Ashwagandha Profile Herbal Help for ED US/CAN $6.95
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HerbalGram 99 • August - October 2013 99 • August HerbalGram ABC's New Chief Science Officer • Avoiding a “Dry Lab ” • Cannabis & Schizophrenia Herbs & ED • Herb Sales Increase 5.5% in 2012 • Kava & Driving ABC's New Chief Science Officer • Avoiding a Dry • Herb Sales Increase 5.5% in 2012 • Herbs & ED • Kava & Schizophrenia & DrivingABC's New Chief Science Officer Lab • Cannabis • Avoiding The Journal of the American Botanical Council Number 99 | August - October 2013 Ashwagandha Profile Herbal Help for ED US/CAN $6.95 www.herbalgram.org Avoiding a “Dry Lab” www.herbalgram.org Annual Herb Market Report M I S S I O N D R I V E N : Educate & Inspire Making Outstanding Extracts recognition of our work in the propagation and con- servation of endangered medicinal plants. Has Never Been Enough. It’s seen in our higher education scholarship fund, Excellence in herbal extraction is at the heart of what which provides financial assistance to students of we do. 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Herb Profile Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Family: Solanaceae INTRODUCTION ously called Ayurvedic or Indian ginseng, an incorrect appellation because it is not in the genus Panax or in the Ashwagandha is one of the most revered plants in tradi- 10 tional Ayurvedic medicine in India. It is an erect, greyish, ginseng family, Araliaceae. subshrub with inconspicuous yellow or greenish flowers Preparations of various plant parts have been credited followed by small, spherical, orangish-red berries contain- with the following actions: abortifacient, adaptogenic, ing yellow, kidney-shaped seeds. It grows three-to-five feet alterative, analgesic, antiarthritic, antiasthmatic, antibi- tall, mainly on waste land, but is cultivated widely as the otic, antidyspeptic, anti-inflammatory, antimitotic, antip- whole plant; most commonly the root and leaf are used roliferative, antitumor, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericide, medicinally.1,2 carminative, contraceptive, depurative, diuretic, emetic, febrifuge, fungicidal, hypnotic, immune-modulating, laxa- The species is widely distributed in the northwestern 1,2,7,9,11 Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, tive, proteolytic, tonic, and nervine sedative. Addi- tionally, it may have cytotoxic, chemopreventative, and Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and the Punjab plains extend- 9 ing to the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh radiosensitizing actions. and Jammu.3 It also is cultivated in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajas- than.4 Northwest of India, its habi- tat extends into the Pakistani prov- inces of Sindh and Baluchistan, and on into Afghanistan. To the south- east of India, it occurs in Sri Lanka.5 In China, it is reported to grow in the western provinces of Gansu and Yunnan.6 HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The species name, somnifera, refers to ashwagandha’s use as a sedative.1 The common name comes from the Sanskrit ashvagandha,2,7 i.e., ashwa for horse, and gandha for smell, hence the common idea that the name means “smells like a horse.” The Ayurvedic health practitioner Vaidya R. K. Mishra states that the translation can be taken literally, or that it could be interpreted to mean “horse essence” and that ashwagandha provides the strength, character, essence, or stam- ina of a horse.8 Ashwagandha is the Bengali name and variations are used in Nepalese (aasogandha) and Japanese (aswan- gandha).2 Other common names include asgandh (Hindi), amukkara (Sinhalese), asgandh valaiti (Unani), bahman (Persian, Arabian), ba-dzi- gandha (Tibetan), kutilad (Pustu), amurkkuralckizhangu (Tamil), winter cherry (English), and blærebæger (Danish).2,9 It is sometimes errone- Ashwagandha Withania somnifera. Photo ©2013 Steven Foster www.herbalgram.org • 2013 • I SSUE 99 • 1 www.herbalgram.org • 2013 • I SSUE 99 • 1 Ashwagandha is one of the rasayana herbs in Ayurveda nization (WHO) Monographs (Vol. 4, 2009),18 as well as — one of the herbs that purportedly promotes youth and in the currently valid editions of the British Pharmacopoeia longevity and alleviates suffering.12 It is thought to be espe- (BP 2012),19 Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2010),20 and United cially rejuvenative for men; to strengthen bone marrow, States Pharmacopeia (USP 36).21 muscle, and semen; and to imbue the user with intellec- tual facility, in addition to long life and youthful vitality.1 CURRENT AUTHORIZED USES IN However, it also is believed to be quite helpful to the elderly COSMETICS, FOODS, AND MEDICINES by providing energy and relieving pain, inflammation, and In countries where the Ayurvedic system of medicine is nervous debility.12 officially recognized and practiced (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Ashwagandha has a wide variety of traditional uses, many Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), the powdered of which have not been tested scientifically. Ethnobotanist dried root of ashwagandha is used, as a component of prep- James Duke, PhD, writes that ashwagandha (various plant arations, for treating inflammatory disorders, phthisis (any parts) is a folk remedy for “adenopathy, anthrax, arthritis, wasting or atrophic disease, weakness, diseases due to vata asthma, bronchitis, cancer, candida, cold, cough, cysti- dosha), and male impotence.15 tis, debility, diarrhea, dropsy, dyspepsia, erysipelas, fever, In countries where the Unani system of medicine is offi- furuncle, gynecopathy, hiccups, hypertension, inflamma- cially recognized and practiced (e.g., Bangladesh, India, tion, lumbago, marasmus, nausea, piles, proctitis, psoria- Malaysia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), the dried mature root, sis, rheumatism, ringworm, scabies, senility, smallpox, referred to as “asgand,” is used as a component of medici- sores, syphilis, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, uterosis, nal formulations to treat leucorrhoea, spermatorrhoea, and wounds.”11 Additional uses attributed to the plant, decreased viscosity of semen, sexual debility, lumbago, and in general, are the treatment of alcoholism, anemia, colds, arthritis. Ashwagandha is often dispensed as a component dropsy, fever, hypertension, insomnia, lumbago, ulcers, of compound Unani medicines known as majoon or halwa. wasting in children, and removal of obstructions in any These preparations are made with prepared and powdered human body system.1,7,9,12 botanicals mixed with honey, resulting in a soft or semi- Some of the documented uses of the root of ashwagandha solid consistency like the popular confection halva.17 include as a hypnotic for treating alcoholism (along with In Siddha medicine — a Dravidian system of medicine leaf); treatment for brain fog, colds and chills, childhood originating in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, emaciation, emphysematous dysphonia (difficult speech now also practiced in the neighboring states of Karnataka, caused by emphysema, with leaf), fever, glandular swelling, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, as well as in parts of Malay- impotence or seminal debility; to increase breast milk; and sia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka — the dried root (purified to counteract loss of memory and muscular energy, nervous before use), referred to as amukkara, is used as a compo- exhaustion, rheumatic fever, rheumatic swelling, senile and nent of formulations indicated for treatment of condi- general debility, spermatorrhea, syphilis, and ulcers.2,7,11 tions including oligospermia, lancinating pain, loss of In Tanzania, the root is used as a sexual stimulant and to body strength, anemia, convulsions/seizures/fits, disordered promote uterine contractions.11 humor, eczema, edema/swelling, and tuberculosis.22 The leaves are used to expel worms and are combined In Canada, ashwagandha root is classified as an active with warm castor oil (Ricinis communis, Euphorbiaceae) on ingredient of licensed natural health products (NHPs), carbuncles, inflammations, and swellings.2,7,11 The Masai requiring pre-marketing authorization from the Natural use the leaf juice for conjunctivitis.11 The fresh bruised Health Products Directorate (NHPD) and manufacture berries are used on ringworm.2,11 The fruits or seeds are in compliance with NHP Good Manufacturing Practices used to coagulate milk.2,7,11 The seeds also are used as a (GMPs). Authorized uses outlined in its NHPD compen- masticatory.11 A bark infusion is used in Lesotho internally dial monograph include “traditionally used in Ayurveda for asthma and externally for bedsores.11 The tender shoots as rasayana (rejuvenative tonic),” “traditionally used in are eaten as a vegetable in India.11 Ayurveda to relieve general debility, especially during The dried root and the whole plant are used in the tradi- convalescence or old age,” “traditionally