Ashwagandha --- A Case Study

1. Ashwagandha --- A Case Study Withania somnifera is one of the most popular and revered herbs in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Commonly known as Ashwagandha – means smell of the horse – it is a Rasayana (tonic). It is used for ‘Balya’ (strength) and also ‘Mamasavivardhan’ (muscle mass increment). It is used to treat many sorts of diseases and specifically it is used as a stress buster and for stamina building. Though this herb is mainly used for medicinal purposes; its uses as wellness product can’t be gainsaid. Many athletes use this product to increase their stamina; it particularly is used by swimmers. In spite of its usefulness very few studies have been conducted on the usefulness of this rejuvenator on human beings. According to a report published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine March 2021, a random study was conducted on 80 healthy participants (40 males and 40 females). In this study at the ratio of 1:1 one group was given 300 mg of placebo and the other same dosage of Ashwagandha twice daily orally for 8 weeks. This study was conducted at MV Hospital and King George Medical University, Lucknow. However no side effects were noted in both the groups. However, long term use of this herb is still unknown and more studies need to be done in this regard. Now let’s learn more about this herb. Also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry; it is found widely throughout the semi-arid region of India and many other Southeast Asian countries. Also found in African regions this herb is a member of the Solanceae family. It is included in the monographs of medicinal plants Identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Various parts of this plant have been used for centuries to prepare different medicines to treat various ailments. The roots of Ashwagandha have a long history to use as an adaptogen in Ayurveda. The roots are known for their use in the enhancement of immunity, reduction of stress and also it is used as a

2. stress buster and cardiorespiratory endurance. The roots promote health and longevity. Not only this they are very effective against tumour and cancer. In significant study on rats it was observed that this herb does not have any bad effect on both the sexes of rats. It was pregnancy safe due to its pharmacological impacts. According to a study conducted by A.K Sharma in 2018, it was reported that the Ashwagandha root extract normalized the thyroid hormonal assessment values in the hypothyroid volunteers. No doubt it has been proved that Ashwagandha is quite potent in treating many diseases. Nevertheless not many studies have been conducted regarding the safety of this herb. Benefits of Ashwagandha: According to Healthline Nutrition following are the proven health benefits of Ashwagandha: 1.Fights cancer and inflammation: Ashwangandha has in it high concentration of withanolides, which fight inflammation and the growth of tumour. 2.Helps Reduce Blood Sugar Levels: In many studies Ashwagandha is shown to lower down blood sugar level. Many human studies have suggested that it can reduce blood sugar levels in both healthy as well as diabetic people. 3.Have Anticancer Properties: Many test-tube and animal studies have shown that it has a compound that impedes the growth of new cancer cells. Animal studies suggest that it can help prevent cancer of many types including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer and brain cancer. 4.May Help Reduce Symptoms of Depression: A few studies suggest that withania somnifera may help reduce depression. In one controlled study of 60 days on 64 stressed

3. adults, those who took mg of high-concentration Ashwagandha extract each day reported a 79% reduction in the levels of severe depression. 5.It can boost testosterone and increase fertility in men: Its extract has many powerful effects on testosterone levels and reproductive health. In a study a group of infertile men when treated with Ashwagandha showed increased sperm count and motility. The treatment with this herb led to a considerable increase in the testosterone levels. 6.May help in increasing muscle mass and strength: Researches have shown that Ashwagandha helps in improving body composition and increasing strength. A group of healthy men who took 750—1250 mg of pulverized Ashwagandha root per day gained muscle strength in a month. 7.May Help in Lowering Cholesterol and Triglycerides: It helps in reducing cholesterol and trigyceride levels. A study conducted on rats proved this. Similarly there was found a considerable decrease in a case study conducted on a group of adults. 8.Helps in improving functions of the brain and memory: According to test-tube and animal studies Ashwagandha may reduce problems in the brain functions due to injury or disease. It promotes antioxidant activity that protects nerve cells from free radicals. It can be helpful in case of epilepsy also. In a study conducted on a group of rats showed that rats treated with Ashwagandha had shown a complete reversal of spatial memory impairment. In fact, since ages Ashwagandha, an ancient medicinal herb has been used for many benefits of health. Many modern studies have already reinforced these views of the scientists.

4. References: • •National Medicine of Library , USA •Ashish Gupta 1, Abbas Ali Mahdi, Kamla Kant Shukla, Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad, Navneeta Bansal, Pushplata Sankhwar, Satya Narain Sankhwar (National Medicine of Library, USA) Complementary Therapies in Medicine Volume 57, March 2021, 102642