Bitterroot Restoration

Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae

Common name: Satavar, Shatavari, or Shatamuli (Beng.); Asparagus (Eng.).
Edible Parts: Root, leaves
Native Range: Native to India and the Himalayas.

Asparagus racemosus is a creeper. It prefers to take root in gravelly, rocky soils, high up in piedmont plains (1,300 - 1,400 meters elev.). Satavar has odd little pine-needle-like leaves that are uniform, and shiny green. In July it has minute, white flowers on short, spiky stems, and in September it fruits blackish-purple, globular berries.

The roots and leaves are used for medicinal purpose. The plant is used both internally as well as externally. The medicated oil is the best medicament, in vata diseases and vata – pitta diseases of the head, useful for massage. The paste of its fresh leaves is applied on burning sensation of the skin in smallpox and bullae. The famous preparation Narayana taila is used externally on large scale on many vata diseases for massage.