ASHWAGANDHA - The stress no more plant medicine!

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian Ginseng is a small woody shrub growing to about 60cm in height. The seeds, leaves and bark are medicinal but most commonly the root is used! It is primarily an Adaptogen, meaning it helps reduce stress. Most other ginsengs such as Panax and Siberian Ginseng are also Adaptogens but tend to be far more stimulating than Ashwagandha, Panax the most stimulating, some people even abuse it for its stimulation and tend to get addicted to the pumped up feeling it provides, that is what is so nice about Ashwagandha, its actually a sedative, so it has all the same adaptogenic effects but without the stimulation and is actually known to help improve sleeping patterns and boost general vitality.

The thing with adaptogenic herbs is though, that they are not the cure to your stressors, they just help you gain the focus and clarity though the stress, so that you decipher and solve the root cause of your stressors, if it is used as a constant stress reliever, it will all catch up with you eventually, do not try and find shortcuts around to your issues, but rather solve them, your body and mind will thank you greatly!

People also use this herb as an aid to focus, improve memory and for its anti-inflammatory and spasmodic benefits is often used to relieve aches and pains in the muscles!

Can be taken in a tincture 1:1, 10-60 drops, 3-4 times a day in a little water or 1 TBSP of the dried root powder in a cup of boiling water, 3 times a day.

Avoid if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.

Grow Ginseng in a sheltered, sunny spot with well-drained soil, seeds germinate in 21degrees and usually take a couple of weeks to sprout. Fruits around 150-180days old, traditionally you harvest the roots once the fruit has matured as to collect seeds and for optimal potency. Rise and dehydrate the root and enjoy the power of home-grown Ginseng! PS: they don't like frost, and you may need to harvest before first frost if you live in a colder climate.