Ashwangandha

Ashwagandha is a plant. The root and berry are used to make medicine.

Ashwagandha has a lot of uses. But so far, there isn’t enough information to judge whether it is effective for any of them.
Ashwagandha is also used as an “adaptogen” to help the body cope with daily stress, and as a general tonic. Some people also use ashwagandha for improving thinking ability, decreasing pain and swelling (inflammation), and preventing the effects of aging.

Ashwagandha is applied to the skin for treating wounds, backache, and one-sided paralysis (hemiplegia). Preliminary studies indicate that the herb helps to reduce the negative effects of stress, slow tumour growth, treat anxiety and insomnia, and reduce cholesterol in addition to increasing sexual performance. Ashwaghanda is generally safe at the doses recommended on the packaging. In high doses it may have steroidal activity similar to Creatine.

Ashwagandha is available in capsules, powders, and tinctures, all of which can be found in many health-food stories and pharmacies specializing in natural remedies. The herb is also commonly featured in adaptogen formulas, which may contain herbs like ginseng and rhodiola.