Shatavari

Asparagus racemosus

Also known as Shatavari, Wild Asparagus, Indian Asparagus, Satavar, Hundred Roots

At a glance

Family

Asparagaceae

Type

Perennial climbing shrub

Parts used

Tuberous root

Size

A scrambling climber reaching 3 to 6 feet, with needle-like cladodes and thorny stems that lean on nearby shrubs for support

Bloom

Small, fragrant white flowers in late summer, followed by small red berries

Habitat

Native to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and parts of tropical Africa, favoring rocky slopes, forest edges, and low-altitude scrub

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Traditional tonic for women

Supports milk supply

Soothes digestive tissues

Builds strength and stamina

Traditional uses

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For centuries, shatavari has held a place as one of Ayurveda's most cherished rejuvenating roots, prized above all as a tonic for women through every stage of life, from cycles to childbearing to the changes of later years. Traditional Ayurvedic texts classify it as a rasayana, a substance believed to restore vitality and balance to the whole body, and it was often cooked into ghee, milk, or honey to make it easier to take daily. Nursing mothers across generations turned to shatavari to traditionally support a healthy milk supply, while others used the root as a soothing tonic for the stomach and a general restorative during recovery from illness. Its very name, born of Sanskrit, speaks to the enduring, almost mythic esteem in which this humble climbing plant has been held.

How to grow & use it

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Pairs well with

✦Ashwagandha
✦Fennel
✦Ginger

Substitutes

✦Ashwagandha
✦Dong Quai

Choose it when

“When you need gentle, steadying nourishment through life's changing seasons.”

Did you know?

The name shatavari is often translated from Sanskrit as she who possesses a hundred roots, and by some readings, she who could please a hundred husbands, a poetic nod to the plant's long-standing reputation as a source of feminine vitality and endurance.

Safety

Shatavari is safe in normal traditional amounts, but its mild hormone-like activity means it should be avoided during pregnancy and by anyone with a hormone-sensitive condition. As a relative of asparagus, onion, garlic, and leeks, it can trigger reactions in those sensitive to these foods, and it may interact with diuretic medications.