What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry. This was one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. It was used since ancient times for many conditions due to its healing and rejuvenating properties.
In Sanskrit the term Ashwagandha means “the smell of a horse,” which metaphorically shows that the herb imparts the vigor and strength of a stallion. Therefore it was prescribed to people to strengthen their immune system after a disease.
The herb originated from India and it thrives best in dry regions. It can survive very high temperatures and low temperatures, ranging from 40 0 C to as low as 10 0 C. It can reach height of 1500 meters above sea level.
Ashwagandha belongs to the same family as the tomato. It’s a plump shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers. Its fruits are red and about the size of a raisin.