Evaluation of the Physico-chemical, Thermal and Behavioral Properties of Ashwagandha Root Extract: Effects of Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract has a broad range of pharmacological activities due to the presence of many biologically active metabolites. The current study was designed to evaluate the influence of The Trivedi Effect® - Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment (Biofield Energy Healing) on the physical, spectroscopic, thermal and behavioral properties of ashwagandha root extract using PXRD, PSD, FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, TGA, and DSC analysis. Ashwagandha root extract was divided into two parts – one part was control without any Biofield Energy Treatment and another part was treated with the Consciousness Energy Healing Treatment remotely by twenty renowned Biofield Energy Healers and defined as Biofield Energy Treated sample. The PXRD analysis exhibited that both the control and treated samples were amorphous in nature. The particle size values at d10, d50, and d90 of the treated sample were increased significantly by 8.69%, 7.32%, and 6.50%, respectively compared with the control sample. Similarly, the surface area of the treated sample was significantly decreased by 12.69% compared to the control sample. The FT-IR analysis indicated no significant alteration of the force constant for the functional groups in the treated sample compared to the control sample. The UV-vis analysis revealed that the wavelength for the maximum absorbance of the control and treated samples were at 207.5 and 205.2 nm, respectively. The TGA revealed the two major thermal degradation steps and the total weight loss was decreased by 0.86% in the treated sample compared with the control sample. Consequently, the maximum thermal degradation temperature at 273.53°C and 389.39°C for two broad peaks in treated sample was increased by 0.78% and 0.31%, respectively compared to the control the sample (271.40°C and 388.48°C). The DSC analysis indicated that the evaporation temperature was significantly increased by 10.95% in the Biofield Energy Treated sample with a 5.34% reduced the latent heat of vaporization compared with the control sample. The overall thermal analysis indicated that the treated sample was thermally more stable as compared to the control sample. The Trivedi Effect® - Energy of Consciousness Healing Treatment might lead to have better powder flowability and long-term storage stability compared with the control sample. Thus, the treated ashwagandha root extract might provide better therapeutic response against inflammatory diseases, immunological disorders, stress, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, sexual disorders, ageing, and other chronic infections.