Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Shatavari शतावरी
Asparagus racemosus · Asparagaceae
Also known as: Satavar, Shatawari, Shatavar
Part used: Root
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is Ayurveda's principal women's tonic, whose name means "she who has a hundred husbands" — a reference to its reputation in reproductive health. It is sweet, cooling and nourishing, used for menopause, lactation, hyperacidity and general depletion.
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Asparagus racemosus
- Part used: Root
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Root powder: 3–6 g daily, classically with warm milk; also taken as Shatavari ghee or medicated milk.
Shatavari in other languages
Introduction
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is Ayurveda's foremost women's tonic, a cooling and nourishing Rasayana whose name is often rendered "she who possesses a hundred roots" — or, poetically, a herb for every stage of a woman's life. The root is the part used.
Classification
Of the Asparagaceae family, Shatavari is described among the Rasayana and Stanyajanana (lactation-promoting) dravyas in the classical Nighantus. Its sweet-bitter taste, heavy-unctuous qualities, cold potency and sweet vipaka make it deeply nourishing and Pitta- and Vata-pacifying.
Uses & benefits
Traditionally used to support hormonal balance, ease menstrual and menopausal discomfort, promote healthy lactation, and nourish and strengthen the reproductive and digestive systems. As a cooling Rasayana it also soothes hyperacidity and supports general vitality.
Shatavari for menopause
Its best-known modern use — cooling and hormonally supportive, taken for hot flushes, night sweats and mood change.
Shatavari for lactation
The foremost Stanyajanana drug, given after childbirth with a long and consistent traditional record.
Shatavari for hyperacidity
Sweet, cooling and demulcent — it coats and soothes, making it a standard drug in gastritis and reflux.
Shatavari for female fertility
Used in classical practice to support the reproductive tissue, taken over months.
Shatavari as a Rasayana
Classified among the rejuvenatives, particularly for Pitta constitutions where a warming tonic would not suit.
Shatavari for dryness
Used wherever tissues are dry — dry cough, dry skin, vaginal dryness — on its unctuous nourishing character.
Shatavari for weakness
A Balya drug used in convalescence and depletion, taken with milk.
Shatavari for painful periods
Used in dysmenorrhoea, often with Ashoka in the classical women\'s compounds.
Shatavari for the immune system
Named as a Rasayana with a general strengthening action, used in recurrent illness.
Shatavari in Shatavari Churna and Shatavari Gulam
Available singly and in the classical preparations, and present in most women\'s formulations.
Dosage — how much to take
Root powder: 3–6 g daily, classically with warm milk; also taken as Shatavari ghee or medicated milk. Well tolerated; moderate in high-Kapha or congestive states and use under guidance in pregnancy or hormone-sensitive conditions.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Shatavari?
The citations held for Shatavari in this catalogue are: Sushruta Samhita (Stri Roga & Rasayana); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Guduchyadi Varga).
What does the Sushruta Samhita record about Shatavari?
Cited for reproductive and rejuvenative use. Reference: Sushruta Samhita — Stri Roga & Rasayana.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Shatavari?
Described as Rasayana and Stanyajanana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga.
What is Shatavari traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Traditionally used to support hormonal balance, ease menstrual and menopausal discomfort, promote healthy lactation, and nourish and strengthen the reproductive and digestive systems. As a cooling Rasayana it also soothes hyperacidity and supports general vitality.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Shatavari?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Shatavari classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Shatavari carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Shatavari is used medicinally?
The part used is Root.
How much Shatavari is taken, and how?
Root powder: 3–6 g daily, classically with warm milk; also taken as Shatavari ghee or medicated milk. Well tolerated; moderate in high-Kapha or congestive states and use under guidance in pregnancy or hormone-sensitive conditions. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Shatavari be avoided?
Well tolerated. Its heavy, building nature is best moderated in high-Kapha or congestive states and in those with weak digestion. Consult a physician for therapeutic use, especially in pregnancy or hormone-sensitive conditions.
Where does Shatavari grow?
Shatavari is a climbing plant with tuberous roots native to India and the Himalayas, growing wild in tropical and sub-tropical forests and gravelly, well-drained soils up to moderate altitudes.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakash Nighantu — Guduchyadi Varga
Described as Rasayana and Stanyajanana. - Charaka & Sushruta Samhita — Stri Roga & Rasayana
Cited for reproductive and rejuvenative use.
Modern research
-
Postpartum Use of Shavari Bar Improves Breast Milk Output: A Double-Blind, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Study
(see source). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2022)
A double-blind RCT (n=78) reporting increased breast-milk output in postpartum women using a Shatavari-based formulation versus placebo.
View study doi:10.7759/cureus.26831 -
Randomized controlled trial of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) as a lactogogue in lactational inadequacy
Sharma S, Ramji S, Kumari S, Bapna JS. Indian Pediatrics (1996)
A multicentric randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluating Shatavari as a lactogogue and its effect on serum prolactin in mothers with lactational inadequacy.
View study
Safety & precautions
Well tolerated. Its heavy, building nature is best moderated in high-Kapha or congestive states and in those with weak digestion. Consult a physician for therapeutic use, especially in pregnancy or hormone-sensitive conditions.
Where it grows
Shatavari is a climbing plant with tuberous roots native to India and the Himalayas, growing wild in tropical and sub-tropical forests and gravelly, well-drained soils up to moderate altitudes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shatavari used for?
Menopausal symptoms, lactation, hyperacidity, female fertility, dryness and general depletion. It is Ayurveda's principal women's tonic, sweet and cooling, and is also a Rasayana for Pitta constitutions.
What is the dose of Shatavari?
Root powder 3–6 g per day with milk, taken over weeks rather than briefly. For lactation and menopause it is usually taken continuously for two to three months before judging.
Does Shatavari increase breast milk?
It is the foremost classical Stanyajanana drug with a long and consistent traditional record, and remains the standard Ayurvedic recommendation after childbirth. Take it with milk, and see a lactation consultant if supply remains a problem.
Can Shatavari help with menopause?
It is widely used for hot flushes, night sweats and mood change, and its cooling nourishing character suits the menopausal picture well. Effects build over weeks. It is supportive rather than a replacement for HRT where that is indicated.
Who should avoid Shatavari?
Anyone with heavy Kapha, sluggish digestion or significant congestion, since it is sweet and heavy. Take medical advice if you have an oestrogen-sensitive condition, and if you take diuretics or lithium.
Is Shatavari only for women?
No. It is used in men for hyperacidity, dryness, depletion and as a cooling Rasayana, and appears in some male Vajikarana formulations. Its reputation as a women's tonic reflects its commonest use rather than a restriction.
Is Shatavari good for acidity?
Yes — it is one of the standard classical drugs for hyperacidity and gastritis, being sweet, cooling and demulcent. It coats and soothes rather than neutralising, and suits sustained use better than antacids do.
