Ashwagandha with different co-drinks

The Ayurveda Experience May 04, 2021

Ashwagandha – Withania somniferais a versatile Ayurvedic herb. It is used to help cure a wide variety of diseases such as depression, leukoderma, inflammation, sexual disorders, hypothyroidism, etc. To extract maximum benefits and to target specific diseases, Ashwagandha is administered along with different liquids.

The choice of the liquid largely depends on the disease. Since it is a versatile herb, the choices for a co-drink are plenty. Ashwagandha can be combined with a variety of herbal teas, fruit juices, decoctions, etc.

Milk, water, sugarcane juice, yogurt, honey, and ghee are a few co-drinks consumed along with Ashwagandha.

With ghee:

Ashwagandha is administered along with ghee, in cases of low body weight, anxiety, depression, and weak digestion. In patients suffering with high stomach sensitivity, ghee is ideal because, ghee helps to reduce the burning sensation and bloating in stomach.

If you are taking Ashwagandha tablet or capsule, then you are advised to swallow a teaspoon of ghee along with half a cup of lukewarm water. The ghee and the water is administered after the tablet / capsule is administered.

If Ashwagandha powder is to be administered, then Ashwagandha powder is mixed with ghee, made into a paste and then, it is advised for swallowing along with a cup of lukewarm water.

With sesame oil:

Ashwagandha is advised along with sesame oil in cases of Vata Dosha aggravated neurological disorders such as paralysis, muscle wasting, trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy.
A teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder is made into a paste by mixing it with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. It is swallowed with a cup of lukewarm water. Usually this remedy is administered after food.
If you are taking Ashwagandha tablet or capsule, then swallowing a teaspoon of sesame oil is advised along with half a cup of lukewarm water.

In both the above examples, notice that lukewarm water is administered along with ghee or oil. This is to help with easy digestion. As per Ayurveda, ghee or oil should not be administered along with cold water as it may weaken the digestion strength.

With honey:

Honey naturally carries hot qualities, just like Ashwagandha. This combination is advised in the case of high Kapha disorders such as hypothyroidism, obesity, water retention in the body etc.
Mix ashwagandha powder with honey, make a paste and swallow it with a cup of cold water. Always remember to use cold water while using honey.

With cow milk:

Ashwagandha with cow milk is suitable for people with high Pitta. Because Ashwagandha is hot in nature, it can increase Pitta Dosha. The hotness of Ashwagandha can be countered by the coldness of cow milk. Even in children, milk is a suitable co-drink for Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha powder can be administered along with cow milk or Ashwagandha powder is boiled with water and cow milk to prepare an herbal milk remedy, called Ashwagandha Ksheerapaka.
Here, 1 teaspoon of Ashwagandha is mixed with quarter a cup of milk and 2 cups of water. It is boiled till quarter a cup of milk remains. It is filtered and administered to children to improve immunity and muscle strength.

With yogurt:

The yogurt should not be very sour. If it is very sour, it can increase Pitta – heat in the body. Keep in mind that Ashwagandha is also slightly heat producing. Hence, take this precaution.

Ideal co-drinks with Ashwagandha for specific disorders:

Weakness, lack of strength – milk, ghee and other Ayurvedic tonics such as Balarishta, Ashwagandharishta etc. are administered as co-drink.
Sexual disorders such as premature ejaculation – Ghee or milk.
For rejuvenation and anti-aging benefits – Ashwagandha is advised with other anti aging remedies such as Chyawanprash, Amla juice etc. Here, honey mixed with ghee is a famous co-drink to enhance anti-aging effects of Ashwagandha.
For cold and cough – Ginger juice, lemon juice mixed with spices such as cardamom are administered along with Ashwagandha.
Neurological and neuro-muscular disorders like paralysis – with sesame oil
Constipation – Ashwagandha is administered with a teaspoon of castor oil.
For diabetes – Ashwagandha is made into a combination with other Ayurvedic diabetes medicines such as Amla juice, Karela juice, Kataka Khadiradi Kashayam etc.

Many modern anti-diabetic herbal teas such as green tea, turmeric tea, hibiscus tea, cinnamon tea, lemon balm tea, chamomile tea and black tea can also be administered along with Ashwagandha.

For quick wound healing – Ashwagandha is advised along with a decoction / herbal tea prepared with neem and turmeric.
To bring down inflammation – Ashwagandha is administered with decoction / herbal tea prepared with Dashamoola – a group of 10 anti-inflammatory herbs.
To relieve skin diseases associated with itching: Ashwagandha is given with an herbal tea prepared with ginger, aloe vera, lemon and curry leaves.
For leukoderma, Ashwagandha is administered along with Ayaksriti, a fermented liquid Ayurvedic formulation.
For asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, Ashwagandha is administered along with a fermented preparation called Kanakasava.
For hypertension – Ashwagandha helps in reducing blood pressure when administered along with green tea, oolong tea, hibiscus tea etc.
To relieve painful periods, it is administered along with aloe vera juice.
Difficulty in urination: Ashwagandha is a very good diuretic and is useful to improve volume of urine. For this, it is administered along with herbal tea prepared from Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) and Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa).
For hyperthyroidism - It is not directly indicated in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. But, it is useful in treating below symptoms which are associated with hyperthyroidism.

Nervousness, irritability.
Fatigue, muscle weakness.
Frequent bowel movements.
Difficulty sleeping.

To relieve the above symptoms, Ashwagandha is advised along with Hamsapadi kashayam or herbal tea prepared with brahmi (Bacopa monneiri) and Shankhapushpi.

To improve muscle strength: Ashwagandha is explained in Ayurveda as – Kshayahara. That is, it is useful in treating muscle wasting, emaciation, post tubercular treatment to improve muscle mass and strength. For body builders and gym goers, Ashwagandha can be a very good herb.
It reduces the muscle inflammation, accelerates the healing process during muscle injury, and relieves tiredness and fatigue quickly. It is also useful in weight loss. To reap these benefits, 1 gram of Ashwagandha can be added directly to the protein shake.
To relieve stress: Ashwagandha is known to decrease cortisol levels. High cortisol levels are observed during stress. To relieve stress, Ashwagandha can be administered along with Valerian tea, kava, lavender, chamomile or passion flower teas.