Withania somnifera, most commonly called Ashwagandha, is a small perennial shrub. Its roots are harvested in winter often from poor and disturbed soils extending from parts of the Middle East, through India into western China and south into parts of Africa. Ashwagandha belongs to the Solanaceae or Nightshade family, along with other medicinal plants like Goji berry and Datura, and common foods like tomatoes and potatoes. It is dynamic plant that is classified as a ‘rasayana’ in Ayurvedic medicine, or a rejuvenating tonic. The modern term to describe Ashwagandha would be ‘adaptogen’. Ashwagandha has a long and varied history of use.

The use of Ashwagandha root has been documented in various traditional Ayurvedic texts, the oldest being the Kasyapa-Samhita from 600 A.D. The common and Latin names of the plant also point towards the common uses of the plant. In Latin, ‘somnium’ means to dream, and ‘fer’ means to carry. The species name ‘somnifera’ roughly translates to ‘dream carrier’, a reference to its use in support restful sleep. The common name, Ashwagandha, has a multitude of translations, all alluding to the vitality of a horse. In addition to supporting sleep, Ashwagandha is commonly used to support daytime energy and stress.