Main Menu
Articles Home
Most Popular Articles
Top Authors
Submit Articles
Submission Guidelines
Link to Us
Bookmark
Contact Us

Articles Categories
  ·  Aerobics
  ·  Equipment
  ·  Exercise
  ·  Muscle Building
  ·  Weight Loss
  ·  Yoga
 


Partners
 
Home / Fitness / Yoga

Ashwagandha - Uses and Benefits

By:Dr. Jyotiraditya Agarwal


Ashwagandha or Indian winter cherry is considered one of the most important herbs in ayurvedic system of medicines. As because of its vast area of application, ayurvedic physicians have used it extensively in curing people from their ailments. Due to its properties it has gained lots of respect in the eyes of herbal healers.



Ashwagandha is biologically known as Withania somnifera. It is a shrub, normally found everywhere in India especially in northwestern part of the sub continent, but is now a days cultivated in fields because of its great commercial demand. Plant size varies from 1-5 ft. Plant part used is root. It derives its named “ashwagandha” because of two reasons. First reason is that its root smells like horse and the other reason is that it vitalizes body to provide strength just like a horse possess.



Ashwagandha is ushan virya in potency, has laghu (light) and tickt (penetrating) properties. Contains tickt, katu and madhur rasa. Due these combinations of superior properties, ashwagandha acts in numerous diseases with great results. As it is ushan virya in potency, it acts as vata suppressant. There fore relieves from all the illness caused by vata dominance. Also because of its hot potency, it opposes the rise of kapha therefore it also acts in suppressing increased and unbalanced kapha dosha. Root is found to contain biochemical like cuseohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, and anaferine etc. it also contains glycosides, withenolide with starches and amino acid.



Ashwagandha is an herb with many uses. Following are its indications: -



· It is considered as most important adaptogens in ayurvedic system of medicine.

· It works in suppressing pains of any sort. It possess this property due to its ushan virya potency, which helps in eradicating vata that is the reason of initiation of pain in body.

· Good results have been seen in diseases like Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), sandhi gata vata (Osteoarthritis), vatarakt (gout), gridhasi (sciatica) and other vata dominant diseases.

· Works as anti-inflammatory substance therefore helps in reducing swellings and restoring blood supply.

· Its local application also has tremendous results in lymphadenopathy, goiter and on any body part which is supposed to have inflammation and pain

· Possess great healing properties therefore has great effects in healing wounds and injuries

· It relieves stress due to presence of vata suppressant properties which helps in nurturing nervous system

· Helps in promoting calmness and mental satisfaction in mind due to its good penetrating powers, which helps to counter negative adaptogens.

· It helps in relieving from the feel of numbness and burning sensation in extremities.

· Helps in providing nourishment to the brain for its better function and greater ability to work.

· It is often given in a person who regularly suffers from vertigo, uncautiousness, and depression as it helps in curbing mental and physical weakness.

· Improves mental ability, helps in gaining retaining power and improves mental concentration

· Increases muscular endurance and helps in building up of stamina.

· Revitalizes body and decreases untimely fatigue caused due weak body strength accumulation of negative energies in the body.

· Works as a rasayan i.e. a substance that helps in preventing early aging and rejuvenates whole body to provide youth.

· It works as powerful immune booster that helps in fighting any foreign invasion in the body.

· Its antioxidant properties helps in avoiding symptoms of early aging

· A powerful aphrodisiac thereby helps in enhancing the sexual powers and long lasting endurance

· It also helps in increasing sperm count and also the quality of sperms.

· It gives good results in leucorrhoea, as it possesses the properties that suppress kapha.

· It is considered as one of the most commonly used herb in relieving hypertension with excellent results.

· It has also been found excellent supplement that helps in proving strength to heart muscles and keeps heart working normal

· It also possess the properties which helps it to behave as an diuretic therefore is very helpful in treating urinary tract infections (UTI)

· Wonderful remedy in increasing physical endurance is used extensively in physically weak people or people who are recovering from long illness as in case tuberculosis or surgeries.

· Good results have also been seen in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and in asthmatic condition with wonderful results.



Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Ashwagandha, Withania Somnifera, Winter Cherry, ashwagandha research, himalaya ashwagandha, ashvagandha, Ashwagandha Supplements, ashwagandha extract, Information on Ashwagandha, Blood Pressure

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Know more about Ashwagandha Withania Somnifera Supplements for Stress, Antidepressant, Hypertension Vegicaps www.morphemeremedies.com/ashwagandha.htm and Bitter Melon (Karela) Bitter Gourd for Diabetes Mellitus, Blood Sugar, Bitter Melon, Momordica charantia, Ayurvedic Medicine www.morphemeremedies.com/bittermelon.htm by visiting Ayurvedic Natural Health Supplements, Herbal Remedies by Ayurveda www.morphemeremedies.com







Top Yoga Articles
  • 1). The 5 Divine Sheaths of the subtle human body.  By : Yuga Rishi
    he trend of 5-faced photographs and images of Gayatri is seen, so that those who take recourse to the spiritual practice of this MahaMantra, ask a pertinent question as to what we should do in future? Mantra chanting, meditation, eulogies to God, reading religious texts, sacrificial fire rites etc. are preliminary practices. As a result of this, the preliminary goal of purification of the body and concentration of the mind is achieved.

  • 2). Yoga: The Most Effective Scoliosis Exercise  By : Saurabh Jain
    Scoliosis is a condition in which a person has side-to-side spinal curves in addition to the normal curves through which the lower portion of the human back curves inwards. The most effective remedy for such a condition is Scoliosis exercises. Although many exercises help in reducing the Scoliosis-related problems, yoga is considered the best Scoliosis exercise.

  • 3). How to Improve Your Body, Mind and Spirit By Practicing Hatha Yoga  By : Bashy
    Hatha yoga is a 5000 year old system that is used to improve the health of your body, mind and spirit. Hatha yoga combines the stretching exercises of the asanas. Breathing techniques and mental concentration are included in hatha yoga. The lotus position of the asanas is used in hatha yoga. The goal of hatha yoga remains the same as that of the other types of yoga.

  • 5). The Journey Of Yoga Through Mind  By : Rebecca Prescott
    Yoga is a transformative art, and deceptively simple. At least, although the advanced yoga postures are in fact difficult to the unpracticed, and look it, the changes that yoga can bring into one's life belie the apparent simplicity of stretching muscles. After all, we stretch muscles at the gym during a warm up. So what is the basic difference between yoga and regular workouts, including pilates.

  • 6). Yoga Creates A Balance Between The Body, Mind And Soul.  By : Yoga Guru
    Yoga is an ancient science that aims to create a balance between the body, mind and soul, thereby curing physical mental and spiritual disorders that are caused by this imbalance. In common language, yoga means union; it’s a union of the individual consciousness with the super-consciousness. To be exact, yoga aims at reminding the individual of this union that already exists and has merely been forgotten.

  • 8). Yoga for Women’s Health  By : Paul M. Jerard Jr.
    Lately, there has been a big stir about the University of California study that reveals many benefits of practicing Yoga for women. Some of the benefits are as follows: Fewer eating disorders Less self objection Better self image Less preoccupation with physical appearance Healthy eating habits Let’s stop for a moment and think about the big picture.

  • 9). Benefiting From Your Yoga Practice  By : Stephen Kreutzer
    Yoga is not only an extremely popular form of exercise, but depending on the form you practice, can be exciting or calming, social or meditative, energizing or relaxing. No matter which of these best describes your yoga class, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of every class you attend. * Go to yoga class with an empty stomach. Yoga is full bending, twisting, lengthening, stretching, and strength moves.

  • 10). Yoga Teachers Lead by Example - Part 2  By : Paul M. Jerard Jr.
    It is a shame that proper behavior, respect, and ethics do not make great headlines in the newspapers. Just watch the news, and read the newspaper for a week, to confirm what makes “good copy.” It will not take long for you to find a dozen, or dozens, of scandals.


New Yoga Articles
  • 1). Start Getting Fit With Yoga Exercise  By : Christopher Smith
    Starting a training regimen with Yoga as an emphasis will greatly enhance your personal health. An added bonus with Yoga and Yoga training is that it will also develop and maintain a good state of mind. Read the attached article to learn how to exercise both your body and mind with Yoga.

  • 3). History of Yoga  By : Rob Daniels
    Yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit. The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Yoga is an ancient system of health and fitness which originated in India. The word yoga has its first mention in the Rig Veda, the oldest of the sacred texts. Those that study Yoga estimate it's age to be four thousand year. The history of Yoga can be divided into four main periods which are the pre-classical period, classical period, post-classical period and modern period.

  • 4). Kapalabhati - A Breathing Exercise  By : Sharon Hopkins
    Kapalabhati is a very important asana and it should be part of your daily practice. This pose is also known as the Fire Breathing Pose, due to intake and outlet of air, with force. The exercise purifies your lungs and nasal passage. It is one of the powerful breathing exercises which help the entire body. It is one of a kind of the breathing exercises in Pranayama.

  • 5). Learn Yoga’s Relaxation Technique: A long lost art for rejuvenation  By : Foras Aje
    We all know that one of the necessary things needed to keep an automobile in good condition is cooling the engine when it gets hot. Well the same principle applies to the human body. When the body and mind are constantly overworked, their efficiency in performing their duties diminishes. Modern social life, food, work and even play make it difficult for the modern man to use a proper relaxation technique for rejuvenation.

  • 6). Have a health Problem? Yoga can solve it. Part 1  By : Foras Aje
    What was once ridiculed as a bizarre fad in health has been widely accepted as a way of life for many people. This ‘fad’ however has been in practice for over 5, 000 years and is known as Yoga. Though it is recognized as a form of exercise, some specific poses unique to this method of physical culture have been highly recognized and recommended in the drugless healing cycles for centuries.

  • 7). Have a health Problem? Yoga can solve it. Part 2  By : Foras Aje
    This is part 2 of my series depicting the use of Yoga poses for alleviating health challenges and ailments. Do remember friends, Yoga works hand in hand with a proper diet. That can’t be overemphasized, so in learning these poses, keep in mind to learn how to improve your diet as well for success. Here we go: 11. Delaying Old Age: Sun Salutations, Shoulder-stand, Bridge Pose, Fish Pose, Wheel Pose, Abdominal lift and Breathing exercises.

  • 8). Have a health Problem? Yoga can solve it. (Part 3)  By : Foras Aje
    “L” is for let’s do Yoga…just kidding. But seriously, Yoga is more than just poses and meditation or stretching. It is healing as well…and you’ll be on an unstoppable pace with a proper diet too. Here are the rest of the recommended poses for various health problems as applicable. 24. Laryngitis: Sun Salutations, the Shoulder stand and its counter pose.

  • 9). Yoga for Kids: What Yoga Poses are best for My Child?  By : Foras Aje
    Yoga indeed has become a popular, mainstream alternative for exercise and fitness. Here in Los Angeles, hardly a day goes by that I don’t see people walking by with their Yoga Mats rolled up underneath their arms coming from or going to their Yoga class. Most stay-home moms have picked Yoga up as well as their method of keeping fit and maintaining physical, mental and emotional balance.

  • 10). Yoga for Beginners: How to take those first steps into Yoga  By : Foras Aje
    Yoga is all around us these days. From Sting to Madonna, to maybe even your next door neighbor, everyone is hooked upon this fitness craze and with good cause. As a form of physical exercise, Yoga indeed is a force to be reckoned with. But just how can one go about using yoga for beginners? It is my hope that as a Yoga practitioner and enthusiast, this article will be of assistance in this regard.



 


© 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy