Ashwagandha, What Is It?
The plant, or herb, Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, Ajagandha, or by its species name Withania somnifera, is a plant of the nightshade family. It grows as a shrub from which a branch covered in dense hairs extends. The plant blooms small green flowers. The fruit of the plant, when ripe, is orange-ish red and 
additionally has milk-coagulating properties. The main use of the plant is in traditional Indian medicine, known as ayurveda. The main part of the plant that is used for ayurveda, is the root. Many use it to combat stress and to boost energy or the immune system, especially during or after a person experiences illness.
Ashwagandha is cultivated in a variety of areas inside India, such as Neemuch, Punjab, and Pradesh, and it requires a dry climate in which to flourish. The herb can also be found in Nepal.
What Medical Problems Is It Used For?
Within the practice of ayurveda, it is used to treat constipation, fatigue, muscle tension, muscle weakness, memory loss, rheumatism, pain, and gastrointestinal distress.
Medical Studies That Back Up Its Claims
There have been a few medical studies done to determine what, if any, legitimate medical properties the herb as a drug has. The results of the trials and studies so far suggest that Ashwagandha may be successful in treating or relieving the symptoms of anxiety, arthritis pain, osteoarthritis, depression, and may help improve insulin sensitivity in people with Type 2 diabetes.
There have also been two studies that suggest the plant has an effect on tumor cells. It may slow their growth or shrink them in cases of breast, colon, skin, and lung cancer. Some of the other studies that have been done show that the plant helps to promote the growth and repair of nerve cells, and this gives credence to the theory that it may be used to help treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Thus far the plant seems to be promising, not only in treating various types of cancer, but in treating other diseases as well.
Recently there have been clinical trials to discover the effectiveness of the plant in treating ailments such as 
bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease (link to parkinson’s study), and tuberculosis. Other recent research has shown that the drug may be useful in treating morphine withdrawal.
An extract of the plant can be taken in a variety of ways. It can usually be found in pharmacies or health food-type stores in tincture, powder or capsule form. It is occasionally used as an additive to adaptogen formulas or treatments, which are intended to strengthen one’s resistance to stress and to increase energy levels. Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen treatment in itself. There are also antimicrobial properties, which can defend and act against harmful bacteria like Salmonella.
Active Ingredients: What Do They Do?
The active properties in Ashwagandha are alkaloids known as withanine and steroidal lactones. The positive benefits of the plant can likely be traced to that. The alkaloids are mainly the constituents of a class known as withanine, but some of the other classes of alkaloids included in the plant are tropine, somniferine, cuscohygrine and anhydrine. The main constituents of the steroidal lactones, which can be found in the leaves of the plant, are withanolides. The most effective property of the plant used in treating cancer cells is most likely Withaferin-A, a bioactive compound. This compound has potential anti-metastatic activity, and seems the likeliest cause of its effects against tumors.
Side Effects
The side effects involved in using the plant for medicinal purposes are relatively minimal. In trials, people reported around the same instance of side effects or reactions as those taking a placebo. Some of the notable side effects include potential stimulation of the thyroid gland, and in some people this can lead to thyrotoxicosis – this is when the gland produces overactive hormones. The most serious potential side effect is liver failure, but this is only when the plant has been taken to excess. In pregnant women, high doses can also lead to abortion, and so it is advised that those who are pregnant do not take it. Those taking barbiturates (which depress the central nervous system) should be aware that Ashwagandha may increase the potency of those drugs.
Is It Safe?
Despite some evidence of side effects, especially if taken to excess, Ashwagandha is generally considered safe. The key is to find a moderate dose. It has been used for many years in many places without significant incident, and currently companies in both the United States of America and Japan are seeking patents on formulas containing Ashwagandha. It remains to be seen whether or not it will remain a natural remedy, or if it will be used in mainstream medicine as a regulated treatment. There is no sign that the plant, in drug form, will fall out of favor any time in the near future.
