A Truly Beneficial, Ancient Herb

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Shatavari or Asparagus racemosus finds extensive mention in our Indian System of Medicine, i.e., Ayurveda. The name ‘Asparagus’ was given by Greek philosopher Theophrastus (third century BCE). 

The global Asparagus extract market was expected to gain a valuation of US$ 635 million in the financial year 2023, having an expected projected market value of US$ 949 million in financial year 2033 with a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2033.

Since Ayurveda advises it for the treatment of various kinds of popular health conditions, Shatavari is used in both nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals sectors. Shatavari finds its mention in various classical ancient Ayurveda literature, some of those being: Sushruta Samhita, Dhanvatari Nighantu, Shodhal Nighantu, Kaideva Nighantu, Bhavaprakasha, Raj Nighantu, Sharangadhara Samhita, Charaka Samhita, etc.

Ayrurveda has mentioned the use of Shatavari in many clinical conditions where it is used as Deepana (to promote digestive power), Pachana (digestive), Rochana (promoting the desire to eat), Anulomana (promoting elimination from the lower part of body), Vamana (promoting elimination from the upper part of body), Vayasthapana (establishing healthy age), Jvarahara (eliminating fevers), Kasahara (eliminating cough), Shwashahara (eliminating breathing issues), Amahara (eliminating toxins), Dahahara (eliminating burning), Prameha (eliminating urinary issues), Mehahara (eliminating urinary issues), Rasayani (promoting wellness), Balya (strengthening), Gulmajit (winning over tumours), Hikkanigrahana (eliminating hiccups), Kantya (inducing glow), Triptighna (eliminating thirst), Hridaya (good for heart), Chakusya (good for eyes), Garbhaprada (good for fetus), Vamanopaga (utilised in emesis), Shonitasthapana (stabilising blood), Pandu (disorders of blood like anaemia), Sangrahini (controlling diarrhoea), Kustha (skin diseases), Kamala (liver diseases), Medhya (promoting mental functions), Varnya (promoting skin complexion), Kshyajit (winning over lethargy), Krimihara (eliminating micro-organisms), Kanthya (promoting healthy throat functions), Arsha (good for piles), and Pushtida (promotes nourishment).  Rasayana is highly versatile concept in Ayurveda and the literature enriches us with the knowledge of potent rasayana dravyas which means the herbs acting as rasayana. ‘Rasayana’ is a group of plants/ herbs which improves host defence mechanisms of the body and also promotes physical and mental health as well as provides strength and long life. The objectives of ‘Rasayana therapy’ include vayasthapana (retarding ageing), ayukaram (enhancing life span), medhabalakaram (promoting intellect and physical strength) and rogapaharanasamartha (increasing resistance against diseases). This concept may be understood as being similar to ‘adaptogens’ which are the agents that increase the non-specific resistance of organisms against a variety of stresses.

Since the science of Ayurveda decodes everything in terms of tridosha theory, which is based upon the interplay of vata, pittaand kapha. Shatavari also has its own specific effect on the dosha biology. Shatavari has Snigdha (oily) and Guru (heavy) guna (physiochemical property), which leads to appeasment of the pitta (fire and air) doshas. It has aadhur (sweet) and tikta(bitter) rasa (phytochemical property). It has shita viraya (cold potency, phytochemical property) and madhur vipaka (sweet metabolic taste, post digestion phytochemical property), which often aggravates kapha (earth and water) doshas.

Shatavari with its Madhura-Tikta rasa, Guru-Snigdha guna, Madhura Vipaka, Sheeta Veerya and Rasyana effect proves to be beneficial for females throughout their life. Charaka Samhita has categorized it as Balya (promoting strength or a tonic), Vayasthapana (promotes longevity) & Shukrajanana (spermatogenic), Also, it has cited it as a rejuvenating to Rasa and Mamsa dhatus and Mamsavaha srotasa. Sushruta has mentioned it as Shukrashodhana — purifies the sperms or semen. It is quoted as Vajikara — augments the sexual vigour and quantity of semen (Sharangadhara Samhita). It is also classified as Samshamana — neither it aggravates nor it eliminates the doshas from the body, but simply pacifies the aggravated doshas,especially pitta. While describing the indications and use of Shatavari in Shatpushpa–Shatavari kalpadhyaya in Kalpasthana, it is mentioned that Shatavari acts as nectar in women with amenorrhea, infertility, meno-metorrhagia, hypomenorrhoea, menopause, delayed puberty, irregular menstruation, still birth or whose children are weak, dry vagina, frigidity and women with other complaints like diarrhea, polyuria and loss of normal colour. Shatavari roots have various minerals such as vitamin A, B1, B2 and E, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and folic acid, ascorbic acid. It is rich in essential fatty acids such as gamma-linolenic acid.

Some of many uses of Shatavari can be categorised as :

• Galactogogue: increases milk secretion during breast feeding
• Antioxidant
• Diuretic
• Antiparasitic and Antibacterial: Against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus
•  Teratogenic Effects: Such as swelling of legs, slow growth of foetal body and placental part, an increase in resorption of foetus
•  Antilithiatic: Reduces oxalate, calcium and phosphate ions in urine which are the main cause of renal stone formation
• Adaptogenic
•  Anti-ulcer
•  Antifertility
• Cytotoxicity
• Analgesic
•  Antidiarrheal
•  Anti-cancer
• Neurodegenerative disorders
• Anti-dyspepsia
• Cardio protective
• Anticandatial: Against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida guillermondii, Candida parapsilosis and Candida stellatoida
• Antispasmodic
• Anti-allergic
• Anti-diabetic
•  Anti-malarial
•  Hepatoprotective
•  Enhance immune responses
•  Anti-arthritic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-periodic
• Antistress
• Anti-diarrhoeal
•  Antidepressant
• Anti-leprotic
•  Anti-abortifacient Antipyretic, Analgesic

Although Shatavari is a safe herb but since it is a phytomedicine, it may exhibit certain side effects, such as:

*The writer is an Ayurveda physician, DST Woman Scientist A, AIIMS New Delhi, and founder of Pratha Ayurveda.