1. Ashvagandha Herbal Supplement
Ashvagandha is in fact a pure herb extract. Ashvagandha / Ashwagandha is the most famous ayurvedic rejuvenative herb and Often called the “Indian Ginseng”
Ashvagandha improves the total body’s ability to maintain physical effort and helps to get the body relieve stress, fatigue and sleeplessne ss. A shwagandha is rich in phytochemicals such as, withananine, choline, trapino, and alkaloids. It is an anti-depressant,
anti-oxidant and actually known for its anti -aging and longevity behefits. Ashvagandha is a si ngle herb with anti-st re ss adaptogenic action that widely leads to better physical fitness and helps to cope with life’s daily stre ss.
Ashvagandha is specially beneficial in stress related disorders such a s arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and premature aging. It therefore increase s physiological endurance and protects against effects of stre ss.
It is a anti-inflammatory and helps treat pain from conditions such as arth ritis and sciatica. Ashvagandha also helps to protect brain cells. Re search ha s shown that ashwagandha extract greatly helps to reconstruct networks of the nervous system, making it a probable treatment for neuro degenerative disease s such a s Alzheimer’s.
Benefits of Ashvagandha
* Ashvagandha provides the better physical fitness
* Ashvagandha relieves total stress and hypertension
* Ashvagandha is a strong rejuvenative
* Ashvagandha is used for arthritic pain relief
* Ashvagandha is great anti -inflammatory
* Ashvagandha promotes the sound sleep
* Ashvagandha reduces the high cholesterol levels
* Ashvagandha enhances overall brain functions
Indications for taking Ashvagandha
Ashvagandha helps to treat these symptoms
* General debility
* Hypertension
* As a daily health supplement to cope with the life’s daily stress
* In the prevention and treatment of many stre ss related disease s tho se like arteriosclerosi s, premature aging, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and mali gnancy
Directions for taking Ashvagandha: 1 or 2 capsules twice every day with meals. Allow several weeks for long lasting benefits.
Pure Ashvagandha from Herbals
Ashvagandha is from the own renowned Herbals brand endorsed by over 250,000 doctors worldwide and used by customers in over 6 0 countries. Herbals p roducts have been researched clinically and standardized to get guarantee bioequivalence.
Bioequivalence refers to ensu ring that the product on the market is corre sponding to the one on which clinical trials were su cce ssfully conducted. Herbal Heal thcare uses the chromatographic fingerprinting, one of the most sophisticated standardization techniques, to ensure con sisten t excellence and performance
Ashvagandha Facts:
Botanical Name: : WITHANIA SOMNIFERA
Family Name: : SOLANACEAE
Common Name: : WITHANIA, WINTER CHE RRY, INDIAN WINTER CHE RRY, INDIAN GI NSENG, ASHWAGA NDHA
Part Used : Root, Leaves
Ashvagandha is thus cultivated throughout drier parts of India. It is basically a plant in the same family as the tomato. It grows a s a stout sh rub that overly reaches a height of five feet (170 centimeters)
Ashwaganda bears yellow flowers and red fruit which are berrylike in the size and shape. It is Tonic, Abortifacient, Astringe nt, Deobstruent, Nervine, Aphrodisiac and Sedative. It is official Indian Pharmacoe peia. It is commonly known as Indian Ginseng.
It gives the vitality and vigour and helps in building greater endurance.It has been used in the disease s such a s rheumatism, leprosy and arthritis.
Ashvagandha in Sanskrit means ” smelling like a horse “, almost certainly originating from the odor of its fresh root which resembles that of a sweaty horse.
Ashvagandha is a well known great anti -stre ss herb. The species name somnifera means “sleep-bearing” in Latin, indicating it was measured a sedative, but it ha s been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen.
It is also generally known as Indian Ginseng. Active ingredient are withanolides, similar to ginsenosides of A sian ginseng
Ashvagandha in Ayurveda:
Ayurveda make s here mention of Ashvagandha in the teachings of sage Punarvasu Atreya which thus goe s back to over 4000 years. Ancient Ayurvedic texts including the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas praise the Ashva gandha as a tonic particularly for emaciation in people of all ages including babies and enhancing the reproductive function of both men and women. It has also been used for the inflammations
especially for arthritic and rheumatic conditions and as a major tonic to counteract the ravages of aging and promote the you thful longevity. Some of its other traditional uses have been as a gentle purgative for chronic constipation and for the treatment of swollen glands.
Ashwagandha is ushan virya in the potency, has laghu (light) and tickt (penetrating) properties. Contains tickt, katu and mad hur rasa. Due these combinations of superior properties, ashwagandha acts in many disease s with great results. A s it is ushan virya in potenc y, it acts such a s a vata suppre ssant. There fore relieves from all the illness that caused by vata dominance. Also because o f its hot potency, it opposes the
rise of kapha therefore it also acts in suppre ssing increased and also unbalanced kapha dosha. Root is found to contain the b iochemical like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine etc. it also contains glycosides, with enolide with starche s and other amino acid.
Traditionally, Ashwagandha has been used in many ways–a s a sedative, a diuretic, a rejuvenating tonic, an anti -inflammatory agent, and work a s an “adaptogen” (endurance enhancer).Many We stern herbalists refer to this herb as “Ayu rvedic ginseng” because of its reputation for increasing the energy, strength, and stamina, and for its ability to relieve stress
Ashvagandha Research and Clinical Studies
Scientific studies greatly support ash wagandha’s ability not only to relieve stress, but also to protect brain cells against the harmful effects of our modern lifestyles.
For example, in the validated models of anxiety and depression, ashwagandha has been demonstrated to be as succe ssful as some tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs. specially, oral administration of ashwagandh a for five days sugge sted that anxiety-relieving effects similar to those achieved by the anti -anxiety drug lorazepam (Ativan®), and antidepressant effects similar to those of the prescription antidepressant
drug imipramine (Tofranil®).1
Scientist s in India recently conducted the cell studies showing that ashwagandha extract disrupt s cancer cells’ ability to re produce-a key step in the fighting cancer. Additionally, laboratory analysis indicates that ashwagandha extract posse sse s the anti -angiogenic activity, also kno wn as the ability to prevent cancer from forming new blood vessels to support its a unbridled growth. These findings lend further support to
ashwagandha’s potential role in fighting with cancer.15 Based on these studies, re search in this area continues.
In one of the most complete human clinical trials to date, researchers studied the total effects of a standardized extract of ashwagandha on the negative effects of st re ss, including the elevated levels of the stre ss hormone cortisol. Many of the unfavorable effects of stre ss are thought to be related to elevated levels of cortisol. The results were impressive. The parti cipants subjectively reported increased the energy, reduced
fatigue, better sleep, and an enhanced sense of well -being. The participants showed numerous measurable improvements, by including a reduction of cortisol levels up to 26%, a dec line in the fasting blood sugar levels, and improved lipid profiles. It would get also appear from this study that ashwagandha can address many of t he health and also psychological issue s that plague today’s society.
the Institute of Natural Medicine at the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University in Japan has also conducted extensive research into the brain benefits of ashwagandha. The Institute’s scientist s were looking for other ways to encourage the regeneration of nerve cell components called axons and dendrites in the validated models of the human brain. This important research may one day benefit those who have so
incurred brain injuries due to physical trauma, as well as those who suffer cognitive decline due to destruction of the nerve cell networks from the disease s such a s dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Using a well validated model of damaged nerve cells and impaired nerve -signaling pathways, re searchers noted that ashwagandha supported significant regeneration of the axons and dendrites of nerve cells. additionally, ash wagandha extract supported the total reconstruction of synapse s, the junctions where nerve cells communicate with other cells. The investigators there concluded that ashwagandha extract helps to
reconst ruct the networks of the nervous system, making it a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disease s such a s Alzheimer’s.
In one study, 101 normal healthy male the volunteers aged 50 to 59 took 3 grams of powdered ashwagandha daily for three month s. All showed considerably increased red blood cell counts, and 71% of the volunteers reported improved sexual performance.
Re searchers found that ashwagandha helped to get support the growth of nerve cell dendrites, which allow these cells to recei ve communications from the other cells. This finding suggest s that a shwagandha could also help to heal the brain tissue changes that accompany dementia
Ashwagandha Benefits
Latin Name: Withania somnifera
English / Common Names: Ashwagandha, Ashvagandha, Indian ginseng, winter cherry,
Ashwagandha literally means “that which smells like a horse” in Sanskrit. Not only does it smell like a horse but also ashwagandha also gives you the strength of one . Ashwagandha’s benefits range from the enhancing physical fitness to stre ss relief, relaxation and is even known to be beneficial into cases of arthritis. Seven American and four Japanese firms have filed for grant of patents on formulations containing
Ashwagandha or extract s out of the plant.
Ashwagandha’s therapeutic effects:
Re searchers in Los Angeles College of Chiropractic conducted a comprehensive review of the therapeutic effects of the Ashwagandha based on major computerized medical databases. The ir studies indicated that ashwagandha posse sse s anti -inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoieti c, and most rejuvenating properties. It also exerts a po sitive influence on the endocrine,
cardiopulmonary, and to central nervous system s. There seem to be little or no associated toxicity (1)
Ashwagandha in increasing immunity:
A study conducted on mice to test the immunomodulatory effects of Ash wagandha here showed that there was a significant increase in white blood cell cou nts and platelet counts in animals treated with the ashwagandha. (2)
Ashwagandha in cancer inhibition:
As far back a s 1970 it was found that Ashwagandha prevented the tumor growth. Recent research in Japan have shown Ashwagandha to contain seven elements t hat also inhibit cancer cells. Other studies on mice have found that administering an alcohol extract of Ashwagandha caused t he total tumor remission in 25% of animals and more than 50% reversal of tumor growth in 63% of the animals. This took place with n o
mortality and any side effects like weight loss or diarrhea.(3)
Ashwagandha in reducing inflammation and arthritis:
Ashwagandha has also been greatly shown in clinical trials to reduce inflammation. Studies conducted in 1989 and 1992 showed that ashwagandha herb extract reduced the inflammation by 65%. Twice the dosage of aspirin was needed to replicate this. By t he 49th day, there was a 89% reduction into arthritic score.
Withania somnifera: An Indian ginseng.
Kulkarni SK, Dhir A. Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh – 160 014, India.
Withania somnifera, commonly known as A sh wagandha is extensively considered as the Indian ginseng. In Ayurveda, it is classify as a ra sayana (reju venation) and expected to endorse physical and mental health, rejuvenate the body in debilitated conditions and boost longevi ty. Having wide range of activity, it is used to take care of almost all disorders that affect the human health. The present review discu sse s the
pharmacological basis of the use of W. somnifera in diverse central nervous system (CNS ) disorders, for the most part its indication in epilepsy, st re ss and neurodegenerative disease s such a s Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disorders, tardive dy skinesia, cerebral ischemia, and yet in the management of drug addiction
Selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha: Components, activity and pathway analyses.
Widodo N, Takagi Y, Shrestha BG, Ishii T, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Central 4, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
Ashwagandha, also called as “Queen of Ayurveda” and “Indian ginseng”, is a normally used plant in Indian traditional medicine , Ayurveda. Its roots have been used as herb remedy to care for a variety of ailments and to promote general wellness. Howeve r, scientific evidence to its effects i s limited to only a little number of studies. We had formerly identified anti -cancer activity in the leaf extract (i -Extract) of Ashwagandha
and demonstrated withanone as a cancer inhibitory factor (i -Factor). In the present study, we fractionated the i -Extract to its components and by silica gel column chromatography and subjected them to cell based activity analyse s. We foun d that the cancer inhibitory leaf extract (i -Extract) has, at least, the seven components that could cause cancer cell killing; i-Factor showed the maximum selectivity for cancer cells and i -
Factor rich Ash wagandha leaf powder was non-toxic and anti-tumorigenic in mice assays. We undertook a gene silencing and pathway analysis approach and found that i -Extract and its components to kill cancer cells by at least five different pathways, viz. p53 signaling, GM -CFS signaling, death receptor signaling, apoptosis signaling and G2 -M DNA damage regulation pathway. p53 signaling was most common. Visual
analysis of p53 and mortalin staining pattern further revealed that i -Extract, fraction F1, fraction F4 and i -Factor caused an abrogation of mortalin-p53 interactions and reactivation of p53 function while the fractions F2, F3, F5 work through other mechanisms.
References:
1. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):334-46
Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC), 16200 E Amber Valley Dr., Whittier, CA 9060 9-1166.
2. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Oct;67(1):27-35.
Studies on immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) extracts in experimental immune inflammation.Agarwal R, Diwanay S, Patki P, Patwardhan B. Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune, India.
3. Cancer Lett. 2008 Jan 9.
Selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha: Components, activity and pathway analyses. Widodo N, Takagi Y, Shrestha BG, Ishii T, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. National Institute of Advance d Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Central 4, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsu kuba, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305 -8575, Japan.