| Botanical Name (Latin):
Withania somnifera
Sanskrit
Name:
Ashwagandha
Common Name (English):
Winter Cherry
Type of
Herb: Ayurvedic
Effect on the
Doshas:
Vata: - Pitta: +
Kapha: -
Rasa (Taste): tikta, kashaya
The six flavors are:
Madhura
(sweet) Amla (sour)
Lavana (salty)
Katu
(pungent) Tikta
(bitter) Kasaya (astringent)
Virya
(Energy): ushna
The two energies are:
Shita (cold)
Ushna (hot)
Vipak
(Post-Digestive Action):
madhura
Guna
(Qualities):
The twenty gunas or qualities
of all substances are: Guru
(heavy) Manda
(dull) Shita
(cold) Ushna (hot)
Snigdha
(unctuous) Slaksna
(smooth) Sandra
(dense) Mridu
(soft) Sthira
(stable) Suksma
(subtle) Visada
(non-slimy) Laghu
(light) Tikshna
(sharp) Rooksha
(un-unctuous, dry) Khara
(rough) Drava
(liquid) Kathina
(hard) Sara
(unstable) Sthula
(gross) Piccila
(slimy)
Prabhava
(Special Potency):
Dhatu
Affinity (Tissues
Entered):
The seven dhatus or tissues
are: Rasa (plasma, lymph), Rakta
(red blood cells), Mamsa
(muscle tissue), Meda (adipose
tissue), Ashti (bone tissue),
Majja (bone marrow, nervous
tissue
, connective tissue), Shukra
(male reproductive tissue), Artava
(female reproductive tissue)
Pharmacological
Action:
tonic, adaptogen, nervine sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti- tumor (in high doses) rasayana, aphrodisiac, sattvic
Indications
(Uses):
rheumatism. emaciation, sexual debility, infertility, edema, TB, worms,spermatorrhea, dis. of nerves, V and K schizophrenia, anti[ epileptic for grand mal
Contraindications
(Cautions):
Some sources suggest that the alkaloids in ashvaghanda presents a risk as an abortifacient during pregnancy. (McGuffin 124) Others suggest that it is a good tonic herb not only safe but beneficial during pregnancy. (Bone)
Constituents:
alkaloids etc.
Active
Substances:
Plant Part
Used:
root
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