Winter Cherry, Withania Somniferum, Ashwagandha, Asgandh

English: Winter Cherry
Latin: Withania Somniferum

Urdu: Asgandh اسگندھ
Indian: Ashwagandha
Punjabi:اکسن بوگنی بوٹی
Sindhi: بھڈ گند
Gujrati:آکھ سندھ

Scientific detail:
Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry, is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar.

Winter Cherry, or Ashwagandha Root, is among the most prominent herbal preparations used in Ayurveda, a holistic system of medicine that originated in India. The root of this small evergreen shrub is primarily recognized for its adaptogenic properties, meaning it naturally increases the body’s resistance to physical and emotional stress.
Practitioners of Ayurveda traditionally prescribe Winter Cherry to promote gentle relaxation and emotional balance. In clinical studies, Winter Cherry has been shown to provide positive support for:

Focus, attention span, concentration, memory, mental sharpness and other healthy cognitive functions

Mental or physical fatigue caused by emotional stress

Depressed mood and mild to moderate mood changes caused by everyday stress

Occasional nervousness, nervous tension and anxiety

Healthy immune system function

Research has shown that Winter Cherry is a safe, natural sedative that produces the most noticeable benefits following daily use for two to six weeks

The root is mainly used in traditional medicine on the subcontinent, and the berries can be substituted for rennet in making cheese. The leaves can be bruised, crushed and smeared onto arthritic joints as they are in Ethiopia. In Pakistan the cortex of the root is ground into a powder and mixed with water then kneaded into a paste which is smeared onto wounds to disinfect them and to promote rapid healing. In Africa the root is given as a sedative to children and to soothe teething pains. The ancient Assyrians used to burn the root and channel the smoke onto a painful tooth to cure the pain of toothache. In Yemen it is still used for this purpose.

Winter Cherry Roots

A paste can be made from the ground leaves; they are ground to a pulp and sometimes the berries are also added to this to treat swelling, rheumatism and external inflammation. In India the leaves are smoked to soothe coughs and asthma.

However its primary use in folk medicine is as an aphrodisiac and it has been used as a love potion too for centuries. Folk healers still prepare love potions from the root of Ashwagandha.

The name Ashwagandha means ‘sweat of a horse’ and it is thought that this refers to the strength and sexual vigour of the horse. It is used to cure impotency, fatigue and waning memory, and it is now known that it boosts the immune system, relieves various types of stress, revitalizes muscles, and bones, and is good for a restful sleep, diabetes, general debility, and a stimulant. It also helps restore neurotransmitters and so is used for mental disorders associated with aging.

Winter Cherry helps support the reproductive systems and adrenals and is a diuretic. It can cure gastric ulcers according to recent medical research, and can help to stop a fever.

Apart from boosting the male semen count and helping with erectile dysfunctions, it also stabilizes the foetus and later boosts a nursing mother’s supply of breast milk.

The recommended dose is 3-5 grams of powder from the root taken daily in milk. Twice a day is more than sufficient for male sexual disorders and results are seen after a week in most cases, although it may take longer to work in some cases.