Ashwagandha is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a powder, decoction, medicated wine, mixed with clarified butter, combined with honey or sugar syrup or as a medicated oil. The most common form is as an alcoholic extract or capsules, of the powdered root.

Known as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha Root is traditionally used for stress relief and exhaustion and to improve endurance.

It is adaptogenic, mildly sedative, and rejuvenative.

It is excellent for coughs, infertility, impotence, insomnia, nervous tension, rheumatism, and stress. Its reputation is that of an herb that inhibits aging and nutures mental clarity.

This herb's usage is ancient in India. It is used externally for tumors, inflammation, arthritis, and a wide range of skin and infectious diseases, and internally as a pain killing tea. The shoots and seeds are also used as food and to thicken milk.

Traditonally taken by women as pre-birth preparation, Ashwagandha has been shown to regenerate hormones and stabilize.

In a recent study, this herb was given to 30 mental patients suffering from anxiety neurosis in doses of 40 ml/day for one month. At the end of the month, most of the anxiety disorders, panic attacks and similar mood phobias, had disappeared. In trials by American psychiatrists, this herb had been found useful for the treatment of manic depression, alcoholic paranoia, and schizophrenia.

http://www.ayurvedainfo.com/Ashwag.html:

Ashwagandha is an adpatogenic herb that supports the body's nervous system and tissues. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is a nerve relaxant. - John Douillard, Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Ashwagandha improves energy, increases body weight, strengthens the immune system. It also improves sexual vitality....calms anxiety and promotes ... sleep. - David Frawley in Let's Live Magazine, August 1997.

Singh et al (1977) clinically tried Ashwagandha in a series of patients of anxiety neurosis. The aim of the clinical trial was to evaluate the beneficial effects including pyschotropic behavious of this (herb). This (herb) showed a clinical relief in ...anxiety neurosis. A reduction in plasma cort. sol (sic) and urinary catecholamines incates control effects of this (herb). Shukla (1988) also evalauted the anti-axiety efficacy of this (herb). - Asthana & Raina, Indian Drugs:26(5), Review Article.

Clinical Research:
(Partial listing)
1. Bhattacharya, S et. al. (1997); Antistress activities of...from Withania somnifera; Phytotherapy Research; 1:1, 32-37.
2. Bhattacharya, S Bhattacharya, D (1997); Adaptogenic Activity of Withania somnifera; Study on file with Dabur Research Foundation.
3. Ghosal, S et. al. (1989); Immunomodulatory and CNS effects of... from Withania somnifera; Phytotherapy Research 3:5, 201-206.
4. Grandhi, A, Majumdar, A, Patwardhan, B; (1994); A comparative pharmacological investigation of Ashwagandha and Ginseng. Journal of Ethnopharmocology, 44,131-135.
5. Bhattacharya, S, Kumar, A, Ghosal, S, (1995); Effects of Glycowithanolides from Withania somnifera on an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease...; 9,110-113.