Ashwagandha one of the most powerful herbs in ayurvedic healing has been used since ancient times for a wide variety of conditions and is most well-known for its restorative benefits. In sanskrit ashwagandha means the smell of a horse indicating that the herb imparts the vigour and strength of a stallion and has traditionally been prescribed to help people strengthen their immune system after an illness. Ashwagandha is frequently referred to as Indian ginseng because of its rejuvenating properties even though botanically ginseng and ashwagandha are unrelated. Belonging to the same family as the tomato ashwagandha is a plump shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers. It bears red fruit about the size of a raisin. The herb is native to the dry regions of India northern Africa and the middle east and today is also grown in more mild climates including the united states.