies on the herbal plants themselves, in order to distinguish between those originating from different habitats, or to improve the known medicinal quality of the indigenous plant.
Some of the major points on its use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders are described below."

Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20528765