Hathwariya…  The Herb That Gives 100 Husbands!

by Emme Haddon

Asparagus racemosus

, a popular indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka and India, referred to as the Queen of Herbs in Ayurveda. In Sanskrit, it is known as Shatavari, said to mean ‘she who possesses 100 husbands’ – a herbal aphrodisiac claimed to promote love and devotion, and to impart the reproductive strength to cater to as many partners. Although I struggle to relate to anyone actually aspiring to have a 100 husbands – the name piqued my curiosity!

Asparagus racemosus is a woody slender shrub or climbing perennial vine, with needle-like leaves which produce small white fragrant flowers followed by blackish-purple berries and forms shoots from a tuberous root system. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals with phytochemicals including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, tannins and antioxidants.

Well-documented in the Indian and British Pharmacopoeia, Asparagus racemosus is an extremely versatile Ayurvedic herb used to balance the vata and pitta doshas with multidimensional health benefits referred to in the two main ancient texts on Ayurvedic medicines, Charak Samhita and Ashtang Hridyam. As an adaptogenic rasayana herb it simultaneously addresses many different types of imbalances, increases longevity, improves cognitive function, vigour and vitality whilst helping the body deal with stress and stress-related immune disorders. It has demonstrated efficacy in treating diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, gastritis, gastric ulcers, diarrhoea indigestion and respiratory conditions such as bronchitis. Asparagus racemosus may even be one of nature’s best kept anti-aging secrets! The saponins in the roots have been shown to reduce the free-radical damage that leads to wrinkles and to prevent the breakdown of collagen which helps maintain skin’s elasticity. Another interesting studu demonstrated that its root extract has remarkable ovicidal, larvicidal and adulticidal toxicity against the Aedes aegypti, the mosquito carrier of dengue, as well as, mosquitos carrying malaria, Japanese encephalitis and elephantiasis.

The extract of Asparagus racemosus roots, is most prized as a reproductive tonic with a nourishing and balancing action on the entire female reproductive system and hormones throughout all stages of womanhood. It also serves as a powerful male tonic often used in conjunction with ashwagandha or bala to improve sperm count. Whilst most Google searches give the translation of shatavari as ‘she who possesses 100 husbands’, a more apt interpretation of the Sanskrit ‘shat’ meaning 100, ‘avar’ meaning below and ‘vari’ meaning cure, would be ‘100 roots’ or ‘100 cures’. Given the powerful medicinal benefits to the female reproductive system of the abundant root system of this plant, it is easy to see how it acquired its name and folkloric reputation! This Queen of Herbs is the equivalent reproductive tonic for women that Ashwagandha, the King of Herbs, is for men. It has been demonstrated to:

= regulate the menstrual cycle & reduce hormonal issues such as PMS (bloating, headaches, cramps, acne & mood swings), & polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

=aid fertility issues & prevent miscarriages

=increase libido,

=balance oestrogen and progesterone,

=post-partum – balance the hormones & increase breast milk supply, support women through perimenopause and menopause – reducing hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, palpitations, memory loss, sleep disorders, weight gain & mood swings,

=help maintain normal bone density & osteoporosis preventative

=help balance and restore hormones for women who have undergone hysterectomies

The global women’s health market size was USD 35.02 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 41.05 billion by 2027. Research suggests that over 90% of women in their 30s suffer with PMS and for many the symptoms are so severe that they regularly miss work. PCOS is among the most common endocrine disorders and a major cause of anovulatory infertility in women. Furthermore, around 85 % of postmenopausal women have experienced a menopause-related symptom in their lifetime and in the US alone, the prevalence of hot flushes and night sweats alone is estimated at approximately 40 to 50 million women. With the aging population of the world, it is estimated that 1.2 billion women will be menopausal or postmenopausal by the year 2030. With more awareness of the potential risks associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) menopausal women are increasingly turning to in plant-derived natural oestrogens supplements to relieve menopausal symptoms. Although the Ayurvedic demand for Asparagus racemosus is constantly on the rise there is a huge, as yet, untapped global market. In India in 2016 the plant was considered ‘endangered’ in its natural habit but efforts to promote its cultivation seem to be paying off and it is now considered a highly profitable agribusiness.