It is a fairly small shrub with small pale green flowers, simple leaves and red berries. It has a tuberous root, carrot or ginger shaped. It also has a distinct smell, described as horse-like, which is where it gets its name, ashwagandha; Ashwa is Sanskrit for horse and gandha for smell. As one of its qualities is that it’s strengthening, it’s also said to impart strength of the stallion.

In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is considered a Rasayana. This means that it helps maintain youth, both mentally and physically.

Most of the benefits from ashwagandha are from the root and the leaves. The leaves are most commonly used in teas. The root can be taken in many ways but it’s most commonly dried, powdered and taken as a supplement these days.

It’s used to treat arthritis, anxiety, insomnia, tumors, tuberculosis, asthma, leukoderma (a skin condition marked by white patchiness), bronchitis, backache, fibromyalgia, menstrual problems, hiccups, and chronic liver disease, stress, focus, stamina and strengthening.

• Reduces blood sugar levels--adding ashwagandha was found to increase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity and thus lower blood sugar levels in people with and without diabetes.
• Anti-carcinogenic— Many experiments have shown that ashwagandha is a potent medicine against cancer. It’s been found to reduce the growth of new cancer cells and induce death in pre-existing cancer cells.
• Boosts immunity=Ashwagandha improves our immunity significantly. It is also found to improve the activity of natural killer cells, the immune cells that fight infection.
• Reduces cortisol levels and stress– Ashwaganha has been found to have an incredible effect on cortisol levels in the body in many studies. Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes all the wear and tear in the body if the body is chronically stressed. By reducing cortisol, it’s been found to be significantly helpful for those suffering from chronic stress, anxiety and even depression.
• Improves male fertilityStress affects fertility. Most men with high stress have low testosterone and a low sperm count. Whether it directly affects the reproductive system or if it’s powerful to bring down stress levels that cause the improvement is unknown but a strong co-relation has been found between ashwagndha and improvement in testosterone production and sperm health.
• Reduces inflammation – Ashwagandha has been found to reduce a marker of inflammation called C-reactive protein by 36 per cent.