Shatavari

Shatavari has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine and is considered "the most helpful herb for women" as it is said to assist in the balancing of the female hormonal system. It is said to cleanse the blood and the female reproductive organs. In Sanskrit, the name "Shatavari" means "she who possesses 100 husbands" - and this is testimonial to the belief that Shatavari will assist female libido, vitality and particularly, will assist her in producing may healthy ova. Shatavari has been called by Ayurveda the "Queen of Herbs" and the most important herb for women's health. [2]

Shatavari is most often considered an aphrodisiac for women, but other sources state that it improves libido in both men and women. It is also said to be gentle in action, rejuvenating and tonic. [3] It is also claimed that Shatavari is highly nutritious, contains phyto-hormones which are similar to female hormones, and that use of Shatavari "increases the size and muscle tone of the bust considerably". [4] Another source states that the herb supplies some essential female hormones [5] - and if this is the case it would explain the legends of it being aphrodisiac and galactagogue.

Shatavari - history

Shatavari has been used in Ayurveda since ancient times and is mentioned in old Ayurvedic manuscripts such as the Charak Samhita (3rd century A.D.) , Susruta Samhita (mid to late 1st millennium B.C.), Kashyap Samhita (very ancient!) and Astanga Samgraha (610 A.D.). [6]

It has only been discovered to the West relatively recently - and the earliest mention of it I can find in Western literature is in Sir Richard Burton's 1885 translation of the Ananga-Ranga, where it appears in a recipe for restoring vigour and one for blackening the hair.

Is Shatavari an aphrodisiac? / Scientific studies

Shatavari has been the subject of some scientific trial. A 2005 study at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, found a possible "oestrogenic effect" of Shatavari on the genital organs and mammary glands of female rats. [7] A study at the Dept. of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Ayurveda Hospital, Nepal on The Effect of Shatavari in to Threatened Abortion and High Risk Pregnancy found that 90% of the mothers in the trial had successful, healthy pregnancies / deliveries when using shatavari (although .

Shatavari contains several glycosides - and one of these, shatavaran-I has been shown to block oxytocin-induced contractions in animal uteri. [8]

A number of modern trials are beginning to appear concerning Shatavari - and many of them are showing encouraging results both in verifying Ayurvedic traditions and in potential medical applications in general. I have listed some useful sources in the footnotes. [9]

Many studies indicate that Shatavari has some hormonal or hormone-mimicking effect - however, none of the papers I have found, investigated actual aphrodisiac effects of Shatavari. As is so often the case, more research into Shatavari is needed before solid conclusions can be formed.

Shatavari and the environment

Researchers at the Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India, reported in 2006 that due to increasing demand for Shatavari, destructive harvesting and the destruction of the plant's natural habitat have caused problems. The plant is now considered endangered in its natural habitat. Part of the increased demand is said to be due to the fact that traditional synthetic oestrogen replacement therapy has been found not to be completely safe nor effective. It is, interestingly, obviously considered by the researchers at the Energy and Resources Institute that Shatavari's role as a phytoestrogen is commonly accepted by science. [10]

Shatavari - conclusion

It seems quite possible that Shatavari has some aphrodisiac, libido-enhancing effect. Scientific study has found strong support for the other claims made of it in Ayurveda - and so there is no specific reason to conclude that the aphrodisiac claims are false. It is evident that Shatavari is an important medicinal plant - and efforts must be made to conserve it.

Shatavari is widely available in powder and capsule form - and is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.274 [11]

Footnote - toxicity:

One source I found, claiming that they are independent of affiliation, gives a strong warning that Shatavari sourced from Asian sources may contain toxic metals. [12]

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