Guest guest Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Here is some info about ashwagandha, (from Ray Sahalian's web site), in case anyone is interested. (I have no affiliation with him or his products.. : ) I've been taking it for about a month, and I think it is helping to calm me down and also restore some " zip " that was lacking.. : ) BTW, I believe that this shrub can be grown easily in California, another herbalist metioned this in his website.. it's a great all- around herb, apparently. Scott. http://www.raysahelian.com/ashwagandha.html Ashwagandha root ashwagandha benefit ashwagandha healing properties Ashwagandha is a shrub cultivated in India and North America whose roots have been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic practitioners. Ashwagandha root contains flavonoids and many active ingredients of the withanolide class. Several studies over the past few years have indicated that ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor , anti-stress, antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune- enhancing, and rejuvenating properties (see studies at bottom of page). Historically ashwagandha root has also been noted to have sex- enhancing properties. Antioxidant properties of Ashwagandha Researchers from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, have discovered that some of the chemicals within ashwagandha are powerful antioxidants. They tested these compounds for their effects on rat brain and found an increase in the levels of three natural antioxidants — superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. They say, " These findings are consistent with the therapeutic use of ashwagandha as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of ashwagandha root may explain, at least in part, the reported anti- stress, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations. " Aphrodisiac properties of Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is historically used as an aphrodisiac. Ashwagandha is mentioned in the ancient Kama Sutra as an herb to be used for heightening sexual experience, Ashwagandha has the ability to restore sexual health and improve overall vitality while promoting a calm state of mind. I have included an ashwagandha extract in a libido product called Passion Rx -- it really works (see below). Laboratory studies show ashwagandha can produce nitric oxide which is known to dilate blood vessels. Ashwagandha: a Mood Enhancing and Anti-anxiety Herb The roots of ashwagandha are used extensively in Ayurveda, the classical Indian system of medicine, and ashwagandha is categorized as a rasayana, which are used to promote physical and mental health, to provide defense against disease and adverse environmental factors and to slow the aging process. In rodent studies ashwagandha has been shown to reduce anxiety and have positive effect on mood. Ashwagandha and the Brain Ashwagandha is used in India to treat mental deficits in geriatric patients, including amnesia. Researchers from the University of Leipzig in Germany, wanted to find out which neurotransmitters were influenced by ashwagandha. After injecting some of the chemicals in ashwagandha into rats, they later examined slices of their brain and found an increase in acetylcholine receptor activity.The researchers say, " The drug-induced increase in acetylcholine receptor capacity might partly explain the cognition-enhancing and memory-improving effects of extracts from ashwagandha observed in animals and humans. " A study done in 1991 at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center indicated that extracts of ashwagandha had GABA-like activity. This may account for this herb's anti-anxiety effects. A 2002 laboratory study indicates ashwagandha stimulates the growth of axons and dendrites. A 2001 study in rodents showed ashwagandha had memory boosting ability. A 2000 study with rodents showed ashwagandha to have anti-anxiety and anti-depression effects. Additional benefits of Ashwagandha One small study (see bottom of page) found ashwagandha was able to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and had a diuretic effect. Ashwagandha Side Effects Ashwagandha does not have any significant side effects reported in the medical literature, but long term studies are not yet available. Nevertheless, it is best to take breaks from use, for instance, one can take a week off each month or take ashwagandha 3 or 4 times a week as opposed to daily. Ashwagandha Research Update Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) - monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2004 Jun;9(2):211-214. Withania somnifera, also known as ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, or winter cherry, has been an important herb in the Ayurvedic and indigenous medical systems for over 3000 years. Historically, the plant has been used as an aphrodisiac, liver tonic, anti- inflammatory agent, and more recently to treat asthma, ulcers, insomnia, and senile dementia. Clinical trials and animal research support the use of ashwagandha for anxiety, cognitive and neurological disorders, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease. Ashwagandha's chemopreventive properties make it a potentially useful adjunct for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Ashwaganda is also used therapeutically as an adaptogen for patients with nervous exhaustion, and debility due to stress, and as an immune stimulant in patients with low white blood cell counts. Anticarcinogenic activity of Withania somnifera Dunal against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Aug;93(2-3):359-61. The effect of ethanolic extract of the root of Withania somnifera against Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma has been evaluated in Swiss albino mice. A significant increase in the life span and a decrease in the cancer cell number and tumour weight were noted in the tumour- induced mice after treatment with ashwagandha. The hematological parameters were also corrected by ashwagandha in tumor-induced mice. These observations are suggestive of the protective effect of ashwagandha in Dalton's Ascitic Lymphoma. The in vitro antibacterial/synergistic activities of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) extracts. Fitoterapia. 2004 Jun;75(3-4):385-8. The methanol, hexane and diethyl ether extracts from both leaves and roots of ashwagandha were evaluated for the antibacterial/synergistic activity by agar plate disc-diffusion assay against Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Different concentrations of Tibrim, a combination of rifampicin and isoniazid, were tested to find out the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), which came out to be 0.1 mg/ml for S. typhimurium and E. coli. From the six extracts tested, only ashwagandha methanol and hexane extracts of both leaves and roots were found to have potent antibacterial activity. A synergistic increase in the antibacterial effect of Tibrim was noticed when MIC of Tibrim was supplemented with these ashwagandha extracts. Cardioprotection from ischemia and reperfusion injury by Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 May;260(1-2):39-47. The efficacy of ashwagandha to limit myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion was explored and compared to that of Vitamin E, a reference standard known to reduce mortality and infarct size due to myocardial infarction. Wistar rats were divided into six groups and received orally saline (sham, control group), ashwagandha 50/kg (ashwagandha -control and treated group) and Vit E- 100 mg/kg (Vit E control and treated group) respectively for 1 month. On the 31st day, rats of the control, Vit E and Ws treated groups were anesthetized and subjected to 45 min occlusion of the LAD coronary artery followed by 60 min reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters: systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (SAP, DAP, MAP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular end diastolic pressure were monitored. Hearts were removed and processed for histopathological and biochemical studies: Myocardial enzyme, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and antioxidant parameters: malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were estimated. Postischemic reperfusion produced significant cardiac necrosis, depression of left ventricular functions and a significant fall in GSH, SOD, CAT, LDH and CPK as well as an increase in MDA level in the control group rats as compared to sham group. Ashwagandha and Vitamin E favorably modulated most of the hemodynamic, biochemical and histopathological parameters though no significant restoration in GSH, MAP (with Vit E) were observed. Ashwagandha on chronic administration markedly augmented antioxidants (GSH, GSHPx, SOD, CAT) while Vit E did not stimulate the synthesis of endogenous antioxidants compared to sham. Results indicate that ashwagandha significantly reduced myocardial injury and emphasize the beneficial action of ashwagandha as a cardioprotective agent. Growth inhibition of human tumor cell lines by withanolides from Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) leaves. Life Sci. 2003 Nov 21;74(1):125-32. Ayurvedic medicines prepared in India consist of Withania somnifera roots ( ashwagandha ) as one of the main ingredients. Ashwagandha is consumed as a dietary supplement around the world. The leaves of ashwagandha were used in the treatment of tumors and inflammation in several Asian countries. We have isolated twelve withanolides from the leaves of this species. Compounds were tested for their anti- proliferative activity lung, colon, central nervous system and Breast human tumor cell lines. Withaferin A and its derivatives exhibited inhibitory concentrations. Viscosalactone B (12) showed the 50% inhibition. Therefore, incorporation of ashwagandha in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumors in human. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) attenuates antioxidant defense in aged spinal cord and inhibits copper induced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modifications. Drug Metabol Drug Interact. 2003;19(3):211-22. Ashwagandha is classified in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, as a rasayana, a group of plant-derived drugs which promote physical and mental health, augment resistance of the body against disease and diverse adverse environmental factors, revitalize the body in debilitated conditions and increase longevity. We investigated the effects of Ashwagandha on copper- induced lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in aging spinal cord of Wistar rats. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) decreased significantly in the spinal cord from adult to aged mice. Treatment with Ashwagandha successfully attenuated GPx activity and inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Ashwagandha inhibited both the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modification induced by copper. These effects were similar to those of superoxide dismutase and mannitol. The results indicate the therapeutic potential of Ashwagandha in aging and copper-induced pathophysiological conditions. Induction of nitric oxide synthase expression by Withania somnifera in macrophages. Iuvone T, Esposito G, Life Sci. 2003 Feb 21;72(14):1617-25. Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, Indian ginseng) is an immunostimulant herbal medicine used to improve overall health and prevent diseases, particularly in the elderly. However, the mechanisms underlying its immunostimulant effect is poorly understood. To elucidate the mechanism of Withania somnifera, we investigated the effect of a methanolic extract from the root of Ashwagandha on nitric oxide (NO) production in J774 macrophages. We found that ashwagandha produced a significant and concentration- dependent increase in NO production. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that Ashwagandha increased, in a concentration-dependent fashion, inducible NOS protein expression. These results demonstrate that ashwagandha may induce the synthesis of inducible NOS expression likely by acting at transcriptional level. The increased NO production by macrophages could account, at least in part, for the immunostimulant properties of ashwagandha. Axon- or dendrite-predominant outgrowth induced by constituents from Ashwagandha. Kuboyama T.. Neuroreport. 2002 Oct 7;13(14):1715-20. We previously reported that the methanol extract of Ashwagandha (roots of Dunal) induced dendrite extension in a human neuroblastoma cell line. In this study, we found that six of the 18 compounds isolated from the methanol extract enhanced neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In withanolide A-treated cells, the length of NF-H-positive processes was significantly increased compared with vehicle-treated cells, whereas, the length of MAP2- positive processes was increased by withanosides IV and VI. These results suggest that axons are predominantly extended by withanolide A, and dendrites by withanosides IV and VI. ashwagandha ashwagandha root mucuna and ashwagandha ashwagandha thyroid ashwagandha herb. Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effect of winter cherry (Withania somnifera, Dunal) root. Indian J Exp Biol. 2000 Jun;38(6):607-9. Hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effects of roots of W. somnifera (ashwagandha) were assessed on human subjects. Six mild NIDDM subjects and six mild hypercholesterolemic subjects were treated with the powder of roots of ashwagandha for 30 days. Suitable parameters were studied in the blood and urine samples of the subjects along with dietary pattern before and at the end of treatment period. Decrease in blood glucose was comparable to that of an oral hypoglycemic drug. Significant increase in urine sodium, urine volume, significant decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (low density lipoproteins) and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) cholesterol were observed indicating that root of ashwagandha is a potential source of hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic agents. Clinical observations revealed no adverse effects. Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha): a review. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Aug;5(4):334-46. Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S. Los Angeles College of Chiropractic Whittier, CA OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to review the literature regarding Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Specifically, the literature was reviewed for articles pertaining to chemical properties, therapeutic benefits, and toxicity. DESIGN: This review is in a narrative format and consists of all publications relevant to ashwagandha that were identified by the authors through a systematic search of major computerized medical databases; no statistical pooling of results or evaluation of the quality of the studies was performed due to the widely different methods employed by each study. RESULTS: Studies indicate ashwagandha possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoietic, and rejuvenating properties. It also appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action for these properties are not fully understood. Toxicity studies reveal that ashwagandha appears to be a safe compound. CONCLUSION: Preliminary studies have found various constituents of ashwagandha exhibit a variety of therapeutic effects with little or no associated toxicity. These results are very encouraging and indicate this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects. Clinical trials using ashwagandha for a variety of conditions should also be conducted. Evaluation of the anti-proliferative and anti-oxidative activities of leaf extract from in vivo and in vitro raised Ashwagandha. Food Chem Toxicol. 2004 Dec;42(12):2015-20. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is used in Indian traditional medicine, Ayurveda and is believed to have a variety of health promoting effects. Molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying these effects have not been studied. We tried to characterize various activities of leaf extract of Ashwagandha (Lash) raised in the field and in the laboratory. We found that the Lash from field- raised plants has a significant anti-proliferative activity in human tumorigenic cells. However, it did not impart any protection against the oxidative damage caused by high glucose and hydrogen peroxide to human tumor cells suggesting that it can be used as an anti-tumor, but not as an anti-oxidant, substance. Withaferin A is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis. 2004;7(2):115-22. The medicinal plant ashwagandha is widely researched for its anti- inflammatory, cardioactive and central nervous system effects. In Ayurveda , the major Traditional Indian medicine system, extracts from ashwagandha are distinctively employed for the treatment of arthritis and menstrual disorders. Because these conditions involve angiogenic processes we hypothesized that the ashwagandha extracts might contain angiogenesis inhibitors. We employed an endothelial cell-sprouting assay to monitor the purification of substances from ashwagandha root extracts and isolated as the active principle the previously known natural product withaferin A. In conclusion, our findings identify a novel mode of action of withaferin A, which highlights the potential use of this ashwagandha extract for cancer treatment or prevention. Ashwagandha emails Q. I have the following questions on the proper use of taking Ashwagangha: 1. As this is an Ayurvedic herb, are there any dietary restrictions when taking Ashwagandha??. I am from India, and I remember that when ever we took Ayurvedic medication, certain foods were to be avoided. 2. You had suggested taking ashwagandha 2 or 3 times a day. What is the best time to take, on empty stomach, or during and/or after meals. I also found, that ashwagandha makes you sort of sleepy during the day time. So, please let me know what is the best time in a 24 hour cycle to get proper rest during night time, but avoiding feeling sleepy during the day! A. There are no dietary restrictions with ashwagandha. Most herbs are better absorbed on an empty stomach. In some people, certain preparations of ashwagandha can lead to sleepiness or a very relaxed feeling. For those who are tense and anxious, and hyper alert, ashwagandha can be taken during the day, for others, ashwagandha is best taken in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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