Shatavari UK Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose (2026)

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is one of the most treasured herbs in traditional Ayurveda, where it is classified as a rasayana and has long been valued as a women’s tonic. If you are buying shatavari in the UK, this guide explains what to look for, the differences between forms, and how to tell an authentic product from a thin one.

What is shatavari?

Shatavari is the root of a climbing plant in the asparagus family. Its name is often translated as “she who has a hundred roots”, and it has been used in Ayurvedic practice for centuries, traditionally as a rejuvenating tonic for women. The meaningful specification on an extract label is the percentage of shatavarins (its characteristic saponins).

Forms: capsules, tablets and powder

Shatavari is sold as capsules and tablets (a fixed, convenient dose), and as a traditional powder (churna) that is usually stirred into warm milk or water. Capsules suit everyday use; powder suits those who prefer the traditional preparation and want to adjust their own amount.

How to choose an authentic shatavari

Look for a named Indian brand, a clear botanical name (Asparagus racemosus), a stated shatavarins percentage on extracts, batch lab testing for purity, and a real UK seller with fast dispatch. Popular authentic options in our range include Organic India Shatavari Capsules, ZEROHARM Women’s Balance (Shatavari & Ashwagandha) and ZEROHARM Women’s Midlife Support.

How to take shatavari

Always follow the serving on your product’s label, or the advice of a qualified practitioner. Capsules and tablets give a fixed daily dose; powder is typically measured and mixed into a warm drink. Shatavari is a food supplement and should not replace a varied, balanced diet.

Browse our full range — shop all authentic Ayurvedic supplements by category.

Shatavari in the classical texts

Shatavari is the tuberous root of Asparagus racemosus, a climbing wild asparagus found across India and the Himalayan foothills. The Sanskrit name is usually translated “she who possesses a hundred husbands” or “a hundred roots”, after the plant’s dense clusters of tubers. The Charaka Samhita lists shatavari among the rasayana (rejuvenative) herbs and in the group of herbs called balya (strengthening); the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu describes it as sweet and bitter in taste (madhura, tikta), heavy and unctuous in quality, cooling in potency (sheeta virya) and sweet after digestion, with a balancing action on vata and pitta. It is the principal herb of the classical women’s formulations Shatavari Kalpa and Shatavaryadi Churna, and one of the ingredients of chyawanprash.

Traditional dosage forms and how shatavari is taken

The classical form is root powder (churna) taken with warm milk, which is also the traditional carrier for its use as a rasayana; Shatavari Kalpa is a sweetened granule prepared for the same purpose. Medicated ghee (Shatavari Ghrita) is described in the texts. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India lists a traditional daily quantity of 3–6 g of root powder for adults. Tablets and capsules contain root powder or a water extract in a fixed dose, taken with water or warm milk. Shatavari is mildly sweet and not unpleasant, so powder is a practical choice. It is traditionally taken in the morning and evening. Follow the directions on the pack you buy.

Form	What it is	Traditional carrier	Who it suits
Churna (powder)	Dried root, ground	Warm milk or water	Traditional use; lowest cost
Kalpa (granules)	Root extract with sugar	Warm milk	Those who want the classical sweet preparation
Tablets / capsules	Root powder or extract	Water or warm milk	Fixed dose; travel
Ghrita	Medicated ghee	On its own or with warm milk	Practitioner-guided use

Comparing the shatavari brands sold in the UK

Himalaya, Dabur, Baidyanath, Patanjali, Zandu and Organic India all sell single-herb shatavari. Himalaya’s is a standardised extract; Organic India’s is certified organic in vegetarian capsules; Dabur, Baidyanath and Patanjali sell root powder and root-powder tablets, which are the cheapest per dose; several newer brands sell an extract standardised for saponins. Ashwagandha-shatavari combinations are a separate category. The products below are in stock at KantiGlow and shipped from India.

Product	Form	Price
Organic India Shatavari Capsules 60	Capsules	£7.99
Vyas Shatavari Churna Powder 100g	Churna	£5.99
Dabur Shatavari Tablets 60	Tablets	£4.99
Her Health Shatavari with Dashmool Capsules 60	Capsules	£12.99
Kapiva Organic Shatavari Powder 100g	Powder	£6.99
InLife Shatavari Extract 500mg Capsules 60	Capsules	£10.99
ZEROHARM Shatavari Tablets	Tablets	£15.99
VAHDAM Shatavari Capsules	Capsules	£10.99
Sri Sri Tattva Shatavari 500mg Tablets 60	Tablets	£5.99
Jiva Shatavari Tablets 120	Tablets	£9.99

Reading a shatavari label

The label should show Asparagus racemosus and the part used (root, mula). Powders should state the pack weight; extract products should state the extract ratio or standardisation. Classical products carry an AYUSH licence number and often name the reference text. Expect a batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates and an MRP in rupees. Shatavari root powder is cream-coloured with a faint sweet smell; greyish, odourless powder is old. Wild-harvested shatavari is under collection pressure in India, so a label that states cultivated or sustainably sourced root is a good sign.

Fitting shatavari into a daily routine

Ayurveda pays as much attention to when and how a herb is taken as to the herb itself. Shatavari is traditionally taken in the morning and evening, with warm milk, the classical carrier. Most people find it easiest to attach it to an existing habit — the morning cup of tea, or the evening meal — and to keep to a single product rather than several that overlap. Start with the lowest amount on the pack, stay with it for a few weeks before judging, and keep a note of what you took and when. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescribed medicines or under medical supervision, ask a pharmacist or GP before adding any supplement, and stop and seek advice if anything disagrees with you. Shatavari products are food supplements: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and should not replace a varied, balanced diet.

Storage and shelf life

Shatavari powder is slightly hygroscopic and cakes if it gets damp; keep it sealed with the desiccant sachet if one is supplied. Powders and dried herbs keep for the period printed on the pack — usually 18 to 36 months — if the pack is resealed and kept cool, dry and out of sunlight; capsules and tablets keep to the printed expiry in their blister or bottle. Damp is the main enemy of Indian powders in a UK kitchen, so keep the churna away from the kettle and the hob. A change of colour or a stale smell means the herb is past its best even if the date says otherwise.

Sources and further reading

• Ministry of Ayush — Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Vol. IV, monograph “Shatavari” (root).
• Ministry of Ayush, Government of India — The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (monographs list botanical identity, parts used and traditional quantities).
• Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, the two foundational Ayurvedic texts, and the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, the sixteenth-century materia medica in which most single herbs are classified.
• UK Food Standards Agency — guidance on food supplements and labelling; Advertising Standards Authority — rules on health claims for food supplements.
• MHRA — Traditional Herbal Registration scheme (explains the difference between a registered herbal medicine and a food supplement in the UK).

Frequently asked questions

What is shatavari used for?

In traditional Ayurveda, shatavari is classified as a rasayana and has long been valued as a women’s tonic. It is a food supplement and is described in terms of its traditional use rather than health outcomes.

Which form of shatavari is best?

Capsules and tablets are the most convenient with a fixed dose; traditional powder (churna) lets you mix your own amount into warm milk or water. Both can be authentic – it is a matter of preference.

How do I know shatavari is authentic?

Look for the botanical name Asparagus racemosus, a named Indian brand, a shatavarins percentage on extracts, batch lab testing, and a UK seller with fast dispatch.

Is shatavari vegetarian?

Shatavari is a plant root and is generally suitable for vegetarians; check the capsule shell, as many are plant-based HPMC.

How is shatavari taken?

Follow the serving stated on the label. Capsules and tablets are taken as a fixed daily dose; powder is usually stirred into warm milk or water.

Food supplement. Not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, consult a healthcare professional before use.