Ayurvedic Herb

Shatavari

SanskritShatavariBotanicalAsparagus racemosusAlso calledWild asparagus, Indian asparagus, Satavar

A sweet, cooling root from the asparagus family, Ayurveda's classic nourishing tonic for women through every stage of life.

Shatavari, root

Shatavari is a climbing asparagus with feathery leaves and clusters of pale, finger shaped roots. The name is often translated as "she who has a hundred husbands," a playful nod to its long reputation as a tonic for women's vitality at every age.

The dried root is mild, a little sweet and a little bitter, with a soft, milky feel in the mouth. Ayurveda describes it as cooling, moistening and building. Where ashwagandha warms and grounds, shatavari cools and soothes, and the two are often taken together.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sweet
  • Bitter
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Heavy, can dampen agni

Sweet, heavy and moist, it can slow digestion if agni is already low.

GunaQualities
  • Heavy
  • Oily
  • Soft
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: increases in excess
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Shatavari is a favorite for pitta and vata because it cools heat and soothes dryness. Its heavy, moist nature can add to kapha, so kapha types use smaller amounts with warming spices like ginger.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support healthy female reproductive function and a comfortable monthly cycle.
  • Traditionally used to support women through the transitions of midlife.
  • Traditionally used to support a soothed, comfortable digestive tract when there is excess heat.
  • Traditionally used to support strength, stamina and nourishment as a rasayana.

How People Use It

  • MilkThe classic way. Whisk 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of powder into warm milk with a pinch of cardamom or ginger.
  • GheeShatavari ghee is a traditional preparation. At home, a pinch of powder in warm ghee with a little raw sugar or honey is similar in spirit.
  • TeaSimmer about 1 teaspoon of the cut root in 2 cups of water or milk for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain.
Try This

Shatavari Rose Milk

A soft, cooling cup for hot evenings or tender days of the cycle.

  • 1 cup whole milk or oat milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon shatavari powder
  • 1 pinch ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rose petals or a few drops of food grade rose water
  • Maple syrup or raw sugar to taste
  1. Warm the milk with the rose petals over low heat until it steams.
  2. Whisk in the shatavari and cardamom and keep it on low heat for 2 or 3 minutes.
  3. Strain into a mug and sweeten to taste.
  4. Sip it slowly in the evening, ideally sitting down with your feet up.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Safety research on shatavari is limited, and no NCCIH or Memorial Sloan Kettering monograph was found for it.
  • Although shatavari is traditionally given to new mothers, it has not been well studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Use it then only with guidance from your midwife, doctor or a qualified practitioner.
  • Avoid it if you are allergic to asparagus.
  • It contains plant compounds with possible estrogen-like activity, so talk with your doctor first if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or take hormone therapy.
  • Ayurveda advises going easy on shatavari when you feel congested, heavy or sluggish.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using shatavari regularly, especially if you take any medication.

In Our Shop

Organic Shatavari Root

Organic Shatavari Root, from $5.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Shatavari →

From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.