Ayurvedic Herbs for Energy & Stamina

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal · Ashvagandha, Vajikari, Balada, Kushtagandhi, Varahakarni · Part used: Root (primary — all major clinical trials use root extractA concentrated preparation made by pulling the active compounds out of a raw herb, usually using water, alcohol, or another solvent — generally stronger, dose-for-dose, than the raw plant material.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part I Volume I specifies root as official part); leaf (used in some commercial extracts, withanolide content differs from root); berry (folk use only, insufficient clinical data)

Phyllanthus emblica L. (syn. Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) · Amalaki, Dhatri, Amrita, Vayastha, Shriphala, Amritaphala · Part used: Fruit (dried or fresh ripe fruit — the primary part used in virtually all clinical studies and classical preparations). Seed, leaf, root, and bark are used in minor traditional applications, but the fruit is the pharmacologically dominant and pharmacopoeially specified part. API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) Part I Volume I specifies the dried fruit.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers · Guduchi, Amrita, Chinnodbhava, Chakralakshnika, Tantrika, Kundalini, Vatsadani · Part used: Stem (primary — the most extensively researched part; used in classical Ayurvedic preparations and all major clinical trials); root (higher alkaloidA class of naturally occurring, often bitter-tasting plant compounds that frequently have strong effects on the body — caffeine and morphine are both examples of alkaloids. concentration; used in some traditional preparations); leaves and aerial parts (used in folk medicine and some contemporary formulations). Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) Part I Volume III specifies the stem as the official pharmacopoeial part.

Terminalia chebula Retz. · Haritaki, Abhaya (fearless — meaning without disease), Pathya (suitable for all paths of treatment), Kayastha (living in the body), Amrita (immortal nectar), Vijaya (victorious), Chetaki · Part used: Fruit (dried ripe fruit — primary part used in all clinical studies and classical preparations). Specifically, the pericarp (fruit wall) is the pharmacologically active part. Seed (removed in most pharmaceutical preparations; the nut inside is rarely used medicinally). API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) Part I Volume II specifies the dried ripe fruit as the official part for Haritaki.

Asparagus racemosus Willd. · Shatavari, Shatamuli, Bahusuta, Indivari, Vari, Dvipika · Part used: Tuberous roots (primary — fleshy, fasciculated root tubers, 30–100 cm long, 1–2 cm diameter); leaves and stems used in some regional folk preparations. Roots harvested in autumn when alkaloid and saponinA plant compound that forms a soap-like foam when mixed with water — found in many adaptogenic herbs and traditionally associated with a range of effects on the body. content is highest. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) Part I Volume I specifies roots as the official part.