I have been reading about this plant, withania somnifera.
What I have found is that this plants root is used in Ayerveda medicine,...Read More it is an Adaptogen, primarily used for its ability to prevent Anxiety, and shows promise for relieving insomnia, as well as reducing Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It does not go well with MAO Inhibitors.
It's also called Indian ginseng, and winter cherry. Has anyone had any luck growing this outside in New England(zone 5), and does it grow wild, or is it a plant one has to purchase.
I first stumbled upon it on Amazon, as Ashwagandha. Sold as a supplement for women, to increase their libidos, called KSM-66.
I was curious as to what it REALLY does, so I started looking into it as a plant, and came upon an article about it on a Ayerveda website. Many years ago I worked with a young man from India, who introduced me to Ayerveda medicine, and found it most useful in living healthy with nature's aid. I was intrigued, as everything I have tried in Ayerveda medicine has been helpful.
Has anyone used this plant medicinally? I'd love know more about it's uses. If it really PREVENTS Anxiety, that's amazing!
Interesting medicinal plant, reputed to be a vegetable version of rennet (for cheese making). The flowers are tiny and hard to notice, b...Read Moreut the foliage is nice looking. The tiny berries grow covered in a calyx and have a pungent somewhat unpleasant and bitter flavor, as you would expect for an aruvedic medicine. They might make an interesting spice if used in moderation. Easy to germinate and grow, though they stayed small for me (~0.5 m) at my altitude (~1670 m). They enjoy full sun but will also grow in 1/2 day sun. No problems with pests in my experience, and bees do check out the flowers. Mine have done best in a moist mix of soil, manure, and compost like many Solanaceae do.
There are several translations for the common name of this plant. All of them involve "horse", since the Sanskrit word for horse is a...Read Moreshwa or something similar. Gandha, from the information I have read, is translated into English in several ways: "vitality", "scent or odor", and "sweat or perspiration". It is also possible that the name is a pun on a combination of these meanings.
The name was given in reference to the strengthening powers attributed to this plant in Ayurvedic medicine. It is fairly common to see Ashwagandha supplements sold in health food shops, as well as main-stream nutritional supplement outlets.
I have been reading about this plant, withania somnifera.
What I have found is that this plants root is used in Ayerveda medicine,...Read More
Interesting medicinal plant, reputed to be a vegetable version of rennet (for cheese making). The flowers are tiny and hard to notice, b...Read More
There are several translations for the common name of this plant. All of them involve "horse", since the Sanskrit word for horse is a...Read More or something similar. Gandha, from the information I have read, is translated into English in several ways: "vitality", "scent or odor", and "sweat or perspiration". It is also possible that the name is a pun on a combination of these meanings.
The name was given in reference to the strengthening powers attributed to this plant in Ayurvedic medicine. It is fairly common to see Ashwagandha supplements sold in health food shops, as well as main-stream nutritional supplement outlets.