[lou_lou]

The ancient herb Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) may be little known here, but that's about to change.

Science is only beginning to confirm the encouraging signs of this valuable herb. Sometimes named "winter cherry" or Indian ginseng", Ashwagandha has been shown to be at least as effective or superior to ginseng as an anti stress remedy.

Study after study confirms the herb's stress tolerance, performance and endurance-enhancing benefits.
For instance, a 2001 rat study indicates that the herb reduces stress-induced brain cell degeneration by 80%, thus demonstrating a neuroprotective effect.

A 2000 animal study of an Ayurvedic formula containing Ashwagandha demonstrated that the medicine was a effective as ginseng in adaptogenic benefits when tested in rats against chronic stress behavior, depression, glucose metabolism, suppressed male sexual behavior, immune function and cognitive dysfunction.

Ayurvedics use the herb for general debility and exhaustion, emaciation, memory loss, nerve diseases, cough, anemia and reestablish long term sleep rhythms. Rather than making you sleepy, the herb regulates sleep cycles over time. Modern clinicians are most likely to call on Ashwagandha for chronic fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic heart and vascular disorders, where it is often combined with arjuna bark (Terminalia arjuna). In addition, Ashwagandha is believed to be a premier sexual tonic.

In a scientific article published in 2000, Los Angeles researchers who reviewed many confirmed benefits for Ashwagandha found that the herb appears to aid the endocrine, cardiopulmonary and central nervous systems. Furthermore, a double-blind trial of 58 children aged 8 to 12 showed that Ashwagandha given in milk significantly increased the children's body weight, total plasma proteins and hemoglobin.

Ashwagandha has an antioxidant effect in the brain, which may partially explain its reported anti-stress, immunomodulatory, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and antiaging benefits.

In addition, recent studies show that Ashwagandha demonstrates substantial antitumor effects, suggesting that the herb could one day serve as natural source of a potent yet safe chemotherapeutic agent.

Research on Ashwagandha Herb

Anxiolytic-antidepressant activity of Withania somnifera glycowithanolides: an experimental study.

Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Sairam K, Ghosal S.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

The roots of Withania somnifera (WS) are used extensively in Ayurveda, the classical Indian system of medicine, and WS is categorized as a rasayana, which are used to promote physical and mental health, to provide defence against disease and adverse environmental factors and to arrest the aging process. WS has been used to stabilize mood in patients with behavioural disturbances. The present study investigated the anxiolytic and antidepressant actions of the bioactive glycowithanolides (WSG), isolated from WS roots, in rats. WSG (20 and 50 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily for 5 days and the results were compared by those elicited by the benzodiazepine lorazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) for anxiolytic studies, and by the tricyclic anti-depressant, imipramine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), for the antidepressant investigations. Both these standard drugs were administered once, 30 min prior to the tests. WSG induced an anxiolytic effect, comparable to that produced by lorazepam, in the elevated plus-maze, social interaction and feeding latency in an unfamiliar environment, tests. Further, both WSG and lorazepam, reduced rat brain levels of tribulin, an endocoid marker of clinical anxiety, when the levels were increased following administration of the anxiogenic agent, pentylenetetrazole. WSG also exhibited an antidepressant effect, comparable with that induced by imipramine, in the forced swim-induced 'behavioural despair' and 'learned helplessness' tests. The investigations support the use of WS as a mood stabilizer in clinical conditions of anxiety and depression in Ayurveda.

Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha):

Mishra LC, Singh BB, Dagenais S.

Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC), 16200 E Amber Valley Dr., Whittier, CA 90609-1166. lakshmimishra@lacc.edu

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to review the literature regarding Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) 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.

Studies on immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) extracts in experimental immune inflammation.

Agarwal R, Diwanay S, Patki P, Patwardhan B.

Bharati Vidyapeeth's Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune, India.

The immunomodulatory activities of an Indian Ayurvedic medicinal preparation, i.e. extracts from Ashwagandha, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae), namely WST and WS2, were studied in mice for immune inflammation: active paw anaphylaxis and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Immunomodulatory effect was assessed in If IgE-mediated anaphylaxis as reduction of ovalbumin-induced paw edema, in animals treated with WS2 at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg, and the results were compared with the standard drug disodium chromoglycate. In the DTH model, the modulatory effect was assessed as potentiation or suppression of the reaction, revealing an increase or decrease in mean foot pad thickness, respectively. Potentiation of the DTH reaction was observed in animals treated with cyclophosphamide at a dose of 20 mg/kg, WST at a dose of 1000 mg/kg and WS2 at a dose of 300 mg/kg. On the other hand, cyclophosphamide-induced potentiation of DTH reaction was suppressed in animals treated with WST and WS2. A significant increase in white blood cell counts and platelet counts was observed in animals treated with WST. A protective effect in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression was observed in animals treated with WST and WS2, revealing a significant increase in white blood cell counts and platelet counts. Cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression was counteracted by treatment with WS2, revealing significant increase in hemagglutinating antibody responses and hemolytic antibody responses towards sheep red blood cells.

Ashwagandha herb, Withania Somnifera Supplements, Antidepressant, Stress related disorders such as Arthritis, Hypertension, Diabetes, General debility

[Howardh]

is a contributing factor to why I am getting improved results in my condition. Thanks for the information Tena.

Read more on the Ginseng Thread. Your thinking on mind power is worth considering as well. We know much of the body regenerates over time, (dopamine cells do not) positive thinking, and keeping all vital organs in pristine condition by fueling the body with powerfull essential nutruents combined with a reasoned exercise workout gives the body the optimum opportunity to keep our disease at arms length.

GO HARD..... SCIENCE

GO HARD.... ALL BLACKS (RWC)

[lou_lou]

hello!
I have been taking ashwagandha and B-12 {Methycobalamine) daily for almost2 years -
and I have not had much problems with the offs and ons unless -

I allow myself to be physically exhausted, or mentally fatigue -or have not eaten well -more vegetables -salads -salmon -(organic) as much as possible.
I also drink fiji water or some evamore water -high ph -
because to counter the side effects of the acidic medicines

my neuro has said to me -"for some reason - your better?"

It is verygood to hear you are spiraling up as well!!