SHATAVARI
Shatavari is a perennial much branched climbing herb found all over India, especially in tropical and sub-tropical parts and in Himalayan region upto 1400 m. elevation. It is also cultivated. The fleshy root of shatavari has been used as one of the most powerful nutritive and spermatogenic herb in Ayurvedic system of medicine.

Botanical Name : Asparagus racemosus Family : (Liliaceae (Rasona-kula) Vernacular Names :
Oriya : Shatabari
Hindi : Satavar
Bengali : Shatamooli
Marathi : Shatavari
Gujarati : Shatawari
Telugu : Challan gadda
Tamil : Sadawari
Kannada : Majjigegade

Plant Description : Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is an armed climbing undershrub with woody terete stems and recurved and rarely straight spines. Young stems very delicate, brittle and smooth; leaves reduced to minute chaffy scales

and spines; cladodes triquetrous, curved in tufts or 2-6. Flowers are white, fragrant in fascicles or racemes on the naked nodes of the main shoots or in the axils of the thorns. Fruits subglobose pulpy berries, purplish black when ripe. Seeds 3-6, globose, or angled having brittle and hard testa. The tuberous succulent roots are 30 cms to a metre or more in length, fascicled at the stem base, smooth tapering at both ends.

Parts used : Fleshy roots Chemical Constituents : Root contains saponin, water soluble constituents 52.1/2%, moisture 1%, glucose 7% and ash from dried root 4%.

Medicinal Value (properties and uses) : The roots of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) are fleshy, whitish-brown in colour, slightly sweet in taste, emollient, cooling, nervine tonic and possesses rejuvenating, carminative and
aphrodisiac properties. Different scientific studies have proved its efficacy in a number of physical and mental ailments. The root Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) also has proved its effectiveness as a natural sex-stimulant and spermatogenic medicine in both male and female sexual and gyanecological disorders. The root is important for increasing the seminal qualities due to its ability to increase sperm count as well as improves its motility. This herb also enhances libido due to its general tonic effects.

Asparagus racemosus additionally possesses anti- anxiety and anti-stress properties which are of vital in the infertile male. Shatavari (Asparague racemosus) root and their different extracts have shown alterative, demulcent, aphrodisiac, antiseptic and anti-cancer activity. It also acts as a nutritive tonic. Shatavari also contains a saponingly coside that exhibits antioxytocic activity. It is a good source of folic acid, that is vital for foetal neuronal growth and blood formation.

Therapeutic Uses :
The roots of asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) has been used for ages in Ayurvedic medicine and other traditional medicines as
follows :
• In the treatment of general debility, male infertility (due to low sperm count), loss of libido, epilepsy (fits), mental debility and in many male diseases.
• In case of female oriented ailments such as menopausal syndrome, anaemia, lower quantity of breast milk secretion, and for both mental and physical ailments, the roots of Asparagus racemosus has been proved its medicinal efficacy.

Above all, the root of Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) is a well-known nutritive, aphrodisiae, astringent medicine for all age groups having no side effects or any contra-indication.
Doses : The root powder : 10-15 gms, per day The root decoction 10-15 ml. per day.