This perennial is a short, erect shrub that grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m).^3,4 Its leaves are oval shaped, simple, and covered in velvety hairs along the leaves and stems.^4,6 Its grouped cyme flowers are green to white to vivid yellow and radially symmetric.^3,4,5 The herb’s round berry is orange to red in color.⁴ The plant’s sepals create a membranaceous brown sheath that encloses the berry.^4,5 The seeds of the berry are kidney-shaped and yellow.⁶ Its root is a fleshy main taproot that is white to somewhat yellow-brown in color.^2,4,5

Ashwagandha is indigenous to India, as well as additional Asian countries and parts of Africa but has naturalized to southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.^3,4,6 The herb is cultivated in India and all around the world as a crop plant.³

Ashwagandha prefers temperate and arid climates, sandy, loamy soils and flowers throughout the year.^2,5 In spring, the herb can be propagated by seed or cutting.⁴ The taproot is harvested in the fall of its first year of growth. ^4,5

Although Sunder Herbs Enterprise Ltd. Şti offers Ashwagandha in Traditional Western form, this is one of the most well-known herbs used in traditional Ayurveda or Indian Herbalism.³ Its use was first recorded by the Ayurvedic scholar, Punarvasu Atreya, some 3000 to 4000 years ago.⁶ The Sanskrit name Ashwagandha translates to “horse smell”, which comes from the potent scent of the root that is said to be similar to a horse’s skin or excretions.⁵ The root was also used as a tonic and other uses traditionally in Unani herbalism in the Middle East, as well as the Sotho in South Africa.⁵