Ashwaganda
Answered by: Christine Dennis
Question from: Janet
Posted on: January 14, 2009

I am interested in purchasing ashwagandha, but your information says it is "medicinal/poisonous." I certainly don’t want it in my house if it is poisonous, but everything I have read says nothing about poison. Is this something that should not be purchased by an individual who thinks she (I) could just nibble on the leaves or the root?

Ashwaganda belongs to the Solanacea family which is the same family as the tomatoes and potatoes. This family is well known for its strong alkaloids and needs to be respected. Traditionally it is the root of ashwaganda that is used medicinally. As such, the upper arial stems and leaves of ashwaganda would be treated with the same caution as tomato and potato plants and not used nor eaten.

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