Shatavari: The Indian asparagus

We had already talked about kumari or Aloe Vera (link) as a plant associated with the feminine. Now it’s Shatavari’s turn, an herb that also falls into the category of rejuvenating and aphrodisiac.

“Shata” means one hundred, while “vari” means brides, so this plant prepares us to be brides 100 times! This, understanding its deep meaning, strengthens us, gives us vitality and helps us improve fertility.

When we speak of tonic in Ayurveda, we are referring to a substance that nourishes all the tissues/constituents (dhatus) of the body. Tonics are usually sweet, heavy and fatty (attributes), such as shatavari.

Its rasa (flavor), virya (potency), vipaka (post digestive effect) is sweet, bitter and cold. So together with its attributes we can deduce that it helps us to balance Pitta and Vata dosha above all, but that it increases or unbalances Kapha dosha.

The used part of this herb is the root, that is why it is associated with the first root chakra (muladhara) and thus related to the female reproductive organs in all their functions and throughout their lives. Its intake is beneficial in menstrual disorders, pains, irregularities, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. Shatavari improves the quantity and quality of breast milk, nourishing this tissue. For this purpose, it is consumed as ghee, one dessert spoonful a day and is applied to the breasts when going to sleep with a gentle massage. We can also consume it in powder, a dessert spoon with milk. It is a very useful plant for morning sickness along with ginger.

During the menopause it helps us to control heat and the hormonal fluctuations, since shatavari helps us to regulate the hormonal function.

It nourishes the egg and sperm, so it is widely used in preparations to improve fertility, in many cases just by consuming shatavari ghee the situation can improve.

Its sattvic quality (guna), which calms and opens our mind, makes its consumption help us reduce stress and make us grow in love and devotion (Kapha qualities). For this purpose it  can be consumed with milk every night.

This plant also has anti-inflammatory properties (Pitta imbalance) so it is useful in these cases.

For its calming power (reduces Pitta fire) it is very useful in hyperacidity, burning, acid digestion or peptic ulcers. In the mildest cases you can consume shatavari powder, half a dessert tablespoon with warm water. It can be mixed with guduchi. In not so mild cases can be mixed with other preparations, always first consulting a specialist doctor or certified Ayurveda therapist. Although only with shatavari the situation will improve.

Shatavari, from the asparagus family, is not as diuretic as they are.

It can be found in powder or capsules but also in the form of medicated ghee. In addition to its sweet taste it is very tasty which invites much more to its digestion than other Ayurvedic preparations that are more bitter and thus less appetizing.

Try it and tell us!