Health Benefits of Shatavari

Shatavari is also known as Asparagus racemosus, or ‘wild asparagus’ or Satava. Shatavari offers innumerable health benefits for female health and that is why it is also referred to as the “Queen of the Herbs”. 

Shatavari is considered to be one of the most valuable rejuvenating herbs, for women, in ayurvedic herbal apothecary. Shatavari, the name roughly translates to “she who possesses 100 husbands”, referring to the herbs rejuvenative effect upon the female reproductive organs.

Shatavari has white flowers and produces blackish-purple berries. It has small, pine needles like structures. 

Nutritional Facts

Shatavari contains plenty of minerals namely, cobalt, copper, zinc, and manganese. Few other minerals present are potassium, calcium, selenium, and magnesium. 

Shatavari also contains vitamin A, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, and ascorbic acid. It contains zero fat and cholesterol. 100 gm of shatavari contains 20,000 calories, 2200 mg proteins, 3380 mg carbohydrates,  2100 mg Dietary Fibre, 1.13 mg Vitamin E, 5.6 mg Vitamin C, 24 mg Calcium, 1.14 mg Iron, and 0.54 mg Zinc.

Possible Health Benefits of Shatavari…

1/5. Promotes breast milk production

1. The presence of active saponins and sapogenins in Shatavari leads to an increase in breast milk production. Hence, this plant is used as a galactagogue (a substance that boosts the production of milk during breastfeeding).

2. Prolactin hormone is responsible for promoting milk secretion in lactating mothers. Shatavari is known to possess lactogenic property acts on prolactin hormone thus, increasing milk production in lactating mothers.

2/5. Supports female reproductive health

1. Shatavari is known to support women through every stage of their lives. It is known as a female tonic. 

2. Shatavari is considered as an oestrogen regulator due to the presence of steroidal saponins. It aids in regulating menstrual cycles, controls the quantity of blood lost, and reduces menstrual cramps.  

3. The oily and heavy nature of Shatavari helps in nourishing the female reproductive system from within thereby, reducing menopause symptoms.

4. Shatavari maintains adequate immunological function thus is quite effective in female infertility. It accelerates female libido, decreases and cures sexual organ inflammation, moistens dry tissues of sexual organs, and boosts ovulation.

5. The saponins content in Shatavari subsides the uterine contractions thus, protecting against threatened miscarriage. 

6. Production of several hormones such as dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin are stimulated and balanced by Shatavari thus, decreasing irritability, mood swings, and menopause induced depression.

3/5. Effective in diarrhoea and dysentery

The presence of flavonoids restrains intestinal motility. It decreases the gastrointestinal motility and frequency of stool. It decreases the secretion of fluid and electrolytes in the stools.

4/5. Prevents cancer

1. The flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and terpenes present in Shatavari possess anti-cancer properties. Shatavari is effective in decreasing the tumor cell count and volume of the tumor; it kills the cancer cells and prevents the spread.

2. The antioxidant properties of Asparagus decrease the load of free radicals and fights oxidative stress.

5/5. Other possible benefits…

Asparagus further offers few more health benefits namely, promotes digestion, strengthens the immune system, works as an aphrodisiac, reduces high blood glucose levels, enhances body’s ability to adapt to stress, treats gastric ulcers, reduces high cholesterol levels, reduces symptoms of menopause, combats depression and anxiety, relieves cough, acts as a diuretic, treats kidney stones, delays ageing, relieves urinary stones and protects the heart.

Shatavari offers innumerable health benefits for female health and that is why it is also referred to as the “Queen of the Herbs”

How to use Shatavari?

Shatavari can be consumed in the following ways:

• Tablet
• Powder
• Capsule
• Churna
• Liquid extract
• Shatavari Milk
• ShatavariGhee
• Shatavari Guda
• Raw, grilled or roasted

How to make Shatavari Milk?

Take 1 teaspoon shatavari powder, 1 teaspoon ghee, 1 teaspoon dried rose petals, ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder and 1 cup milk. 

Mix all the ingredients in a pan and slowly stir the mixture over medium to high flame.

Once warm, remove from the heat and pour it in a mug.

A pinch of jaggery or sugar can be added for taste.