The master Ayurvedic herb for women — moistening, cooling, hormone-balancing across the lifecycle.
These are the everyday prep instructions for Shatavari — covered once here so each use case below can focus on what's specific to that purpose.
Shatavari offers a sweet, moistening root traditionally used to support women through every stage of life. It's been Ayurveda's premier women's tonic — the name means "she who has a hundred husbands".
Powder: 1 tsp in warm milk with honey 1-2x/day; Capsules: 500mg 2x/day; tincture: 30-60 drops 2x/day
What to look for when buying: powder, capsules, glycerite, and milk decoction.
The general prep above applies to every use below. These cards explain what Shatavari supports, why it works for each purpose, and what to notice.
Brew a cup of tea and sip slowly after meals.
Digestive herbs gently relax the muscles of your gut and stimulate the digestive juices that break food down. The classic European post-meal tea ritual — chamomile, peppermint, fennel — exists for a reason.
Shatavari is best known for digestion. Brew a cup of tea and sip slowly after meals.
Shatavari can be prepared as powder, milk decoction, tincture, and capsule. For leaves and flowers, an infusion (steep in just-boiled water, covered) is best. For roots, barks, and seeds, a decoction (simmer for 20–30 minutes) is needed to extract the actives. Tinctures and capsules are convenient when you don't want to brew.
Powder: 1 tsp in warm milk with honey 1-2x/day; Capsules: 500mg 2x/day; tincture: 30-60 drops 2x/day
Shatavari is sold as powder, capsules, glycerite, and milk decoction. Whole dried herb is the most economical and lets you brew tea; tincture is convenient for daily use and travel; capsules are easiest if you don't like the taste.
Airtight; powder keeps 2 years.
India — the fresh or dried root. Banyan Botanicals, Pure Indian Foods.
In traditional herbal systems like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, Shatavari is considered cool, moist, and sweet-bitter. Energetics describe how an herb feels in the body — cooling or warming, drying or moistening. They help match the herb to the person and the season.
India — the fresh or dried root. Banyan Botanicals, Pure Indian Foods.
Tradition: Ayurveda's premier women's tonic — the name means "she who has a hundred husbands".
Energetics: Cool, moist, sweet-bitter.
Common forms: powder, capsules, glycerite, milk decoction.
Preparation methods: Powder, Milk decoction, Tincture, Capsule.
Dosage: Powder: 1 tsp in warm milk with honey 1-2x/day; Capsules: 500mg 2x/day; tincture: 30-60 drops 2x/day
Airtight; powder keeps 2 years.
Generally very safe — the name means "who possesses 100 husbands," suggesting rejuvenating potency. Estrogen-modulating: caution with estrogen-sensitive conditions (endometriosis, certain breast cancers). May cause water retention in some kapha types. Possible interactions with diuretics.
