Withania somnifera
Other common names: Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kanaje Hindi and Samm Al Ferakh
Habitat: Cultivated throughout drier parts of India
Description: Ashwagandha grows as a stout shrub that reaches a height of 170cm. Like the tomato which belongs to the same family, ashwagandha bears yellow flowers and red fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape. Ashwagandha grows prolifically in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Part used: Root, Leaves
Uses: The Ashwagandha root is used a tonic to encourage healthy growth in children. In the elderly it improves vigour and sexual performance. Studies have shown that it can help increase body weight, slow the development of lung cancers in laboratory animals and encourage tumour regression.
The Ashwagandha leaves are traditionally used as a calming, sleep-inducing remedy for exhaustion and fevers.
