Ingredient profile
Shatavari
Asparagus racemosus
A cooling, nourishing root traditionally used in Ayurveda to support women’s wellbeing.
- Hindi
- शतावरी
- Sanskrit
- Shatavari
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Part used
- tuber, root
Traditional use
Shatavari is a climbing plant of the asparagus family with fine, needle-like leaves and clusters of fleshy, finger-shaped tuberous roots. Its name is often translated as “she who has a hundred roots”.
In Ayurvedic tradition
Ayurveda regards shatavari as a cooling, nourishing rasayana. It has a long history in women’s wellbeing at every stage of life, and it is also used as a general tonic for both men and women in classical formulations.
Ayurvedic properties
- Rasa (taste): Sweet, bitter
- Guna (qualities): Heavy, unctuous
- Virya (potency): Cooling
- Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Sweet
- Effect on the doshas: Balances vata and pitta
How it is traditionally taken
The tuberous roots are cleaned, shade-dried and powdered. Traditionally the powder is taken with warm milk; capsules of root powder are a convenient modern alternative.
Safety notes
Consult a practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, on medication or managing a hormone-sensitive condition. Use as directed on the product label. This profile is for general education and is not medical advice.
References
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (monograph: Shatavari) pharmacopoeia