3 . Benefits Of Ashwagandha For hundreds of years, people have used the roots and orange-red fruit of ashwagandha for medicinal purposes. The herb is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry. The name “ashwagandha” describes the smell of its root, meaning “like a horse.” By definition, ashwa means horse. Reduce stress and anxiety                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ashwagandha may have a comforting effect on anxiety symptoms when compared with the medicine lorazepam, a opiate and anxiety drug. Improve sleep quality                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A root extract of Ashwaghandha may help manage insomnia, with a new study from India reporting