A Comprehensive Ayurvedic Literary Review on Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)
Author : Dr. Debabrata Ghosh, Dr. Lawsree Majumder and Dr. PB Kar Mahapatra
Abstract :
Ayurveda, the ancient most medical science, dealt with several components of natural sources in the prevention and cure of diseases. The observations of Indian sages have also been documented in their texts like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Nighantus etc. The herbal components for medicine have got a wide area towards use in therapeutics. Ashwagandha is one of the most useful herbal component has been mentioned by Ayurvedic ancestors and modern treties as rasayana (rejuvenator/immunity enhancer) besides its actions as Snayabik Uttejana prasamak (neuro sedative), Vedanasthapak (analgesics) and Medhya (intellect promoter) etc. In present article it has been tried to review all these important classical texts to find out those claims regarding the properties, actions, therapeutic uses in a methodical and scientific manner. The Ayurvedic texts of Samhita period, Samgraha period, medieval period and modern period have been taken into consideration towards gathering the information regarding Ashwagandha.
Keywords :
Ashwagandha, withania somnifera, ayurveda, neuro-sedative, analgesics
