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Shatavari is the root of Asparagus racemosus, a climbing plant used for centuries in Ayurveda and sold in the US as powders, capsules and extracts marketed mainly to women. Its two most common uses are supporting breast milk supply and easing menopausal symptoms. Small trials report positive results for both, but reviewers rate the overall evidence as low quality, one recent menopause trial has been retracted, and the root contains plant compounds that may act on hormones. Here is what the research tested, what is known about safety and what to check before you try it.
Peptide Labs does not sell shatavari, and none of the products we carry lists it, so no product is recommended here. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Shatavari is the root of Asparagus racemosus, a different plant from the asparagus sold as a vegetable.
- Several small trials report more breast milk or higher prolactin with shatavari, but Cochrane rates the evidence for herbal milk boosters as low to very low certainty.
- Recent menopause trials are small, short and mostly from one country; one 2025 trial was retracted.
- Its saponins are described as phytoestrogens, and one trial measured rises in estradiol and FSH.
- People with asparagus allergy, hormone-sensitive conditions, diabetes medicines or a pregnancy should talk with a clinician first.
What is shatavari?
The NIH’s LactMed database calls Asparagus racemosus “wild asparagus” and notes that it is a different plant from Asparagus officinalis, the garden asparagus people eat. The dried root is the part used. LactMed lists its main compounds as steroidal saponins called shatavarins, which it describes as phytoestrogens, along with polysaccharides, mucilage, flavonoids and polyphenols. Shatavari is included in India’s official Ayurvedic pharmacopeia as an herb to support breastfeeding.
In the US you will see it as loose root powder, capsules, standardized extracts, granules mixed into drinks and blends that combine it with other Ayurvedic herbs. Marketing often calls it a tonic or an adaptogen. Those are traditional or promotional terms, not findings from controlled research.
Shatavari benefits: what the research shows
Most human research on shatavari comes from India and falls into two groups: trials in new mothers and trials in women around menopause. The table summarizes the main studies. These are research summaries, not evidence that shatavari will help any individual.
| Study | Who took part | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Gupta and Shaw, 2011 | 60 breastfeeding mothers | Prolactin rose more than three-fold compared with the control group |
| Birla et al., 2022 | 78 women after delivery; shatavari and oat bar vs placebo bar | More expressed milk at 72 hours and earlier breast fullness; lead author worked for a company |
| Ajgaonkar et al., 2025 | 120 women after delivery, 113 analyzed, 72 hours | More milk at 72 hours and earlier breast fullness; no adverse events reported |
| Cochrane review, 2020 | 41 trials of milk boosters, 3,005 mothers | Natural options, shatavari among them, gave very uncertain results; certainty low to very low |
| Mahajan et al., 2025 | 80 women with perimenopausal symptoms, 8 weeks | Better symptom and stress scores than placebo; estradiol and FSH rose |
| Ademola et al., 2025 | 135 women aged 45 to 65, three groups, 8 weeks | The clearest gain was for shatavari combined with ashwagandha |
Breast milk supply
LactMed sums up the milk-supply research as mixed. It points to one small, well-done trial in which prolactin and infant weight rose more with shatavari than with placebo, and a controlled study in which mothers had more milk and earlier breast fullness at 72 hours after delivery. Older trials often tested shatavari inside herbal mixtures, which makes its own effect hard to separate.
Independent reviewers are cautious. A 2013 systematic review of herbal milk boosters, which included shatavari, found small samples, weak randomization and mixed-herb products, and made no recommendation. The 2020 Cochrane review rated the evidence for natural milk boosters as low to very low certainty and called for better trials. LactMed adds that no milk booster should replace an evaluation of latch, feeding frequency and the health of mother and baby. If you are worried about supply, a lactation consultant or your baby’s clinician is the right first step. Our fenugreek guide covers another herb promoted for the same reason.
Shatavari for women around menopause
Several placebo-controlled trials published in 2024 and 2025 report better menopause symptom scores with shatavari root extract. They share important limits: each ran for about two months, enrolled fewer than 140 women, used a branded extract and was carried out mainly in India. Three of the recent trials share an author. In the three-group trial, the clearest improvement was in the group taking shatavari with ashwagandha, which makes it harder to credit shatavari alone. Our ashwagandha guide covers that herb’s own evidence and cautions.
In October 2026, the Journal of the American Nutrition Association retracted a 2025 trial that had reported shatavari extract improved hormonal balance and hot flashes in perimenopausal women. A retraction means the journal no longer stands behind the paper, so its findings should not be counted. Hot flashes, irregular bleeding or mood changes around menopause deserve a talk with a clinician, who can explain approved options and check for other causes.
Shatavari side effects and safety
LactMed says the safety of shatavari has not been rigorously studied, although small clinical studies found no adverse effects in mothers or their nursing infants. Recent trials reported few side effects; in the 2025 three-group study, one person in the shatavari group reported nausea. Short trials cannot rule out rare or long-term problems, so these are the main cautions:
- Asparagus allergy: shatavari belongs to the same genus as garden asparagus. A Spanish study of 27 people with asparagus allergy described skin reactions, asthma and, in three people, anaphylaxis after eating asparagus. We found no study testing whether those people also react to shatavari, so ask an allergist before trying it if you react to asparagus.
- Hormone-sensitive conditions: LactMed describes the root’s saponins as phytoestrogens, and the 2025 perimenopause trial measured rises in estradiol and FSH. If you have or had a hormone-sensitive cancer, endometriosis or fibroids, speak with your specialist first.
- Pregnancy: we found no clinical trials testing shatavari during pregnancy, so its safety then is unknown.
- Breastfeeding: the trials were short and small; use it only after talking with your clinician or a lactation consultant.
- Diabetes medicines: root extract lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats. Human data are lacking, but the effect could add to glucose-lowering medicines.
- Other medicines: two lab studies found that a water extract did not block CYP3A4, a liver enzyme that clears many drugs, yet no human interaction studies exist. Show the label to a pharmacist.
Quality and heavy metals in Ayurvedic products
Product quality matters as much as the herb. A 2008 JAMA study tested 193 Ayurvedic medicines bought online and found that 20.7% contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic. US-made products were no cleaner than Indian-made ones, and three in four of the contaminated products claimed to follow Good Manufacturing Practices. LactMed also warns that labeled and actual ingredients often differ in supplements, and that results from one tested extract may not apply to another product. Our shilajit guide covers the same contamination problem in another Ayurvedic product.
How to read a shatavari label
- Check the botanical name. Look for Asparagus racemosus root, not just “asparagus extract”.
- Note whether it is a whole-root powder or a standardized extract; the trials used specific extracts, so their results do not transfer automatically to other forms.
- Watch for proprietary blends that list a total weight without the amount of each herb, and for combinations with herbs that carry their own cautions.
- Look for an independent quality seal and heavy-metal testing. Our guide to third-party tested supplements explains what those seals check.
- Read phrases such as “hormone balance” or “female vitality” as marketing; the FDA does not approve supplements or their claims before sale.
For other herbs marketed to women, see our guides to vitex, red clover, dong quai and maca root, or read our sibling guide to sea buckthorn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is shatavari used for?
In Ayurveda it is used mainly to support breastfeeding and as a general tonic for women. In the US it is marketed for milk supply and menopausal symptoms, but the evidence is limited.
Is shatavari the same as asparagus?
No. Shatavari is Asparagus racemosus, a related but different plant from Asparagus officinalis, the vegetable. They are in the same genus, which matters for people with asparagus allergy.
Does shatavari increase breast milk?
Some small trials report more milk or higher prolactin, but Cochrane rates the evidence for herbal milk boosters as low to very low certainty. A lactation consultant should assess supply first.
What are common shatavari side effects?
Small trials reported few side effects, such as occasional nausea. Its long-term safety has not been rigorously studied, and allergy, hormone and medicine cautions apply.
Does shatavari affect hormones?
Its saponins are described as phytoestrogens, and one 2025 trial reported rises in estradiol and FSH. People with hormone-sensitive conditions should ask a specialist first.
Is shatavari safe during pregnancy?
There are no clinical trials in pregnancy, so safety is unknown. Talk with your obstetric clinician before using it.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or take medicines. 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.
Last reviewed October 2026.