Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera) Info
Because it is
warming and has particular
effectiveness on male potency, this magick herb is of Mars.
A member
of the hot pepper family (Solanaceae), this west Indian shrub
is used in Ayurvedic medicine as balancing, especially to the
nervous system. Consuming the ground roots is said to create feelings
of warmth and energy without nervousness. Some people smoke the leaves
to relax. This herb also works
against impotence and infertility due to the withanolides, or
plant steroids, it contains. It is often combined with Mucuna
pruriens
in
Ayurvedic medicine to treat problems with male fertility.
How
to grow Ashwagandha: Lightly
press tiny seeds into moist Jiffy pellets or planting medium. Keep
moist but not sopping wet. Bottom watering helps. It
germinates within 2 weeks at 70F. This is a tender perennial,
which means that it needs a hot climate, such as south Florida, to be a
perennial; elsewhere, grow it as an annual. It likes full sun
and sandy soil, and can grow into a 3-foot bush. Harvest the root in
the fall after the first frost. General
growing info
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