Top 7 Health Benefits of Shatavari

Medicinal plants are the nature's best gift to human beings to make disease free healthy life but the herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 75-80% of the total population. In India, thousands of species are known to have medicinal value and the use of different parts of the plant for medicinal purposes is quite common since ages.

Shatavari is one of the most valuable gift of nature to the mankind. It is useful in treating male and female infertility, helps a lactating mother to lactate more, calms mind, cooling effect, induces sleep, calms stomach and has much more uses.

Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus ) is a spinous under shrub with short root stock bearing numerous succulent tuberous roots. The plant grows throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of India. The root of this plant has long been used in Ayurveda for various conditions like - antiulcer, bleeding disorders, improving sperm quality, improving muscle mass, immunomodulatory, anti-hepatotoxic and galactogogue. It is anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and diuretic.

In a research, it was concluded that intake of Asparagus racemosus reduced the serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, urea and creatinine. Thus, it was concluded that it is quite beneficial in urolithiasis also. It was concluded that possible mode of action of Asparagus racemosus may be due to its anti oxidant effect as there is in vivo evidence that hyperoxaluria induced per oxidative damage to the renal tubular membrane surface provides a favourable environment for individual calcium oxalate crystal attachment and subsequent development of kidney stones. Thus, it was concluded in the research that administration of ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus significantly decreased the development of urolithiasis in rats.

In an another research, it was concluded that A.racemosus possesses anti-bacterial properties. This plant could be an answer to the people seeking for better therapeutic agents from natural resources which is more efficient and no side effects when compared with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. It was concluded that methanolic extract of leaves of A.racemosus has a significant inhibitory action against all the selected bacteria and it can be used for curing bacterial diseases.

Microscopic and Macroscopic view of Shatavari plant

Macroscopic character: Roots are peeled hence dull white in colour. External surface is grooved and tastes mucilage.

Microscopic character: Its outer layer has brown contents and cortex consists of thin walled parenchyma cells and calcium oxalate crystals are scattered in cortical cells. The central vascular bundle has xylem and phloem elements.

Botanical Name:Asparagus racemosus

English Name:Buttermilk root, climbing asparagus, wild asparagus

Sanskrit Synonyms:Peevari, Indeevari, Shatapadi, Atirasa etc.

Medicinal Properties of Shatavari:

• Taste - Sweet, Bitter
• Qualities - Heavy, Oily, unctuous
• Undergoes sweet taste conversion after digestion
• Potency - Cold
• Effect on Tridosha - Balances Vata and Pitta
• Parts used -Tuberous roots
• According to Ayurveda , the sprouts of Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus ) are sweet and bitter in taste hence balance Kapha and Pitta.

Classical categorisation of Shatavari

By Master Charak

1. Balya- It is considered among strength and immunity producing group of herbs by AcharayaCharak.
2. Vayasthapana- It means this herb is categorised under anti-aging group of herbs .
3. Madhuraskandha- This herb is also categorised under sweet tasting group of herbs .

Master Sushruthas classified this herb as Pitta Shamaka (i.e. under heat balancing group of herbs ).

Chemical constituents of Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus )- It’s root contains alkaloids Sarsapogenin

Furostanolic saponins- Sitosterol and Asparagamine A and two Spirostanolic.

Fruits- It's fruit contains B-Sitosterol, Diosenin, Asparamins A & B and Sarsapogenin.

Leaves- It's leaves contains Favonoids and Rutin.

Medicinal Properties of Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus )

1. It is considered as Aphrodisiac.
2. It is quite useful in blood disorders.
3. Shatavari is useful in chronic respiratory disorders, tuberculosis.
4. Quite beneficial in females suffering from endometriosis.
5. It is considered as good anti-aging herb.
6. It improves breast milk production.
7. It improves sperm and semen quantity and quality.
8. It is nutritious and also improves nourishment.
9. It also improves intelligence.
10. Also useful in abdominal tumors.
11. Good for eyes hence also useful in dark patches under the eyes.
12. Relieves diarrhoea.
13. Relieves chest injury and injury due to bleeding.
14. Improves fertility
15. Reduces swelling hence anti-inflammatory.
16. Improves sperm quality, semen health and sperm mobility.
17. Also useful in nasal bleeding.

Benefits of Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus ) sprouts

1. They are useful in piles and haemorrhoids.
2. Also useful in the improvement of depleted tissues and chronic respiratory conditions like- tuberculosis.

Top 7 Health Benefits of Shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus )

1. For Endometriosis- It is considered as the best herb for the females who are suffering from endometriosis. Because of its property to arrest heavy bleeding it is the best medicine for endometriosis. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory properties which help in toning the reproductive system and also gives strength.

2. For Gastritis- It has bitter taste as well as coolant properties due to which it is very useful in treating gastritis.

3. To enhance breast milkproduction- All lactating promoting medicines in the market contain Shatavari as an ingredient. Shatavari also helps in normal involution of uterus after delivery and also helps to stop bleeding in the initial few weeks after delivery. Hence, Shatavari is considered as the best herb to be used during lactation period.

In addition to improving breast milk, it adds nutritive value of the milk which helps the baby.

4. Nervine tonic- This herb is quite useful in neurological disorders, epilepsy and schizophrenia. It has coolant nature which is quite useful in diabetic neuropathy. It is quite useful for diabetes and nerve irritation which causes burning fingers and toes.

5. As a gym supplement- Because of its nutritive properties, anti-aging effect and coolant nature, there is no doubt in considering Shatavari as an excellent gym supplement. It helps to remove tiredness quickly and also improves muscle mass.

6. Cardiac tonic- It gives strength to the heart thus also acts as a cardiac tonic.

Stomach- As it has Pitta Shamak properties, it is quite beneficial in abdominal tumor, IBS, altering diarrhoea and constipation.

7. As a Rasayana- In Ayurveda, Shatavari is considered as Rasayana as it is anti-aging , causes cell and tissue rejuvenation.

To treat many diseases such as - gastritis, anti-aging effect, for aphrodisiac effect, Shatavari is often boiled with milk and admimistered

As per Sharangdhara Samhita, only wet roots of Shatavari must be used in making herbal products like- Kashayam ( water decoction ), Avaleha(herbal jams) etc. This rule does not apply when it is used in powder form.

Ayurvedic medicines with Shatavari as an ingredient - Shatavari Ghrita, Shatavari granules, Shatavari herbal jam with jiggery base and Shatavari Churna.

Shatavari roots must be processed in milk before taken.