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Shatavari
Common Name:
Asparagus (Eng.)
Sanskrit Name:
Shatavari- Means “she who possesses one hundred husbands.” It has a rejuvenate action on the female reproductive organs. It nourishes the ovum and increases fertility. Shatavari is a powerful aphrodisiac and is said to aid in love and devotion.
Shatamooli- As it has many roots in cluster
Shataveerya- Means one which is a great aphrodisiac and rejuvenator of the reproductive system
Bahusuta- One having hundreds of sons; this tells the importance of this herb
Atirasa- Means having very good nourishing quality
Lt. Name:
Asparagus racemosus- Liliaceae
Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Madhura (Sweet); Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Characteristics)- Guru (Heavy); Snigdha (Unctuous)
Veerya (Potency)- Sheeta (Cool and calm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Madhura (Sweet)
Effect of Tridosha (Three bio humors):
Pacifies Vata and Pitta i.e. useful in management of diseases resulting from aggravation of Vata/ Pitta or both.
Actions according to Ayurveda:
Balya- Increases strength of the body
Vayah sthapana- Stabilise the age i.e. delays the effects of old age on the body and mind
Rasayana- Rejuvenates the body
Medha agni pushtida- Increases the memory and the analytical ability of a person
Netrya- Rejuvenates the eyes
Atisarajit- Useful in management of Diarrheal conditions
Shukrakari- Increases the quality and quantity of sperms in semen
Stanyakari- Improves the functioning of mammary glands
Shothajit- Useful in management of all edematous conditions
Hrudya- Cardiac tonic
Vrishya- Increases sexual desire
Nihanti arsho grahni- Useful in management of Hemorrhoids and assimilatory disorders
Kshyapaha- Useful in conditions related with emaciation and under nutrition
Medicinal Value:
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Oral administration of powdered dried root of A. racemosus has been found to promote gastric emptying in healthy volunteers. Its action is reported to be comparable with that of the synthetic dopamine antagonist metoclopromide.
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The juice of fresh root of A. racemosus has been shown to have definite curative effect in patients of duodenal ulcers. A. racemosus along with Terminalia chebula reported to protect gastric mucosa against pentagastrin and carbachol induced ulcers, by significantly reducing both severity of ulceration and ulcer index. Decreased volume and increased pH of the secretions in drug treated rats suggest a reduced responsiveness of the gastric parietal cells to secretogogues and narcotizing agents. Cytoprotective effect has been suggested to be due to increased output of mucus.
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Shatavari has been suggested to heal the ulcers by potentiating defensive factors and many hypothesis have been put forward for its possible mechanism:
(i) It may prolong the life span of mucosal cells, increase the secretion and viscosity of mucus and strengthen the mucosal barrier and thus reduces H+ ion back diffusion into the mucosa.
(ii) Shatavari may form a complex with mucus of other substances at the base of ulcer which may protect the ulcer from the corrosive and proteolytic effects of acid-pepsin.
(iii) It may have cytoprotective action like that of prostaglandins.
Other possible mechanism may be deactivation and binding of pepsin or of bile salts.
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A.racemosus in combination with other herbal substances has been shown to increase milk production in females complaining of deficient milk secretion. Gradual decrease in milk secretion, on withdrawl of the drug suggested that the increase in milk secretion was due to drug therapy only and not due to any psychological effect.
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Immunomodulating property of A. racemosus has been shown to protect the rat and mice against experimental induced abdominal sepsis. Oral administration of decoction of powdered root of A. racemosus has been reported to produce leucocytosis and predominant neutrophilia along with enhanced phagocytic activity of the macrophages and polymorphs. Percentage mortality of A. racemosus treated animals was found to be significantly reduced while survival rate was comparable to that of the group treated with a combination of metronidazole and gentamicin. Since A. racemosus is reported to be devoid of antibacterial action, so protection offered by A. racemosus against sepsis by altering function of macrophages, indicates its possible immunomodulatory property.
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Alcoholic extract of the root of A. racemosus has been reported to produce positive ionotropic and chronotropic effect on frog's heart with lower doses and cardiac arrest with higher doses. The extract was found to produce hypotension in cats which was blocked by atropine, indicating cholinergic mechanism of action. The extract also produced congestion and complete stasis of blood flow in mesentric vessels of mice and rat. Slight increase in the bleeding time and no effect on clotting time was observed on I.V. administration of the extract in rabbits.
Safety profile:
In Ayurveda, A. racemosus has been described as absolutely safe for long term use, even during pregnancy and lactation. Systemic administration of higher doses of all the extracts did not produce any abnormality in behaviour pattern of mice and rat.
Useful part:
Roots
Doses:
Powder- 3-6gm; Decoction- 50-100ml; Juice of freshly collected asparagus- 10-20ml
Some useful combinations with Shatawari:
Shatawari ghruta; Narayana tail; Vishnu tail; Shatamoolyadi loha
Some special notes about Shatavari:
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