Ashwagandha Root, Seeds and Extract as Aphrodisiacs for Men

Every culture in every part of the world believes that certain substances can directly or indirectly work to heighten sexual desire. Such substances are known as aphrodisiacs after ‘Aphrodite’, the Greek goddess of supreme beauty and sexual attractiveness. One such substance reputed to have aphrodisiacal properties is the herb called ‘ashwagandha’.

About Ashwagandha

Also known as Indian winter cherry or the Indian ginseng, ashwangandha is a shrub whose scientific name is Withania somnifera. The plant belongs to the Solanacaea or nightshade family and is widely found in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The shrub grows to a height of 170 cm and bears small yellow fruits as well as red, berry-like fruits.

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Ashwagandha as an aphrodisiac

The reputation of ashwagandha as an aphrodisiac may lie in the fact that the plant works in various ways to improve the overall physical and mental well-being among humans. And when various physiological as well as mental functions of the body are working well and in harmony with each other, the individual is sure to be open to pleasurable sexual experiences. The plant Ashwagandha is considered to be an “adaptogen” or a supplement which helps the body to adapt to stress by building immunity and promoting overall physical well-being. The shrub’s reputation as an adaptogen may be due to the fact that it contains a number of potent alkaloids like withamosine, visamine, cuscohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, anaferine, isopelletierine, and withaferin A, which either working separately or in synergy, may be useful in acting as an overall healing and rejuvenating agent. According to some researchers these components of ashwagandha affect the HPA axis of the brain as well as the neuro-endocrine system thus inducing a state of harmony among various physiological functions.

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Among people who are unable to enjoy sexual pleasure on account of fatigue and nervous exhaustion, ashwagandha works well to induce a state of calm and restfulness. The use of this herb is helpful in reducing mental chatter and promoting a relaxed frame of mind which is why perhaps it was given the name of somnifera which means, “sleep-inducing”. At first this aspect of the herb may seem to contradict its reputation as an aphrodisiac but considering that stress and anxiety are responsible for many cases of low libido, the use of ashwagandha may thus pave the way for greater sexual pleasure.

In Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicinal system, ashwagandha is considered a powerful “rasayana” herb that works in a non-specific way to improve vitality and increase longevity. In this aspect, its function is similar to an adaptogen in modern medicine. the use of ashwagandha has been found to help in regeneration of tissues and thus helpful in the treatment of amnesia, slowing down the aging process or adapt to intense physical or mental exertion.

However one of the best known uses of ashwagandha in Ayurvedic medicine has been as an aphrodisiac. for over three thousand years, the herb has been used to treat low libido among men as well as increase sexual stamina. The meaning of its name in Sanskrit refers to “the smell of the horse”, probably originating from the odor of its root which resembles that of a sweaty horse but also perhaps including some phallic connotations. In the ancient Indian sexual treatise Kamasutra, the herb ashwagandha is mentioned as a way of enhancing sexual pleasure. In some instances it is also recommended to treat cases of premature ejaculation. Although traditional claims in this area have not been confirmed by scientific researches, it is thought that the active ingredients of ashwagandha like the alkaloids and withanaloids possess sexually stimulating as well as stamina inducing properties. More than that, recent laboratory studies have shown that ashwagandha can help in the production of nitric oxide which in turn may help in the dilation of blood vessels and thus improve functioning of the male sexual organs.

How to use the herb Ashwagandha

When being used as an aphrodisiac, it is the root of the herb that is processed and ingested to obtain maximum benefits. The ashwagandha root may be boiled and used as a liquid herbal concoction or its extracts may be taken in the form of capsules. The latter method is more popular because of the ease of administration and also because it is easier to keep track of the dosage. Among other ways of taking the herb is to dry the ashwangandha roots, powder them and then add while in regular preparation of food. Sometimes the fresh roots may also be boiled in milk in order to leach out the undesirable ingredients. The usual dosage in capsule form is 500 mg of Ashwagandha root per capsule.

Does Ashwagandha have any side-effects?

There have no reports of significant negative side effects from use of Ashwagandha even though Ayurvedic practitioners recommend that like any other herb, one take suitable breaks when using the herb over a long period of time. For instance one can take a week off every month or use it three to four times a week. Some herbalists also suggest that ashwagandha be used with other herbs like liquorice in order to cancel out possible heating effects which may affect the heart. Studies on the impact of long term use of the herb are still inadequate and so it is better to follow precautions when taking ashwangandha over an extended period of time.

Ultimately it is the overall benefit that the body acquires from regular use of ashwagandha that best works to enhance sexual experience. While the direct impact of the herb on the sex organs is yet to be scientifically proven, there have been several studies which show that the use of the herb works to enhance mood, improve general immunity of the body and help it to recover from stress-inducing factors. Ashwangandha is not only useful for enhancing vitality of the body but also for bringing about better co-ordination between the functions of the mind and body, which is crucial to any enjoyable sexual experience.