Madeira Consorcio

Withania Somnifera from Madeira Island

This nightshade plant, also sometimes called Physalis Somnifera, Ashwagandha, and Indian Ginseng or Winter

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cherry, grows mainly in India and Nepal. Madeira‘s climate is also ideal to cultivate this gracious fruit.

It can be cultivated up to an altitude of 1500 m, and needs temperatures ideally between 20° and 38°, plus a good winter’s rain and dry periods in between. Madeira offers these conditions but does not harbor the bugs that make the cultivation difficult in India – we have other bugs….

In India it is used for Ayurvedic treatments, especially for tumor, carbuncles and such. The active ingredients are tropine, cuscohygrine and several withanolides. The title “somnifera” already indicates that it is helpful for the treatment of sleep disorders. This plant could be used more for natural sleep disorder remedies 

Buy a small basket of fruit, encased in their paper like cocoon, open and eat the cherry-like fruit.

Bom apetite!

Related articles

• Ancient herb proven to be a potential cure for Alzheimer’s (sott.net)
• Benefits of Ashwagandha Including Anti Cancer Effects (ashwagandhacapsules.wordpress.com)