A combination of the Sanskrit words ‘ashva’, meaning horse, and ‘gandha’, meaning smell, combine to form Ashvagandha, which implies that the Ashvagandha fresh roots have a strong horse-like odor. It also implies to its potential ability to increase strength.

Botanical Name: Withania somnifera

Family Name: Solanaceae 

English Name: Indian ginseng, Poison gooseberry, Winter cherry.

Synonyms in Sanskrit: Vajigandha, Hayagandha,, Turagagandha, Varahakarni, Balada, Kushthagandhini, Atishukrala (वाजि-हय-तुरग-गन्धा, वराहकर्णी, बलदा, कुष्ठगन्धिनी, अतिशुक्रला)

Categorization in Classical Texts:

Charaka: Balya, Bruhmaniya, Madhuraskandha

External Morphology

Short, tender, perennial herb. Velvet-hairy branches extend radially from a central stem.

Leaves are dull green, long, elliptic.

Flowers are small, green and bell-shaped.

Fruits are orange in papery sepals.²

Properties

Guna – Laghu, Snigdha

Rasa – Tikta, Katu, Madhura

Vipaka – Madhura

Virya – Ushna

Karma – Vatakaphashamaka, Balya, Rasayana, Vajikarana. Shukrala (शा.पू.4)

Indications

Shotha, Kshaya, Daurbalya, Vataroga, Klaibya

Parts Used

Moola (Root)

Dosage

Churna: 3-6 gm

Kshara: 1-2 gm

Important Formulations

Asvagandhadi Churna, Ashvagandharishta, Bala Asvagandhadi tailam³

Sanskrit Verses Mentioning Asvagandha

1. अश्वगन्धानिलश्लेष्मश्वित्रशोथक्षयापहा | बल्या रसायनी तिक्ता कषायोष्णातिशुक्रला || (भा.प्र.)

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Sources

1. DRAVYAGUNA-VIJNANA Vol.2 (vegetable Drugs) by Prof. P.V.Sharma, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi, Sixteenth Edition:1995.
2. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Ashwagandha.html
3. Sahasrayoga – Tailayoga Prakarana – 13