Ashoka, Lodhra and Shatavari: A UK Guide to Women’s Herbs

Ashoka, Lodhra and Shatavari are the three herbs most often grouped together as “women’s herbs” in Ayurveda: Ashoka and Lodhra are tree barks, Shatavari is a root, and each has a distinct place in the classical texts. This guide explains what each one is, how they differ, the forms you will find in the UK (Ashoka tablets, powders and capsules), why Ashoka bark has a sustainability and authenticity problem, and who should check with a GP or pharmacist first.

Three herbs, three different roles in Ayurveda

It is easy to assume these herbs are interchangeable because they often appear on the same shelf. In Ayurvedic tradition they are not. They come from unrelated plants, use different plant parts and sit in different classical groupings.

• Ashoka (Saraca asoca, sometimes listed as Saraca indica) is a flowering tree of the Indian subcontinent. The stem bark is the part used. Its Sanskrit name is usually translated as “without sorrow”.
• Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa) is a small tree whose stem bark is used. It is strongly astringent in taste, which is central to how Ayurveda describes it.
• Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a climbing asparagus whose tuberous roots are used. It is sweet and cooling in Ayurvedic terms and is described as a rasayana (rejuvenating herb).

Put simply, Ashoka and Lodhra are drying, astringent barks, while Shatavari is a moistening, nourishing root. Ayurvedic formulas often pair herbs with contrasting qualities, which is one reason you see them together.

What the classical texts say

The Charaka Samhita, one of the foundational Ayurvedic texts, organises herbs into fifty groups of ten (mahakashaya) in Sutrasthana chapter 4. These groupings describe how classical physicians classified each herb. They are traditional categories, not evidence of an effect.

• Ashoka appears in the vedanasthapana group, often translated as herbs that “settle discomfort”. Ayurvedic tradition closely associates Ashoka bark with the female reproductive system, and later texts describe preparations such as Ashokarishta, a fermented liquid preparation.
• Lodhra appears in three groups: sandhaniya (joining or uniting), purisha sangrahaniya (binding) and shonitasthapana (stabilising the blood). Classical texts describe two kinds, shabara and pattika lodhra, which later writers link to different Symplocos species. Lodhra is also traditionally used externally in face packs because of its astringency.
• Shatavari appears under synonyms such as atirasa in the balya (strength-giving) and vayasthapana (age-sustaining) groups. In Ayurvedic tradition it is regarded as the leading rasayana for women throughout life. The name is often explained as “she who has a hundred husbands”, although some authors read it as “a hundred roots”, after the plant’s many tubers.

Modern research on these herbs is limited. Most of it is laboratory or animal work, or small studies that do not allow firm conclusions about what a supplement does in people.

Ashoka, Lodhra and Shatavari compared

	Ashoka	Lodhra	Shatavari
Botanical name	Saraca asoca	Symplocos racemosa	Asparagus racemosus
Part used	Stem bark	Stem bark	Tuberous root
Ayurvedic taste and quality	Astringent, bitter; cooling	Astringent; cooling, drying	Sweet, bitter; cooling, moistening
Classical grouping (Charaka)	Vedanasthapana	Sandhaniya, purisha sangrahaniya, shonitasthapana	Balya, vayasthapana (as atirasa)
Common UK forms	Tablets, capsules, powder	Mainly powder	Tablets, capsules, powder (churna), blends
Main quality issue	Substitution with other barks; vulnerable species	More than one Symplocos species sold as Lodhra	Generally well supplied; check plant part and extract

Forms you will find: tablets, capsules and powders

Ashoka is most often bought in the UK as tablets or capsules. Products such as Bio Resurge Ashoka capsules offer a measured daily amount without the very bitter, astringent taste of the bark. If you prefer the traditional route, Planet Ayurveda Ashoka powder can be stirred into warm water.

Lodhra is mainly sold as a powder, such as Neutraved Lodhra powder. In Ayurvedic practice the powder is taken in small amounts with water or honey, or mixed with water or rose water as a paste for the skin. Do a patch test before applying any herbal paste to your face.

Shatavari has the widest choice. There are simple tablets such as Dabur Shatavari tablets, organic capsules like Organic India Shatavari, and traditional root powder such as Vyas Shatavari churna, which is classically taken with warm milk. Blends such as Zeroharm Women’s Balance with Shatavari and Ashwagandha combine it with other herbs. If you want a deeper look at extracts, strengths and timing, see our Shatavari UK buyer’s guide.

Whatever the form, follow the amount on the label rather than a figure you have read online. Strengths vary a lot between whole-herb powders and concentrated extracts.

Ashoka’s sustainability and authenticity problem

This is the most important thing to know before buying Ashoka. Saraca asoca is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Wild populations in India have declined because of habitat loss and heavy harvesting, and the bark is the most sought-after part. Demand is far higher than the supply of genuine bark.

The result is widespread substitution. In a 2016 study published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, researchers used DNA barcoding to test raw Ashoka bark bought from 25 herbal markets, mostly in southern India. They reported that more than 80% of the samples were not Saraca asoca and came from at least seven other plant families. The most common substitute is the bark of Polyalthia longifolia, the tall ornamental tree also called “Ashoka” in parts of India, which is unrelated. A 2017 study in Pharmacognosy Magazine developed chemical markers to tell the two apart, and found signs of adulteration in commercial samples.

What you can do as a shopper:

• Choose products that name the botanical source, Saraca asoca or Saraca indica, not just “Ashoka”.
• Prefer established manufacturers with a manufacturing licence and batch numbers printed on the pack.
• Ask the brand how it authenticates its bark and whether it uses cultivated sources. Researchers have suggested leaves and flowers as possible alternatives to bark, but that is still being studied.

Lodhra has a smaller version of the same issue: several Symplocos species are traded as Lodhra, so again look for the botanical name.

How people use them together in a routine

Some classical and modern Ayurvedic formulas combine Ashoka and Lodhra, sometimes with Shatavari, reflecting the traditional pairing of astringent barks with a nourishing root. If you are new to these herbs, a sensible approach is:

• Start with one herb at a time so you can notice how you get on with it.
• Take it at a consistent time with food, unless the label says otherwise.
• Avoid stacking several products that contain the same herb. Check every ingredient list.

For a gentle, week-by-week structure built around Shatavari, our women’s monthly rhythm routine walks through diet, rest and herbs together. If you would rather start with a bundle, The Women’s Foundation Kit groups several of our women’s wellness products in one order.

Safety: who should check first

Good-quality safety data in people are limited for all three herbs, so it pays to be cautious.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not take Ashoka or Lodhra, and do not take Shatavari unless a qualified healthcare professional has advised it. Shatavari is used traditionally after childbirth in India, but there is too little safety evidence to recommend it in the UK, and animal studies have raised questions.
• Trying to conceive or having fertility treatment: speak to your clinic before taking any herbal supplement.
• Hormone-sensitive conditions: Shatavari contains steroidal saponins (shatavarins), and it is often described as having hormone-like activity. If you have, or have had, a condition sensitive to hormones, such as some breast cancers, endometriosis or fibroids, ask your specialist first.
• Medicines: interactions have not been well studied. Laboratory work suggests Shatavari may affect a liver enzyme (CYP3A4) that processes many medicines. If you take prescribed medicines, including hormonal contraception, HRT, blood thinners, diuretics or diabetes medicines, check with a pharmacist.
• Allergy: avoid Shatavari if you are allergic to asparagus.
• Digestion: Lodhra and Ashoka are very astringent. Some people find they cause constipation or an upset stomach.
• Children: these are not for children.

Most importantly, do not use herbs instead of seeing a doctor. Heavy, painful or irregular periods, bleeding between periods or after menopause, and pelvic pain all need a proper medical assessment.

Choosing your first product

If you are drawn mainly to Shatavari, start there. It is the best supplied, easiest to take and the most widely researched of the three. If Ashoka particularly interests you, pick a capsule or tablet from a licensed manufacturer that names Saraca asoca, and take only what the label suggests. Lodhra is the most specialist of the three and is usually used as a powder within a wider routine. You can browse all of these in our women’s wellness collection.

Sources and further reading

• Santhosh Kumar JU et al. “DNA barcoding and NMR spectroscopy based assessment of species adulteration in the raw herbal trade of Saraca asoca.” International Journal of Legal Medicine, 2016;130(6):1457–1470.
• Saluja S, Gautam YK. “Plant profile, phytochemistry, pharmacology and genetic diversity of Saraca asoca: a vulnerable medicinal tree of India.” Journal of the Indian Botanical Society, 2023;103(2):109–118.
• Hegde S et al. “Resolving identification issues of Saraca asoca from its adulterant and commercial samples using phytochemical markers.” Pharmacognosy Magazine, 2017, vol. 13, issue 50s, pp. S266–S272.
• Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana chapter 4 (Shadvirechana Shatashritiya), carakasamhitaonline.com
• Govindarajan N et al. “Comparative powder microscopic and HPTLC studies on stem barks of Symplocos racemosa and Symplocos crataegoides.” Pharmacognosy Journal, 2016;8(4).
• Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India (monographs for Ashoka, Lodhra and Shatavari).

Frequently asked questions

What are Ashoka tablets?

Ashoka tablets contain powdered or extracted stem bark of the Ashoka tree, Saraca asoca. In Ayurvedic tradition the bark is closely associated with women’s wellbeing. Tablets and capsules give a measured amount without the strong, bitter taste of the raw bark.

Can I take Ashoka, Lodhra and Shatavari together?

Some Ayurvedic formulas combine them, but it is sensible to start with one herb at a time, follow each label, and check ingredient lists so you do not double up. If you take any medicines or have a health condition, ask a pharmacist or GP first.

Is Ashoka bark endangered?

Saraca asoca is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and demand for the bark exceeds the supply of genuine material. Studies of Indian markets have found that much of the bark sold as Ashoka comes from other trees, so choose products that name Saraca asoca and come from licensed manufacturers.

Can I take these herbs while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Do not take Ashoka or Lodhra during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and only take Shatavari if a qualified healthcare professional has advised it. There is not enough safety evidence to recommend them.

What is the difference between Ashoka and Shatavari?

Ashoka is an astringent tree bark, while Shatavari is a sweet, nourishing root from a type of asparagus. Ayurveda describes Shatavari as a rasayana for women throughout life, while Ashoka is a more specialist bark traditionally used in specific formulas.

This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, speak to a healthcare professional before using herbal supplements.