Ashwagandha Extract Powder 15:1

• High Strength Extract 7% Withanolides, 3% Alkaloids

• Also Known as Indian Ginseng

• Traditionally Used in Ayurveda

About Ashwagandha extract powder

The ashwagandha plant (Withania Somnifera) is a woody plant that belongs to the Solanaceae/ nightshade family. The species is in the same family as tobacco, tomatoes, chili peppers, bell peppers, potatoes, and eggplant, among others. This plant is endemic to Africa, the Mediterranean regions, and Southeast Asia. The common names used to allude to ashwagandha in different countries and regions include poison gooseberry and the Indian winter cherry. The term Somnifera translates to “causing sleep” in Latin. Henry Witham, a botanist in the 19th century studied and described this genus giving rise to the name Withania. The ashwagandha plant is short only growing 30 inches tall. The branches emerge from a firm stem. 
The leaves are green and elliptical. The flowers are placed at the pinnacle of the branches. They are pale green and have a bell shape. The flowers produce small, shiny brick-red fruits once they mature. The ashwagandha plant has bulb-like roots. They are pale brown in colour and can be confused with ginger. Ashwagandha extract powder is obtained from grinding and processing the dried roots of the ashwagandha plant.

Ashwagandha naturally grows in the wild in countries like Israel, Pakistan, Morocco, Congo, Canary Islands, Spain, Jordan, Egypt, Afghanistan, and South Africa. Cultivation of ashwagandha requires very little effort. Ashwagandha can survive in dry regions and regions with very poor soils but will need to be watched carefully. However, the plant thrives at altitudes greater than 2000 feet above sea level. Well-drained soil with a moderately acidic pH is essential to the development of this plant. Ashwagandha is cultivated in open areas where they can receive the full glare of sunlight. The land is plowed until the soil becomes loose. The seeds can be planted in lines or just thrown out randomly. The amount of shade should be very limited. Planting usually takes place between June and September. Weeding at the beginning stages of growth is done to bar off any other plants from competing for nutrients with the young plants. However, when they become fully grown this won’t be necessary because the ashwagandha plant stamps out all other plants within its vicinity. The plant is observed regularly to ensure that small pests like mites and bugs don’t destroy the stem or leaves.

Consumption of ashwagandha is traced back to almost 5000 years ago in ancient India. Ashwagandha was prepared in different ways to serve as a remedy on various occasions. It could either be used in powder form, as an oil, burnt for smoke, as a decoction, or as a poultice. The most common form was a ghee or oil mixture that was later used to form a paste. Old Indian texts referred to as Vedas compiled some of the common uses of ashwagandha in ancient India. The Rig Veda claimed that ashwagandha was a very important Rasayana, an element that provided a balance between the mind, soul, and body. It was hence taken especially by the elderly to rejuvenate them and improve their mental clarity. The Maasai, a tribe in Kenya, used fruits and seeds from the ashwagandha plant for coagulation of their milk. Indigenous communities in Lesotho used a concoction made from the bark of the plant to take care of different wounds. 

• Please note it is against MHRA guidelines for us to talk about any potential health benefits for this supplement however a quick google search on the potential benefits and you may be surprised.

How to take Ashwagandha Extract Powder

500mg (approx 1/2 teaspoon) once or twice a day as directed by your healthcare practitioner, can be take with hot or cold water, in warm milk and honey, in juices or smoothies or directly with honey.