Ayurvedic Medicinal Importance of Shatavari
Marathi name: Shatavari, Ashwel
Hindi name: Satawar, Satavari, Sarnoi, Shatavari
Sanskrit name: Shatavari, Shatpadi, Shatamooli, Narayani, Pivari, Atirasa, Talamuli, Asparagus Kanchankarini, Sookshmapatrika, Bheeroo, Brahmatra
English name: Wild Asparagus
Scientific name: Asparagus racemosus
Types – Two types:
Leaves:
It is a small herb-type plant with small-sized, dark green, sharp-pointed leaves.
Root:
This plant has numerous fibrous roots which are brown on the outside. When the outer skin is removed, the inside is white. These roots are mainly used in medicine.
Flowers:
White in color.
Fruit:
Green when raw and turns red when ripe.
Properties:
Heavy (Guru), cooling (Sheet), bitter (Tikta), slightly pungent and sweet in taste.
Medicinal Importance of Shatavari:
• Useful for children, adults, women and men — suitable for all ages.
• For insomnia — one spoon of Shatavari root powder boiled in a cup of milk with ghee helps induce proper sleep.
• Its sweet–bitter qualities reduce Vata dosha, dryness and excess heat in the body.
• Beneficial in hyperacidity, burning in chest or stomach.
• Shatavari nourishes all body tissues — rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, shukra — thus slowing down aging. It prevents tissue degeneration and keeps the skin youthful.
• Due to stress, travel, hectic lifestyle or illness if the body becomes weak, Shatavari helps repair the damage. It also helps in strengthening bones and knee joints.
• It relieves stress, strengthens microscopic body cells, enhances memory, nourishes the brain, nerves and tissues.
• Being a digestive-strengthening herb, it increases digestive fire (agni), improves digestion and nourishes the digestive system. Unlike hot and pungent digestive herbs, Shatavari is mild and suitable for children, women, elderly and weak individuals. It removes dryness and should be consumed before meals.
• Improves eye health as well.
• Helpful in diarrhea, intestinal inflammation and reduces bleeding disorders (Raktapitta).
Benefits for Women:
• Strengthens uterine muscles and balances female hormones, therefore Shatavari is considered a “woman’s friend.”
• If lactating mothers have low breast milk, Shatavari helps increase milk production. It nourishes the baby and reduces bone weakness and back pain in mothers.
• Highly beneficial during menopause — palpitations, sweating, depression, irregular periods, hair fall. Continuous use for three months gives good results.
• Since Shatavari is aphrodisiac (Vrishya), it helps both men and women in conception difficulties and supports pregnancy.
• Regulates heart rhythm and reduces cholesterol.
• Shatavari keeps the body youthful, reduces wrinkles and makes the skin glowing.
How to Consume Shatavari:
• Powder of Shatavari root should be taken with milk before meals.
• It is available in the market as tablets, powder, juice, kalpa etc.
• For diabetic patients — instead of kalpa, mix one cup milk + one cup water, add one spoon Shatavari, boil and reduce to one cup. Drink it for benefit.
• Shatavari Ghrita — prepared by heating Shatavari in cow’s ghee — is very beneficial.
• Shatavari Siddha Oil — oil processed with Shatavari — when used for massage, makes the skin radiant and strengthens bones and muscles.
• Elderly people having cramps in hands or legs should massage with this oil for relief.
• Shatavari is suitable and beneficial for all.
• Take any medicine only on the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor.
This is the complete information about the medicinal plant Shatavari.
