An adaptogen and Ayurvedic rasayana, ashwagandha rejuvenates the body at the deepest levels and nurtures a long life. It’s said to impart the strength of a stallion to its imbibers, and its musky roots spell out this signature—they’re known to bear the scent of horses drenched in wild sweat, racing across the plains.
This vital energetic makes ashwagandha especially useful for states of weakness or fatigue, such as depletion from stress, anxiety, overwork, poor sleep, or chronic illness.1,2 The roots work to repair the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and are esteemed for their ability to aid recovery and convalescence—they’re indicated for debility of almost any kind.3 For this reason, ashwagandha is supreme across the arc of our lives: it’s safe for children, revitalizing for adults, and maintains health for elders. Unlike most adaptogens, which are stimulating in nature, ashwagandha is calming and nourishing—it restores us to health from weakened states.
Ashwagandha is a preeminent herb for insomnia, as its species name somnifera implies. It’s not overtly sedative but instead helps restore healthy sleep cycles and replenish bone-weary nervous systems.4 It must be taken tonically for these benefits to build over time, and I recommend combining ashwagandha with other calming adaptogens like milky oats (Avena sativa) and reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma spp.)
Ashwagandha’s strengthening and balancing qualities extend to the immune system, where it shines as an immunomodulating ally. It both nourishes and energizes depleted immune systems and, conversely, quells overactive immune responses that trigger allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune conditions.5
In Western herbalism, ashwagandha is used as an herbal adjunct to chemotherapy and radiation for building strength and immune resilience in cancer.1 In India, ashwagandha has been a folk remedy in cancer protocols. Preliminary research attributes the anti-tumor properties to steroidal lactones, known as withanolides, found in the roots.6
No materia medica on ashwagandha would be complete without mention of its aphrodisiac and fertility benefits. Taken over time, the root can refresh and balance hormone levels, enhance circulation to the reproductive organs, improve sperm count and motility, and increase libido.3 In one notable pilot study, 25 women given 300mg of high-concentration ashwagandha root extract twice daily for 8 weeks reported significant increases in sexual function, including increased lubrication and orgasms.7
