Description

Asparagus racemosus (satavar, shatavari, or shatamull) is a species of asparagus common throughout Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and the Himalayas. It has an adventitious root system with tuberous roots that measure about one meter in length, tapering at both ends, with roughly a hundred on each plant.

Asparagus racemosus is an important plant in traditional medicine in tropical and subtropical India. Its medicinal use has been reported in the Indian and British harmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda Unani and Siddha.

Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) is recommended in Ayurvedic texts for the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers and dyspepsia and as a galactogogue. A. racemosus has also been used by some Ayurvedic practitioners for nervous disorders.

The roots are used in Ayurvedic medicine, following a regimen of processing and drying. It is generally used as a uterine tonic, as a galactogogue (to improve breast milk), in hyperacidity, and as a best general health tonic