GHS Natural Health Blog

In traditional Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine, asparagus root has many uses, including powerful rejuvenating properties that act on the female reproductive system.

Unlike the West, where it is often viewed as a nuisance, menstruation in the Ayurvedic tradition is considered an essential process of cleansing and renewal. As a result, women are thought to be healthier and longer living than men, and menstrual blood is deemed sacred.

The queen of herbs

Asparagus root, or shatavari as it is known in Ayurvedic medicine, is often referred to as the ‘queen of herbs’ because it is said to promote love and devotion (the Hindu word shatavari actually translates as ‘capable of a hundred husbands’). It is also sometimes considered the female equivalent to Ashwagandha (Withania somniferia), a herb that is often used to increase energy and stamina, reduce anxiety and mental fatigue, improve immunity and boost sex drive in men.

From puberty to menopause

With its cleansing, nourishing, soothing and strengthening effects on the female reproductive organs, asparagus root can be used throughout a woman’s entire reproductive life cycle. Traditionally, it has been used to treat premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), pelvic inflammatory diseases such as endometriosis, and the various symptoms of menopause. The herb also helps to build blood and support deep tissue, making it useful in preparing the uterus for conception. It can also act as a postpartum tonic by helping to increase lactation and normalising the uterus and fluctuating hormones. Asparagus root has even been shown to help in cases of infertility, by improving egg quality in older prospective mothers. During menopause, and for women who have had hysterectomies, the herb helps to boost the supply of female hormones that usually become deficient around this time. It can also soothe vaginal dryness, another typical result of the natural ageing process.

Evidence and availability

Until recently, asparagus root was only available to Western herbal practitioners in an alcohol tincture. Now it is available over the counter in capsule form. In addition to its role in female sexual health, asparagus root is also indicated for gastrointestinal disorders, such as heartburn, nausea and stomach ulcers, as well as for relieving constipation. Research results and years of use have shown asparagus root to be an extremely effective and low-risk prescription for all of the symptoms mentioned, but it should not be taken during pregnancy.

Asparagus root is commonly prescribed for:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Painful periods
• Uterine cramping
• Heavy periods
• Breast tenderness
• Hot flushes
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Hormone imbalances
• Low libido
• Excess vaginal discharge
• Poor breast milk supply
• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal reflux
• Gastrointestinal hyperacidity
• Gastrointestinal ulcers
• Inflammation
• Suppressed immunity

Case Study:

*I first met Susan doing a talk at a local community centre regarding menopause. She subsequently made an appointment to see me. She was 44 years of age, having regular periods but flooding and clotting requiring pad changes every 20 – 30 minutes with each menstrual cycle. She was experiencing depression and other common symptoms associated with perimenopause. She had previously self prescribed over the counter ‘menopause’ supplements, but this resulted in even heavier menstrual bleeding. This led me to believe that she either had fibroids or adenomyosis (a form of endometriosis), thus the oestrogenic supplements aggravated her condition. I suggested she return to her GP and request a pelvic ultrasound. The ultrasound showed extensive adenomyosis. I then prescribed her asparagus root. This lightened her periods extensively, Susan no longer worried about leaving the house. She was taking asparagus root everyday of the cycle and double doses on the heavy days. She was also experiencing hot flushes, fatigue and some depressive symptoms. We treated this with various liver tonics but found that sage worked the best to control the hot flushes. We used homoeopathics to control the depression and iron supplementation (due to history of heavy bleeding) to treat the fatigue. Four years later, we continue the treatment combinations of asparagus root and sage with full relief of reproductive symptoms associated with menopause and the existing adenomyosis.

*Tracey Yeend, ND, RN/RM, Cert Pharm, is a registered nurse, midwife and naturopath practising in South Australia.

Say goodbye to night sweats

The majority of menopausal women suffer with the distressing symptom of excessive sweating. In some women this plagues them day and night for others it may be a night-time only occurrence. Whatever the case many women agree this is the worst part of menopause! However it appears a traditional culinary herb may hold the solution for this age old problem. The herb, sage (Salvia officinalis) has been used for many years for the treatment of excessive sweating. Even if you are not in the menopausal category, if you are male or female and sweat or perspire a lot then this herb may provide a natural treatment for your symptoms.

Article thanks to Herbs and Health Magazine Australia

So, what can you do with it?

• Don’t think of it as a replacement for extra virgin olive oil, but rather as a new oil, a new flavour, to introduce to food. Use it in place of other oils, or as a blend with olive oil.
• It will heighten the flavour of any dish that features avocados. Stir it into avocado dips, guacamole and avocado soup, for example.
• Drizzle it over a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad. Season with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a few squirts of lemon. You could also add some plump Spanish or Italian green olives to this. Basil, lemon and lime basil will also add an extra complementary flavour.
• Make a New World gazpacho with avocado oil in place of olive oil and garnish the chilled soup with finely diced avocado carefully tossed with avocado oil, chopped fresh red chilli and chopped coriander.
• Make a bulky gazpacho (use very little liquid) and strew the top with garlicky prawns seared in avocado oil.
• Sear fresh scallops in very hot avocado oil, grind over some black pepper and sprinkle with chopped coriander.
• Drizzle over a salad of cos lettuce, goats’ cheese, snipped chives, lemon or lime segments and serve with crispy chunks of garlic or walnut bread.
• Make a tapas of fat green Spanish olives with a few strips of orange peel, a few cloves of smashed garlic, a sprig of oregano or marjoram and freshly ground black pepper and drizzle with avocado oil.
• Drizzle it over cooked seafood, mixing in crushed garlic and chopped Italian parsley, or crushed garlic and a little finely chopped fresh red chilli.
• Mix it with ground pink peppercorns and drizzle it over salmon steaks before grilling them.
• Marinate seafood in avocado oil and lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper, before pan-frying, grilling or barbecuing.
• Use it in a fruity smoked chicken salad that includes cubed rock or honeydew melon.
• Dress fresh steamed artichokes with avocado oil mixed with lemon juice, salt, pepper, crushed garlic and crushed mint leaves