Spinning Moon Apothecary

Winter Hours start October 1st. Ashwaganda is being featured in September – October.

Withania somnifera – Ashwagandha is an herb well known for reducing the effects of stress. Ashwagandha has a long history of use, particularly in Ayurveda, the over 5000 year old medicine system of India. In Sanskrit, the name means “like a horse” and refers to the herb’s scent. I haven’t been around many horses to know how true this is but to me Ashwagandha smells slightly sweet and nutty, kind of reminding me of peanut butter…

Ashwagandha is available in many forms. The dried root is used in making tea and can be tinctured as well. It is widely available in pill form and can also be found as a powder. Ashwagandha powder is one of my favorite forms of the herb. I put it in smoothies, mix it into my coffee and add it to baked goods.

Ashwagandha should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding or if one has thyroid or autoimmune issues. Care should be taken if one is diabetic because of Ashwanganda’s ability to influence blood sugar levels.

~ info. from Leah , in Sept. e-newsletter.