Withania / Ashwagandha – Organic

Its Indian/Sanskrit name Ashwagandha refers to the smell and strength of a horse and alludes to its reputed aphrodisiac properties. A strengthening and rejuvenating tonic for all forms of weakness, fatigue, wasting and convalescing. It is said to provide fresh energy and vigour for a system worn out by any constitutional disease and to strengthen the nerves and promote restful sleep. Regarded as a rasayana herb, promoting health, increasing resistance of the body to stressors, revitalising the body in debilitated conditions, increasing longevity as well as improving learning and memory retrival. Modern research on Withania has stressed its antitumour and adaptogenic actions (Adaptogens increase the ability of an organism to cope with stress.) It therefore helps to conserve energy as well as boosting energy reserves. While it’s compared with Ginseng it lacks the stimulating effects of it, it has a mild sedative action as indicated by its latin name “somnifera”. Withania was found to be quite effective at decreasing inflammation as well as anti-inflammatory drugs. Weight loss caused by chronic arthritis was corrected and the inflammation and bony degenerative changes were decreased. It has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence, number and size of tumours as well as increase body weight of those with. Children who drank milk fortified with Withania showed improved strength of hand grip, increased body weight and increases in blood haemoglobin and serum iron levels. When given to adults between the ages of 50 – 59 for up to a year it showed increases in red blood cell count, increased seated stature, increased hair melanin content (less greying) as well as 71% reporting improvement in sexual performance.

So it is especially helpful in the following areas: Debility, nervous exhaustion especially due to stress; Emaciation and anaemia, especially in children; Convalescence after acute illness or extreme stress; Impotence due to devitalisation; Chronic diseases especially those marked by inflammation e.g. connective tissue diseases; As a general tonic for disease prevention and those under stress e.g. athletes and the elderly; May have some value in hypertension and high blood cholesterol; May have some preventative action against cancer; To improve immune function; As an adaptogen for athletes and improved muscle strength in elderly. Withania is also used to promote lactation in Ayurvedic medicine and the traditional medicine of south-east Asia. Withania was shown to improve milk yield and quality throughout lactation period and the children were shown to be of a better than average healthy weight.

Organic Withania Withania somnifera (Root)

Available in black kraft bags.