With spring now upon us, we are coming into the time when many of our most familiar herbs are starting to become readily available!

For this Monday's monograph, we will be exploring an often overlooked and very common herb that holds a tremendous amount of healing potential for our digestive tract, skin, and mucosal membranes throughout the body. 

Also, chickweed has now been clinically shown to be beneficial in the reduction of lipomas and other fatty tumours, and has been show to help balance fats and lipids and to assist in weightloss.

There are literally hundreds of possibilities for this wonderful herb!

I hope you enjoy this downloadable monograph and enjoy reading about this powerful but common herbal ally. 

Please do not self dose, contact an appropriate practitioner for guidance before starting herbal medicine.

In health and wellness,

Petra Sovcov
Doctor of Natural Medicine and Clinical Herbal Therapist

​

As you snuggle in on this peaceful day of celebration, one has the opportunity to consider all of the other forms of celebration taking place around the world. December is a month packed with a great variety of holidays from many cultures and belief systems. From Christmas, to Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Omisoka to name only a few. This is the month that celebrates the return of the light in the Northern Hemisphere, or in the case of Hanukkah a celebration of light in darkness. During this month, cultures celebrate the birth of Christ, the blessings of life and harvest, or the passing of the old year into the new.

In this short holiday article, I will share a bit on the history of Christmas, and offer a brief historical, symbolic, and medicinal synopsis of some of the plants that are so central and important to these well known celebrations. After all, human health and plant health are intertwined through food and medicine, it only makes sense that plants would also be central to the spiritual health and representation of a holiday.

Christmas,  literally means "the mass for Christ" and is the central day in which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In truth we do not know when Christ was born, as this day was chosen by Pope Leo I, a bishop of Rome (440-461).

Prior to the Christmas we know, December 25th marked the day in which Romans celebrated Saturnalia where Saturn, the god of agriculture, was worshiped.  Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting, drinking, and gift-giving. With Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, many of these customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.
 
Christmas is a wonderful combination of the old and the new as it holds its roots in the symbolism of the ancient pagan world. Christmas also holds old ties with Yule when we consider the adoption of the Christmas tree. As a small contrast, we have additional ties to the old world with the modern symbolism of  Santa Clause which has its roots in the story of Saint Nicholas.
 
What we know of Saint Nicholas is that he was a bishop from the city of Myra (now a part of modern Turkey). Saint Nicholas had a deep compassion for the poor and sought to help young children, orphans, and widows with donations of goods and money. The jolly Santa Claus we know and love today comes from our not-so-distant past. It was Coca-Cola who came up with the modernized image in the 1930s and used it as a targeted marketing campaign for their beverages.

The symbolism behind the evergreen tree is one we all know and love, the Christmas tree. The evergreen of the tree often symbolizes the eternal symbol of Christ and that of life after death. In earlier legends it is said that a fir tree grew out of a fallen oak. That fir tree bearing life from the dead oak became the symbol of Christ – being triangle in shape it represents the trinity – and from there came the idea that the tree should be a symbol of new and eternal life.

The concept of the more modern Christmas tree emerged in western Germany during the 16th century as Christians brought trees into their homes and decorated them with gingerbread, nuts, and apples. The custom became fairly popular and continued to spread to the royal courts across Europe up until the early 19th century. Unlike now, prior to the early 19th century in places like the US, having a Christmas tree was often viewed as a foreign and pagan custom.

While the Christmas tree originated in Germany, it was Britain’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who popularized it in the 1840s and 1985s. The reason for this was due to Victoria’s mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld who was German and thus grew up having a decorated tree at Christmas time. 

In addition to its symbolic representation at Christmas, pine has a long standing history in Northern and Western Herbalism as a medicinal plant. Cultures around the globe have used the needles, inner bark, and resin for a variety ailments. Internally, pine is a traditional remedy for coughs, colds, allergies, and urinary tract and sinus infections. Topically, pine is used to address skin infections and to lessen joint inflammation in arthritic conditions.

The poinsettia is native to Central America, centralized to an area of southern Mexico known as Taxco del Alacon where they flower during the winter. The ancient Aztecs name for them is cuetlaxochitl. From the poinsettia came purple and red dye for clothing and cosmetics, and the milky white sap was used in traditional medicine to treat fevers.

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are thought to represent the Star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to the infant Jesus. The red colored leaves are said to symbolize the blood of Christ, and the white leaves are considered a representation of his purity.
 
In more modern practices of herbalism, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has quite a few uses. Traditionally all parts of the plant are used. It is said to assist with the removal of warts, and used in the traditional treatment of skin wounds, ulcers, and skin diseases. Additionally, it is considered to assist with lactation (milk production) in new mothers. Some of its other properties include anti-inflammatory actions and as an external ease for bone breaks and contusions.

Please keep in mind that although it is beautiful, Poinsettia is considered a toxic botanical. Please do not self dose, consult an informed practitioner regarding use.

Much like the Christmas tree, the beautiful evergreen of the holly is shown as the representation of eternal life. Christians have adopted the holly as the physical representation of Christmas. The tradition of this goes further back than the Christmas tree itself as early Christians and Pagans alike would bring its evergreen colors into the house during this time of year.

The sharp leaves are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ, while the berries represent his blood.

In earlier traditions, and before it was associated with the more modern concepts of Christmas, holly was seen as a sacred plant of the Druids. While other plants wilted in the harsh grasp of winter, holly remained green and strong, and its branches bore bright red fruits even in the harshest of conditions. It is said that the Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life which plays very nicely into the ancient practices associated with the winter solstice, and the even older practices of Saturnalia when the god of agriculture was worshiped.

When we consider the medicinal values of Holly (Ilex aquifolium), its leaves were used as a traditional northern herbal remedy for the treatment of fevers, joint pains from rheumatism, swelling, water retention (edema), chest congestion, laxative, cardiovascular stimulant, and as a diuretic. The berries of the holly are toxic, and the leaves themselves are considered a toxic botanical as well. However, seeing the historical and traditional uses of some of our oldest winter symbols is always a treat.

Please keep in mind that although it is beautiful, Holly is considered a toxic botanical. Please do not self dose, consult an informed practitioner regarding use.

Kissing under sprigs of mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, but this little plant’s history as a symbolic herb dates back thousands of years. The Greeks were known to use it as a cure for everything from menstrual cramps to spleen disorders, and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted it could be used as a balm against epilepsy, ulcers and poisons. The plant’s romantic overtones most likely started with the Celtic Druids of the 1st century A.D. Because mistletoe could blossom even during the frozen winter, the Druids came to view it as a sacred symbol of vivacity, and they administered it to humans and animals alike in the hope of restoring fertility.

Another famous chapter in mistletoe folklore comes from Norse mythology. As the story goes, when the god Odin’s son Baldur was prophesied to die, his mother Frigg, the goddess of love, went to all the animals and plants of the natural world to secure an oath that they would not harm him. But Frigg neglected to consult with the unassuming mistletoe, so the scheming god Loki made an arrow from the plant and saw that it was used to kill the otherwise invincible Baldur. According to one sunnier version of the myth, the gods were able to resurrect Baldur from the dead. Delighted, Frigg then declared mistletoe a symbol of love and vowed to plant a kiss on all those who passed beneath it.

Like many of the evergreen plants, in modern Christmas tradition it is seen as the representation of eternal life. However, in modern herbalism there has been notice of its use in cardiovascular issues and cancer as it has powerful anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic qualities.

Please keep in mind that although it is beautiful, Mistletoe is considered a toxic botanical. Please do not self dose, consult an informed practitioner regarding use.

​I hope you have enjoyed this article and have found a bit more cheer on this special day.

In health, wellness, peace, and good tidings
Petra Sovcov - CHT

" Hawthorn, white and odorous with blossom, framing the quiet fields, and swaying flowers and grasses, and the hum of bees." - F. S. Flint

Hawthorn was one of the first herbs that I learned about when I was going to school at Dominion. I remember thinking nothing of it, save for the fact that I  loved how bright and vibrant the berry was, and enjoyed the fact that it was an herb that changed its useful parts with the season. In spring one uses the flowers and leaves, and in early fall one harvests the berries. 

It was not until my third year of schooling when I was doing my clinical hours with our clinic director that I had my first real introduction to this amazing ally. I recall that we had a pretty intensive cardiovascular day. We were covering examinations, pathologies, anatomy, and reviewing appropriate herbs, dose, and methods of effect in the body. During this time our clinic director started having benign heart palpitations which she asked us to listen to. I remember clearly hearing the difference between a regular beat and the slight pause in her rhythm as she allowed all of the students to listen. I also recall the knowing smile on her face as she said "Now, let me take a dose of hawthorn, lets wait a few minutes and we will listen again".  It was perhaps fifteen minutes later that she invited us to listen to her heart again. Sure enough, it was the steady glug-glug of a regular heart beat.

I understand that this is a singular case situation and that this herb is not appropriate in all cases or all individuals, and that results are not always the same. However, the experience of it really offered me perspective on the beautiful relationship between human health and plants. Since then, this has been my go to herb for so many issues related to general cardiovascular health, including using it on myself.

Now that we are in the season of a new kind of Christmas, I feel that hawthorn again is an excellent herb to be thinking of  this time of year. Due to struggles with COVID, the inability to see family members, or to share in our usual traditions, can leave some of us feeling sick in our hearts, or in some cases even heart broken. This is of course not the same as a physical issue, but the bright red of the hawthorn berry, and the memory of its soft blossoms in spring reminds me that change is coming.

With that in mind, I welcome you to explore this beautiful herbal ally and to enjoy this materia medica printable.

Wishing you the very best over the holidays,
-Petra

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is such a tremendously helpful ally. It is one that I've known of and have even added to certain lectures over the past couple years, I even have it in the herbal dispensatory at Healing House. However, its not one that I've used a lot until recently. Most of the end of July and the beginning of August have been all about feverfew! Cases have reflected migraine headaches, tension headaches, and inflammatory arthritis, all of which feverfew is considered an herbal specific.

Since it seems to be visiting my materia medica over and over this summer, I thought maybe you'd like to learn more about this beautiful little leaf and flower as well!

Below you will find a monograph explaining its history, uses, and even its contraindications.

I hope you enjoy!
​Petra - Clinical Herbalist

Indigenous to Asia minor and the greater part of Europe. Later naturalized on the east coast of the US in New England and New York – partial to salt marshes, damp meadows, by the sides of ditches, and by the sea and on the banks of tidal rivers.

The generic name Althea, is derived from the Greek, altho (to cure), from its healing properties. The name of the order, Malvaceae, is derived from the Greek malake (soft), from the special qualities of the Mallows in softening and healing.

Most of the Mallows have been used as food, and are mentioned by early classic writers. Mallow was a vegetable dish among the Romans and was considered a delicacy. In many other parts of the world it was used during times of famine.

Dioscorides extols it as a remedy, and in ancient days it was not only valued as a medicine, but was used, especially the Musk Mallow, to decorate the graves of friends.
Uses for Marshmallow have been documented for over 2,000 years.

Family: Malvaceae
 
Parts Used: Root (On a two to three year old plant) – Also the Leaves and occasionally the Flowers
Root is collected early in the spring or fall.
The leaves are picked in August, when the flowers are just coming into bloom. They should be stripped off singly and gathered only on a fine day, in the morning, after the dew has been dried off by the sun.
 
Other Common Names: Mallards, Mauls, Schloss Tea, Cheeses, Mortification Root, Guimauve tea, Malve, Malvavisco, Malvavisce, GulKhairu, K’uei, Sweet Weed, Wymote, Witte Malve
 
Misc:

• Planetary Alignment – Venus (Culpepper)
  
  

Actions:
Emollient
Protective
Nutritive
Demulcent
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-Irritant
Alterative
Antitussive
Vulnerary
Diuretic
Moistening
Soothing

• Marshmallow supplies an abundance of vegetable mucilage and easily assimilated calcium making it a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant for the gastro-intestinal tract.

​
​Chemical Constituents:
Starch
Mucilage
Pectin
Sugars
Asparagin
Flavonoids
Tannins
Scopoletin
Salt
Phenolic acids
Acidic polysaccharides

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

• Inflammation of the eyes (as a decoction/wash)
• Gargle for sore throat (as a strong decoction)
• Inflammation of the mouth or pharynx
• Softens, and breaks up hard tissues and old scars
• “A person wishing to clear his vision should look for dew on the mallow. He should smear his eyes and eyelids with this dew, which he will have found in the morning or at night, when the night is clear, pure, and calm. He should then sleep for a while.” – Hildegard von Bingen 12th century

 
Integumentary System (Skin):

• Bruises
• Sprains
• Inflammation (topical/poultice)
• Mortification (topical/poultice – mixed with slippery elm and applied hot/warm)
• Boils
• Abscesses
• Ulcers
• Old wounds
• Topically for blood poisoning or gangrene, or septic wounds
• Eczema (topical wash)
• Psoriasis (topical wash)
• Hoarseness
• Varicose ulcers
• Varicose veins
• Scalds
• Mature complexion
• Dry complexion
• Allergies
• Insect bites/Bee or Wasp sting (Bruised leaves topically over bite)
• Dandruff (As a rinse made with a heavy decoction of the root)

Mental Health:

• “If melancholy, brought forth by various fevers, makes a person’s brain ail, one should crush mallow and twice as much sage in a mortar, and sprinkle it with olive oil. He should put this on his head, from the forehead, over the top, and to the back of the head, and tie it with a cloth. Repeat for three days, and for these three days refresh it at night with additional oil, or vinegar” – Hildegard von Bingen 12th century

Nervous System:

• Nothing to Report

 
Respiratory System:

• Any irritation to the upper respiratory tract
• “Boiled in wine or milk, Marshmallow will relieve diseases of the chest, constituting a popular remedy for coughs, bronchitis, Whooping-cough, etc.” – Grieves
• Catarrh/Congestion of the respiratory organs
• Dry cough
• Triggering reflex mechanisms that travel through the spinal nerves, its demulcent action is valuable for all lung ailments, respiratory catarrh, and coughs.  – James Green, Herbalist
• Bronchitis (including chronic)
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Pneumonia

​Digestive System:

• Any irritation to the alimentary canal
• Dysentery (recommended to use the powdered root boiled in milk – traditional)
• Stomach ulcers
• Duodenal ulcers
• Peptic Ulcer
• Gastric Ulcer
• Hiatus hernia
• Slow digestion
• Diarrhea
• Crohn’s Disease
• Colitis
• Acidic stomach
• GERD
• Low digestive enzyme production (leaves) with gastric acidity (leaves and roots)
• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids (external)
• Colic pains
• Enteritis

​Urinary/Renal System:

• Any irritation to the urinary tract
• Painful complaints of the urinary organs
• Hemorrhage from the urinary organs
• Inflammation of the kidney’s and bladder
• Cystitis
• Kidney stones and gravel
• Painful, scanty urination
• Strangury
• Hematuria
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Renal (Kidney) irritation
• Strangury (pain in the urethra)

 
Endocrine System (Hormones):

• Nothing to Report

 
Cardiovascular System:

• High blood pressure with water retnetion

 
Circulatory System:

• Nothing to Report

 
Immune/Lymphatic System:

• Septic conditions of moderate severity

​
​Reproductive System:

• Gonorrhea
• The juice of the leaves drank in wine, or a decoction of root is said to help women to a speedy and easy delivery – Culpepper 1826

 
Musculoskeletal System:

• Any ache in the muscles or sinew
• Inflammation or irritation in the joints
• Arthritis
• Stiff/dry joints with cracking

​Specific Diseases/States/Infections/Viruses/Bacteria:

• Individuals who are dried out and over heated
• Individuals who are giving up smoking
• Helps regulate water and drive moisture into tissues
• Individuals going through Chemotherapy (drink as a cold extraction, up to ½ gallon daily)
• Thirst with copious urination or no thirst with systemic dryness

 
Combinations:

• Pectoral Tea: Mixture of thinly cut marshmallow root 8 parts, peeled licorice root 3 parts, orris root 1 part, colt’s foot leaves 4 parts, mullein flowers and star anise each 2 parts. – National Dispensatory 1879
• Pectoral Tea 2: Equal parts of the flowers of mallow, marshmallow, mouse-ear, colt’s foot, red poppy, violet, and mullein. Although composed of seven flowers, it is known in France as quatre-fleurs. – National Dispensatory 1879
• With Comfrey and American Cranesbill for peptic ulcers
• With White Horehound, Licorice Root, and Coltsfoot for pulmonary disease
• With White Horehound and/or Lobelia for coughs
• With parsley and hydrangea root as a tea for kidney stones and gravel
• With St. John’s Wort and Calendula as a poultice or salve for soothing and healing skin inflammation and ulcers.
• With Red Raspberry Leave as a soothing wash to soothe inflamed eyes.
• With slipper elm for burns, scalds, sunburn, and as an ointment
• With honey and garlic for sore throat or mouth sores

Max Daily Dose:

• 3 to 6ml of 1:5 Tincture (Root)
• 3 to 6ml of 1:2 Liquid Extract (Leaf)
  
  

Max Weekly Dose:

• 20 to 40ml of 1:5 Tincture (Root)
• 20 to 40ml of 1:2 Liquid Extract (Leaf)

Infusion:

• For an infusion of the leaf, pour boiling water onto 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried leaf and let infuse for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup, three times daily.          

Decoction:

• The decoction can be made by adding 5 pints of water to ¼ lb of dried root, boiling down to 3 pints and straining: it should not be made too thick and viscid.
• Cold Decoction: Half to 1 teaspoon shredded root or powder to each cup of cold water. Stand overnight. Dose, half to 1 cup. Also used externally as a douche for inflamed eyes.

            Tincture:

• 1:5 @ 25% Dose is 5 to 15ml
• 1:5 @ 25% 1 to 4ml three times daily

            Liquid/Fluid Extract:

• 1:1 @ 25%. Dose is 2 to 5ml

            Powder:

• Average dose, 2-5 grams dried root three times daily. For best results plant should not be boiled

Syrup:

• Syrup of Marshmallow is made by macerating on part of the cut root with twenty parts of cold distilled water for two hours, then straining through muslin without pressure, and dissolving in fifteen parts of the liquid twenty-four parts of sugar. It is of a yellowish color and has a mild agreeable odor. – The National Dispensatory 1879
• Syrup is the best form for young children and infants. – Grieves

 
Misc:

• Marshmallow Water (Grieves)
  Soak one ounces of marshmallow roots in a little cold water for half an hour; peel off the bark or skin, cut up the roots into small shavings, and put them into a jug to stand for a coupe of hours. The decoction must be drunk tepid and may be sweetened with honey or sugar-candy, and flavored with orange-flower water, or with orange-juice. Marshmallow water may be used with good effect in all cases of inveterate coughs and catarrhs.
• For Gravel (Grieves)
  Put the flower and plant (all but the root) of Marsh mallows in a jug, pour boiling water, cover with a cloth, let it stand three hours to make strong. If used for gravel or irritation of the kidney, take ½ pint as a tea daily for four days, then stop a few days, then go on again. A teaspoon of gin may be added when there is no tendency to inflammation.
• The leaves and/or root are used as a fomentation for treating all forms of swelling, pain, abscesses, and festering sores.
• Cosmetically: Can be applied in lotions and creams for blemishes or sore skin, and in bath or facial steams.
• The Root, boiled in a broth with parsley or fennel roots, do help to open the body, and are very convenient in hot agues, or other distempers of the body – Culpepper 1826
• Apply the boiled leaves warm to the belly. Easeth the pains and torments of the belly coming thereby, and are therefore used in all clysters conducing to those purposes – Culpepper 1826
• The decoction of the seed of any of the common mallows made in milk or wine, doth marvellously help excoriation, the phthisic, pleurisy, and other diseases of the chest and lungs, that proceed of hot causes, if it be continued taking for some time together – Culpepper 1826

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

• Irritation of the larynx
• Hoarseness
• Headache (especially if due to gastric issues)
• Catarrhal

 
Integumentary System (Skin):

• Equalizes circulation by opening up surface capillaries and promoting free blood flow.
• Sedative or relaxing diaphoretic that opens the pores of the pleura and the skin to decongest water and heat.
• Regulates pores of the skin via the autonomic nervous system
• “ Pleurisy root, as a gestalt, tends to stimulate skin and mucosal circulation, sebaceous secretions, and sweat; therefore it can be used with great success in tonic formulas for both dry skin and hair, frequent nighttime urination, and generally poor adaptability to changes in heat and humidity” – Michael Moore, MH
• Skin disorders when the skin is dry and scaly
• Bruises, sores, and wounds (Topically – traditional Indigenous use)
• Dry skin conditions
• Eczema
  
  
• Mental Health:
• Nervous irritability
  
  
• Nervous System:
• Stimulant to the autonomic nervous system.
• Neuralgia with suppressed secretions and pain in the ribs
• General neuralgia
  
  ​Respiratory System:
• Pleurisy (inflammation of the tissue layers lining the lungs and inner chest wall).
• Painful respiration, especially at the base of the lungs.
• Pneumonia (also in the early stages and with children)
• Bronchitis
• Dry Cough
• Cough
• Flu
• Common Cold (particularly in children)
• Inflammation of the lungs
• Mucous/catarrhal affections
• All bronchial congestions
• It is par excellent the child’s remedy in chest affections.
• Asthma with dryness, difficulty breathing and sense of constriction
• Promotes expectoration and reduces inflammation
• Painful breathing
• Any disorders of the respiratory tract
• Tuberculosis
• Relieves respiratory pain and eases breathing

​Digestive/Gastrointestinal System:

• Colic
• Digestive disturbances
• Dyspepsia
• Mucous build up in the GIT
• Gastritis
• Flatulent colic

 
 
Excretory System:

• Dysentery
• Diarrhea

Cardiovascular System:

• Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium; the fibrous sac surrounding the heart)
• To slow a rapid pulse
• Pulmonary congestion

 
Immune/Lymphatic System:

• High “burning” fever
• General fever

 
Reproductive System:

• Uterine conditions and disorders (not typical)

 
Musculoskeletal System:

• Acute Rheumatism
• Sharp pain that may be made worse with movement (stitch in the side)
• Gout
• Acute Bursitis
• Arthritic and rheumatic conditions

Specific Diseases/States/Infections/Viruses/Bacteria:

• Moistens internal membranes
• Decongests internal fluids that have become stuck or stagnant
• Exanthematous diseases like rubella and measles

 
Combinations:

• It is often combined with Angelica and Sassafras for producing perspiration in fever and pleurisy and for equalizing the circulation of the blood.

The name Ashwaganda comes from the Sanskrit “ashva” meaning horse, and “gandha”, meaning smell, and refers to the odor of the root.

It is an herb traditional to Ayurvedic medicine and has been used for over 4,000 years. It is specific for both men and women in regard to issues with fertility, stress, and general chronic disorders of the nervous system.
​
It is classified in Ayurveda as a rasayana, one of a group of elite herbal medicines reputed to promote physical and mental health, to augment resistance of the body against disease and diverse adverse environmental factors, to revitalize and increase longevity.

As with any form of herbal medicine, the below information is not meant to replace medical advice or prescriptions from your MD. All information below is based off of Materia Medica texts and comes from published and historical sources.
​

Family: Solanaceae
 
Parts Used: Dried Root and Leaves (for Withaferin A in cancer therapies)
 
Other Common Names: Indian Ginseng, Winter Cherry, Avarada, Turangi-gandha

​Actions:
General Tonic
Rejuvenating                    
Aphrodesiac                      
Astringent                          
Sedative                             
Adaptogenic
Anti-Inflammatory                                         
Immune Modulating      
Anti-Anemic                      
Anti-Depressant
Anxiolytic, possibly due to GABA-mimetic activity
Antioxidant
Nervous System Tonic
Anti-Stress
Anti-Tumor
Oxytocic
Hemopoietic
Cardiopulmonary action
Tonic to the Central Nervous System
Cardiotropic
Cardioprotective
Anticoagulant
 
Chemical Constituents:
Steroidal lactones

• Withanolides A-Y
• Withaferin A
• Withasomniferols A-C

Phytosterols

• Sitoindosides

Alkaloids

• Ashwagandhine
• Ashwagandhinine
• Anahyhyrine
• Cuscohygrine
• Withasomnine
• Withaninine
• Somniferine

Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Throat:

• Headache (Traditional)
• Reduces greying of the hair

 
Integumentary System (Skin):

• Psoriasis
• Vitiligo (a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches, often with no clear cause.)
• Topically for swellings
• Topically for Burns
• Topically for Wounds
• Topically for Stings
• Premature aging

 
Mind/Mental Health:

• Cerebral function deficits in the elderly
• Enhance learning
• Memory Retention
• Anti-stress
• Improves strength of mind
• Neurasthenia (an ill-defined medical condition characterized by lassitude, fatigue, headache, and irritability, associated chiefly with emotional disturbance)
• Senile dementia
• Anti-depressant
• Improves mental clarity
• Exhaustion
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Anxiety/Over stimulated

 
Nervous System:

• Affinity to the nervous system
• Insomnia
• Nerve pain/Neuralgias
• Nervine tonic
• Convulsions (Traditional)
• Helps regulate and restore the nervous system in its entirety
• Epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis

 
Respiratory System:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Colds
• Helps to clear mucous

 
Digestive System:

• Helps stimulate proper digestion
• Protects the liver against histopathological change after exposure to a variety of toxins
• Protects against hepatic lipid peroxidation (where free radicals “steal” electrons from the lipids in liver cell membranes, resulting in cell damage)
• Reduces iron-induced liver toxicity

 
Urinary/Renal System:

• Protects the kidneys against histopathological change after exposure to a variety of toxins
• Protects the bladder from effects of Cytoxin during chemotherapy

 
Endocrine System (Hormones):

• Helps balance serum testosterone levels in men
• Type II Diabetes
• Raises metabolic function and metabolic actions

 
Cardiovascular System:

• Increases hemoglobin and red blood count in healthy adults (elderly males)
• Increases hemoglobin and blood serum iron in children
• Improves stamina in athletes
• Increases neutrophil counts
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Significantly reduces myocardial injury after heart attack
• Cardioprotective against chemotherapy

 
Circulatory System:

• High cholesterol
• Anemia
• For depressed white blood cell count
• Improves overall circulation

 
Immune/Lymphatic System:

• Immune activator
• Enhances immune function
• Providing fresh energy and vigor for a system worn out by any chronic disease
• To help diminish side effects of radiation treatment in cancer patients
• Tonic for emaciation and debility
• Auto-Immune conditions
• For Cancer Patients during and after chemotherapy
• Protects bone marrow during chemotherapy and with certain anti-cancer drugs
• Inhibits Androgen-negative prostate cancer – In its initial stages of growth, prostate cancer is androgen-sensitive, and because of this it is treated with androgen-suppressive drug therapies or castration. Almost all prostate cancer patients initially respond to hormonal therapy, but the majority gradually develop resistance and move to an androgen-negative prostate cancer, which is much more aggressive and difficult to treat.
• Breast Cancer Inhibition – Withaferin A (a chemical constituent in the plant) can trigger apoptosis and largely inhibit cell migration/invasion by breast cancer cells, even after IL-6-induced activation of signal tranducer and activator of transctiption 3 (STAT3), which plays a key role in many cellular processes, such as cell growth and apoptosis, and is a fundamental activator for the conversion of normal cells to cancerous cells. This gives us cause to view this agent as a therapeutic advantage.
• Immune enhancing against colon cancer
• Prophylactic against cancer (the leaves, being richer in withaferin A, are a better prospect for cancer therapies)

 
Reproductive System:

• Exceptionally efficient herb for treating male impotence and male infertility
• Alleviating to male sexual inadequacy
• As a nutrient and tonic for pregnant women (after 1st trimester)
• To promote lactation (Traditional)
• Improves sperm count and sperm motility
• Enhances fertility in both men and women
• Promotes conception
• For labor (may improve contractions)

 
Musculoskeletal System:

• Affinity with the Musculo-skeletal system
• Countering poor growth in children
• Promotes growth in healthy children
• Strengthening in children
• Joint pain
• Weakness in the knees
• Weakness in the back
• Arthritis
• Rheumatic pains
• Lower back pain
• Helps prevent bone degeneration
• Osteoporosis

 
Specific Diseases/States/Infections/Viruses/Bacteria:

• Convalescence
• Diseases of aging
• General conditions associated with aging
• Wasting diseases
• Wasting in children
• Adjunct therapy for non-insulin dependent diabetes
• Adjunct therapy for high cholesterol
• General tonic for disease prevention
• Fungal infections
• Root extract was found to be effective against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that milk fortified with ashwaganda (2g/d of herb for 60 days) significantly increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin and serum albumin and tended to increase blood hemoglobin, serum iron, body weight, and strength of grip in children aged 8 to 12 years. The placebo group did not show any significant change or tendency to change.

 

• When tested on 101 healthy male patients aged 50 to 59 years, ashwaganda (3g/day for 1 year) significantly improved hemoglobin, red blood cell counted, seated stature, and hair melanin content. Ashwaganda also caused a decrease in serum cholesterol and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and countered decreased nail calcium. The trial was of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. About 71% of volunteers receiving ashwaganda reported improved sexual performance.

 

• In an uncontrolled trial, ashwaganda (1g/day for 29 days) improved sleep patterns, responsiveness, alertness, state of awareness, and physical capabilities in trainee mountaineers over a 29-day trek, which included over a 5200m (over 17,000 feet) altitude gain.

 

• Ashwaganda (3g/day for 30 days) decreased blood sugar levels from baseline in six patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The hypoglycemic effect was similar to that obtained in the control group treated with glibenclamide.

 

• In a group of six patients with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), ashwaganda significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol compared with baseline values. Lipid profiles remained largely unchanged in the untreated control group. The mean calorie and fat intakes of the treatment groups were higher than those of the control groups.

 

• Ashwaganda (4 to 9 g/day) was beneficial for patients with acute rheumatoid arthritis (and some cases of nonarticular rheumatism and chronic rheumatoid arthritis with acute exacerbations) in an uncontrolled trial conducted in the late 1960s.

 

• Has shown considerable anti-stress and adaptogenic effects. In a three month clinical trial, 75 normal healthy fertile men (control subjects) were compared with 75 men undergoing infertility screening who received 5g powdered root per day. Results showed that ashwaganda inhibited lipid peroxidation and improved sperm count and motility. Treatment also significantly increased serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone and reduced levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin – all beneficial effects in infertile men.

​I hope you've enjoyed this article on the many uses of this incredibly ancient and reliable herbal ally. If you have any questions about this herb or its uses, or would like to contact me about other related herb/health concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email by clicking here.

In health and wellness,
- Petra