Shatavari

Figure 1. The Shatavari (or Asparagus racemosus) plant.

Shatavari or Asparagus racemosus, or sometimes called satavar, shatamull, or shatawari, is a species of asparagus common throughout India, the Himalayas, and northern Australia. Shatavari has small pine-needle-like phylloclades (photosynthetic branches) that are uniform and shiny green.

Shatavari is used in Indian (Ayurveda) traditional medicine. The roots of Sahtavari are boiled and give a liquid used as an external wash to treat colds and other sicknesses. Shatavari is also an adaptogenic herb, which means that it may help to regulate the body’s systems and improve resistance to stress, including anxiety and depression.

As a dietary supplement, Shatavari is commonly promoted to help with female reproductive health, to reduce symptoms of menopause, and to boost milk production during breastfeeding. Additionally, Shatavari is also promoted as an antioxidant. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence presently to conclusively determine Shatavari's effectiveness in these applications.