Shatavari is one of the best-known herbs in Ayurveda. It is a climbing wild asparagus whose tuberous roots have been gathered in India for many centuries. This guide covers what shatavari is, how Ayurvedic tradition has used it, how the powder and the liquid extract differ, and how to use our Shatavari Transcendent Elixir.
What is shatavari?
Shatavari is Asparagus racemosus, a relative of the asparagus on your dinner plate. Unlike garden asparagus, it is a climbing plant. It has fine, needle-like leaves, small fragrant white flowers and a dense cluster of pale, finger-like roots. It grows wild across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, from lowland forests up into the Himalayan foothills. The root is the part used.
The name comes from Sanskrit. Shata means "one hundred", and the name is usually translated as "she who possesses a hundred roots". That is a nod both to the plant's mass of tuberous roots and to the abundance the tradition associates with it.
Shatavari in Ayurvedic tradition
In Ayurveda, shatavari is a rasayana: a rejuvenating tonic herb meant to be taken steadily over time, not reached for occasionally. It is one of the most widely used rasayana herbs in the tradition.
Ayurvedic texts describe shatavari as sweet and bitter in taste and cooling and moistening in quality. It is traditionally considered calming to pitta, the fiery dosha, and to vata, the dry and airy one. Practitioners have long valued it as a nourishing, cooling daily tonic, especially in hot weather and when life feels depleting.
Traditional preparations reflect that nourishing character. The powdered root was simmered into warm milk with a little ghee or honey, cooked into ghee itself, or prepared as a fresh juice from the root. Shatavari is traditionally associated with digestive comfort and whole-body balance. It is also a favourite of Ayurvedic cooks, appearing in sweets and warm drinks as well as in tonics.
That is a description of tradition, not a promise of any particular outcome. The best way to understand shatavari is to know where it comes from and to use it with care.
Powder vs tincture
Shatavari is available both as a dried root powder and as a liquid extract, and each has its place.
- Powder is the whole dried root, ground. It has a mild, slightly sweet and starchy taste. It suits the traditional warm-milk preparation and blends easily into smoothies and baking.
- A liquid extract (tincture) is the root extracted into a liquid. It is concentrated, quick to take by the dropperful, travels well and keeps for a long time.
For a fuller comparison of convenience, taste, shelf life and how each form is made, see our guide Powder vs Tincture: Which Form of a Tonic Herb Should You Buy?
Our Shatavari Transcendent Elixir is a Vedic alchemical triple-extract tincture:
- The herb: Shatavari grown and ethically wildcrafted in India.
- The menstruum: grape alcohol and alkaline water from the USA, with bio-active Marri honey from Western Australia.
- The process: extracted and processed in the USA.
The honey reflects a long Ayurvedic habit of taking herbs with a sweet carrier, or anupana. It also rounds out the root's bitter edge.
How to use the Shatavari Transcendent Elixir
From the product page, verbatim:
Take 1 mL (1 dropperful) - by itself, under the tongue or added to warm water or tea. Can be taken up to three times a day. Excellent blended in tonics, elixirs, kombucha, cocktails, love potions - be creative!
A few ways to use it:
- Warm milk, the traditional way. Add a dropperful to a cup of warm milk or oat milk with a pinch of cardamom. It is a modern take on the classic shatavari milk.
- In tea. Add a dropperful to a cup of herbal tea in the afternoon.
- Sparkling. Add it to kombucha or sparkling water with a squeeze of lime for a cooling drink in summer.
- Alongside your other tonics. Shatavari is often paired with other tonic herbs. If you enjoy blends, our Yin Power guide covers the tonic herb blend for the feminine. The Valley Transcendent Elixir is a Vedic-inspired liquid blend that includes shatavari alongside Ashoka tree, Himalayan cedar, long pepper root and sesame.
The elixir contains alcohol. Keep the bottle capped and out of direct sun.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, talk with your healthcare practitioner before adding shatavari or any new herb to your routine.
Frequently asked questions
What is shatavari?
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a climbing wild asparagus native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Its tuberous root has been used in Ayurveda for centuries as a rasayana, or rejuvenating tonic herb.
What does the name shatavari mean?
The Sanskrit name is usually translated as "she who possesses a hundred roots". It refers to the plant's dense cluster of tuberous roots and the abundance the tradition associates with it.
How is shatavari traditionally used?
In Ayurveda, shatavari is a cooling, nourishing daily tonic. Traditionally the root powder was simmered into warm milk with ghee or honey, cooked into ghee, or juiced fresh.
Should I choose shatavari powder or a tincture?
Powder suits warm milk, smoothies and cooking. A tincture is concentrated, quick to take by the dropperful and easy to travel with. Our powder vs tincture guide compares the two in detail.
How do I take the Shatavari Transcendent Elixir?
Take 1 mL (one dropperful) by itself under the tongue, or add it to warm water or tea, up to three times a day. It also blends into tonics, elixirs, kombucha and cocktails.
Where does Sun Potion's shatavari come from?
Our shatavari is grown and ethically wildcrafted in India. It is extracted and processed in the USA with grape alcohol, alkaline water and bio-active Marri honey from Western Australia.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare practitioner before beginning any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a medical condition.
