Ashwagandha is a rasayana. Rasayana is a prabhava (special property) that some herbs or herbal formulations naturally possess. In the ancient Ayurvedic text, Charak Samhita, rasayana is defined like this: yad jarabhyadi nashanam tad rasayanam (that which slows aging and removes imbalances is called rasayana).

How does ashwagandha achieve the status of rasayana? It does so by helping the body and the mind to deal with stress. Modern science has identified stress as one of the leading causes of health problems, and it makes intuitive sense. Most of us experience that the demands of life continue to increase with each passing year. If we are unable to cope with these increased demands then we begin to accumulate stress and fatigue, which adversely affect health.

Ashwagandha has a special property called balya prabhava, that gives an ever increasing ability to the body and mind to deal with stress. For this reason it is classified in modern herbology as an adaptogenic (it helps you deal with stress).

Learn eight prabhavas (special qualities) of ashwagandha in Vaidya Mishra's 32 minute audio lecture: Ashwagandha - Learn About a Great Herb for Stamina, available for instant download for $0.99.  In this lecture you will also learn other important names and physical properties of this famous Ayurvedic herb straight from the Sanskrit verses.

In Ayurveda, ashwagandha is not recommended for people with a pitta physiology, or with lots of amavisha (acidic, reactive toxins) in the body. The reason is that ashwagandha has both an ushna guna (warming physical effect) and ushna virya (deeply heating quantum property, or potency).

Ironically, high pitta people are often drawn to herbs like ashwagandha because they constantly put more and more stress on themselves. For driven people, ashwagandha may not be the herb of choice, when compared to herbs, foods and lifestyle choices that give more soma (are more cooling and nurturing to the body). However, there are times when people with a pitta constitution need the adaptogenic effect of ashwagandha.

One of Vaidya Mishra's alternative delivery systems, transdermal creams, allows the prabhavas (special and more subtle qualities of the herbs) to be delivered safely to the system without the herb's gross, physical properties.

Vaidya Mishra's Ashwagandha Transdermal Cream delivers the balya prabhava (strengthening quality) of ashwagandha without the ushna guna (heating quality). Gunas are both physical properties. Since the transdermal cream does not contain the physical herb, just its essence, in a cooling, nurturing base of organic shea butter, you get the benefit of ashwagandha without the heating effect. This is the perfect delivery system for ashwagandha in the pitta physiology.

Ingredients

“Total Ashwagandha” (Vaidya Mishra’s proprietary blend), with Grapefruit, Ylang-ylang and Sweet Orange in a base of organic Shea Butter with Vegetable Glycerine, Bee’s wax and Jojoba oil

Container Size

Choose between 4 oz. and 2 oz.

Directions

Take a small amount of the cream on the end of a small spoon (try to avoid putting your fingers in the container).  With the ring finger, place a small amount on the pulses (wrists), lower spine and the ansa marma points (top of the shoulders where stress commonly creates a lump).  Rub gently in a clockwise circle over each marma point several times and then hold gently with the finger tip. 

Leave the cream on the skin for at least a half hour or for many hours of steady transdermal absorption.  Rub into the skin when done.

Use under the guidance of a Shaka Vansya Ayurveda practitioner.  As with all herbs, please consult your physician before using.

Cream may cause oil spots on clothing.

Ashwagandha In Our Other Products

Ashwagandha Herbal Soap

• Get transdermal absorption of ashwagandha while you bathe.
• Only the prabhavas (special qualities) of ashwagandha are delivered, the ushna (heating) quality is not there.
• This is one of our most delicious smelling soaps (the whole bathroom is filled with its aroma).
• Start your day with extra herbal support for mental and physical stamina.

Ashwagandha Herbal Memory Nectar

• Gives just the prabhavas (special qualities) and sukshma bhag (subtle essence) of ashwagandha without its physical (heating) properties.
• Provides a very gentle delivery of this powerful herb.
• Is suspended in the nectar of sweet squashes to balance the warming effect of ashwagandha.
• Should be added to 1 to 2 liters of cool water and sipped throughout the day, also minimizing the ushna (heating) quality of the herb.
• Does not have to go through the digestive, metabolic or liver system which could corrupt the herb's intelligence.
• Is ready to be absorbed and used by the brain and body to help improve stamina against stress.

Total Ashwagandha Tablets

• Very high quality herbal supplement
• Good for kapha and vata people, that don't need to worry about the ushna guna (heating quality).
• Gives the physical properties of the herb, which are sometimes necessary.

Ashwagandha Plus Tablets

• Very high quality herbal supplement
• Contains DGL (de-glycerized licorice).
• Ok for pitta people, who need the warming quality of ashwagandha to be balanced by the cooling quality of DGL.
• Gives the physical properties of the herb, which are sometimes necessary.

Disclaimer

This product and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. All of the information above is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or compliment medical advice.