Any new mom will tell you that breastfeeding
can be one of the most intimate bonding experiences between a mother and her
child. But they may also tell you that it can be one of the most difficult
aspects of new motherhood. Challenges from latching to lactation can make
breastfeeding especially hard for new moms and their newborns.
Known the world-over as the “queen of herbs,” shatavari
belongs to the asparagus family and is best known for promoting women’s health,
especially as it relates to reproductive health and hormone production.
Shatavari can also be a big help for nursing mothers, as it helps with both the
quality and quantity of milk production. Read on to learn more about this amazing
herb and how it can help new moms make nursing easier.
The Origin of the Queen of Herbs
Although shatavari belongs to the asparagus
family, in its natural state, it actually looks more like a pine tree. Its thin
trunk and narrow branches often sprout green pine needles, white flowers and
even dark berries throughout the year. And while the entirety of the shatavari
plant can be used for medicinal purposes, it’s in the roots where the its true
power is found. Shatavari plants produce more than 100 roots when they are
fully grown, with each being about 3 feet long and looking like pale sweet
potatoes. As the roots mature over time and grow deeper into soil, they absorb
more nutrients that give shatavari its ancient healing properties.
Most often taken as a liquid or powder
extract, shatavari roots are used mainly for female health, including lactation
as noted above, as well as conception and reproduction. In fact, some translations say that shatavari means “she who
possesses 100 husbands,” as a nod to the herb’s ability to rejuvenate libido
and enhance fertility! But while this wonder herb is most often used to give
women a boost, it also has a wide range of potential benefits for both women
and men, including antioxidant support, brain and mood support, as well as
gastrointestinal tract and digestive health support.
Shatavari and Ayurvedic Medicine
The shatavari herb has played a pivotal role
in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine is a
3,000-year-old medicinal practice that originated in India and continues to be
used all over the world as one of the most popular forms of traditional medicine.
The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words for life
(“ayur”) and science (“veda”), with key concepts of its medicinal practice
including universal interconnectedness between humans, health and the universe,
the body’s constitution called “prakriti” and life forces called “doshas.”
The doshas are where shatavari comes in. In
Ayurvedic medicine, all living things contain space, air, fire, water, and
earth, and these are the building blocks that correspond to three doshas:
pitta, vata, and kapha. According to Ayurveda, the pitta dosha can influence an
individual’s well-being – both in the moment and over the course of life – but
it can also fluctuate in the face of multiple conditions such as weather,
emotional state, and stress. If the pitta dosha is out of balance, shatavari
may be an ideal herb to help bring it back in line with the four elements of
space, air, water, and earth.
How Shatavari Can Help Nursing Moms
Now that you know a little bit about Ayurvedic
medicine and shatavari’s role in this ancient medicinal practice, there are
some pretty cool ways that this queen of herbs can help mothers who are
breastfeeding. Shatavari works, not just to improve the amount of breast milk
your body can produce, but also the quality of it. The herb is known to
stimulate two key hormones in balanced lactation, called prolactin and corticoids. In fact, shatavari
is considered so safe and effective that many pediatricians in India recommend
the herb for nursing mothers.
A DIY Shatavari Recipe for Nursing Moms
Using shatavari to help with lactation and
breastfeeding is pretty simple. Add the dry root to a cup of milk (dairy,
almond, or whatever you like!) and heat for 10 minutes or until it reaches a
temperature you like. Filter out the root and any residue and drink early in
the morning to promote lactation. As a good rule of thumb, start with one or
two small roots, then add additional roots over time until you find what works
best for you.
In addition to this DIY shatavari recipe,
there are also a host of shatavari supplements you can try. Whether you want a
pill, a powder or a liquid, you can find the shatavari remedy that works best
for you!
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Photo by Sean Roy on Unsplash
