Shatavari for Breast Growth
Use of shatavari for breast growth is acknowledged in the ancient Ayurveda literature as well as the recent clinical trials.
Reasons for under-developed breasts
Breasts are an important aspect of a woman’s beauty. Good sized, fuller breasts naturally make a woman attractive. On the contrary, small breasts affect the attractiveness and self confidence of a woman. Also, after child birth, females with small breasts may have less breast milk which can affect the growth of infants.
In general, development of breasts starts with the onset of puberty- around the age 9 or 10. According to Ayurveda, a healthy reproductive system is vital for optimum growth and development of a girl’s body including breasts. Irregular menstrual periods, excessive white discharge and vagina yeast infection can hamper the breasts growth.
Various possible reasons for small (under-developed) breasts are:
- Genetics (family history) – Sometimes, females inherit small breasts from someone in their family.
- Hormones imbalance– Low level of female hormones- estrogen, progesterone and prolactin- can obstruct the optimum growth of breasts.
- Nutritional deficiency– Nutritional (vitamins, minerals and fats) deficiency simply doesn’t mean poor diet. Even after consuming a healthy, balanced diet- a girl can have nutritional deficiency in her body. The prominent reasons for such deficiencies are- excessive white discharge, heavy menstruation and too much consumption of junk foods. All these ready-to-eat junk foods are made up of highly processed raw materials which have negligible nutritional content. High concentration of sugar, salt and saturated fats in these junk foods further worsen the scenario. Eating junk foods- white rice, baked goods, chips, crackers- increases the production of testosterone hormone (a type of male hormone) which hampers breast growth.
- Certain medical conditions- Breasts are nothing but fats. They are made up of fatty tissues. If a girl is dealing with a certain medical condition leading to hyper body metabolism- it means that her body is constantly burning the fats- then she can have low level of body fats which would result in smaller breasts.
- Emotional factors- Chronic stress, depression and anxiety can hamper the breasts growth in young women/ teenagers.
Shatavari for Breast Growth
The meaning of Shatavari in Sanskrit is “a woman with 100 spouses”. It reflects the benefits of shatavari for female reproductive system. It cleanses, nourishes and supports the smooth functioning of various organs of the female reproductive system.
At the same time, it has amazing hormone balancing properties. Other benefits include improved body immunity, better digestive system and relief from stress and anxiety.
A research paper with the title- Shatavari: One Solution for Various Female Health Problems– published in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mar 2016 suggested shatavari as one of the most useful herbal supplements for women.
Hormone balancing activity of Shatavari
- Increases the level of estrogen hormone
Shatavari herb is rich in phyto-estrogens. Phyto-estrogens, also known as plant estrogens are plant nutrients which provide an estrogen-like effect on the human body to make up for the reduced estrogen levels in the body. Consuming phyto-estrogens rich foods and herbs offer a safe and quite effective way to enhance breast size naturally. There are research studies to acknowledge the benefits of pyhto-estrogens in breast augmentation.
Among various phyto-chemicals (plant chemicals) contained in shatavari, isoflavonoids and saponins are classified as phyto-estrogens. The phyto-estrogenic activity of shatavari is well acknowledged by research studies and health journals across the world.
A review published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Mar 2007 discussed the hormone balancing properties of shatavari due to its phyto-estrogenic content.
A paper published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, Dec 2009 with the title “Asparagus Racemosus- A Phytoestrogen” discussed the phytoestrogen activity of shatavari in detail. Asparagus Racemosus is the botanical name of shatavari.
An article published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, May 2015 suggested the use of shatavari in young females to increase the breast size due to its phytoestrogenic activity.
- Increases the level of prolactin hormone
Prolactin is a female hormone released in increased levels during puberty and the later stages of pregnancy. During puberty, it works in close cohesion with estrogen hormone to develop the mammary (milk) glands and promotes fat storage in breasts to enhance their size.
During the later stages of pregnancy, optimum level of prolactin hormone is crucial to assure smooth flow of breast milk.
Shatavari herb is research proven to increase the level of prolactin hormone females. A case study conducted by the doctors at the Institute of Post Graduate Ayurvedic Education and Research, Kolkata, India found that a daily dose of 3 grams shatavari powder for 30 minutes can increase the prolactin hormone in lactating mothers by three times.
Read more: Shatavari for increased Breast milk supply
Shatavari is a tonic for the reproductive system
Shatavari, also known as the Queen of herbs, is certainly the most talked about herbal supplement for the female reproductive system. It is an everyday herbal supplement for a woman to have a smooth transition through various phases of her life- puberty, pregnancy, motherhood, menopause and postmenopause.
Read more: Shatavari to relieve Menopause symptoms
Ayurveda health experts across the world use shatavari to treat below females health issues:
- Leukorrhea (excessive white discharge)
- Swelling and inflammation during menstruation
- Infertility
- Threatened miscarriage
- Low breast milk supply
- Menopause and postmenopause symptoms
Shatavari is a diuretic in nature. It helps release excessive water stored in the body to relieve swelling, inflammation and pain during menstrual periods.
Oral consumption of shatavari regularizes the menstrual cycles and reduces the problem of excessive discharge.
A clinical case study published in the Indian Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, Oct-Dec 2012 evaluated the efficacy of a shatavari based herbal medicine to treat irregular excessive uterine bleeding, also known as metrorrhagia. Various factors like amount and duration of bleeding, pain, inflammation and weakness were considered. It was found that shatavari based medicine significantly relieves all these symptoms.
Good to know- Other Benefits
- Relieves internal body dryness– Due to its heavy, oily nature- shatavari can moisturize the inner lining (membrane) of all body organs- mouth, throat, lungs, stomach and vagina- to reduce dryness, inflammation and pain.
- Fights acne and pimples– Shatavari is well known to cleanse blood as well as reproductive organs. Also, it balances the hormone level. All these properties can help fight acne and pimples.
- Anti-stress activity– Shatavari is an adaptogen herb- it improves body’s natural ability to adapt to stress. A clinical study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, Jun 2012 discussed the anti-stress activity of shatavari.
- Acts as a coolant– Shatavari acts as a coolant in the digestive tract to relieve various digestive system related issues such as acid reflux, indigestion and bowel inflammation.
- Improves body immunity– Scientists at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Pune, India revealed that shatavari improves body immunity by regulating the lymphocyte levels. The lymphocytes are one of the subtypes of white blood cells.
How to use and dosage
The finger shaped roots of shatavari plant are available in two different forms:
- Powder (grounded form) – It is the traditional and most effective form of consuming shatavari. The ideal dosage is 3 to 6 grams of powder divided into two installments- after lunch and dinner. Take one cup (250 ml) of boiled milk, add shatavari powder in it stir it well. Now, heat it for another 10-15 minutes. Now, cool it down and drink it. You may add a little honey to taste. For further clarification, please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Capsules– The shatavari root extract capsules are also available for convenience. The optimum dosage is 500 to 1000 mg per day after the meals.
Precautionary measures
Being a natural herb, shatavari is safe and well tolerated for women in all ages. But, exceptions are everywhere. Please do consider below precautionary measures and possible side effects:
- Allergic reactions such as skin rashes or breathing difficulties. If you experience these symptoms, then you are allergic to asparagus.
- Symptoms such as weight gain and breast tenderness. Women with estrogen sensitivity may experience these symptoms because shatavari increases estrogen level in the body. Generally, these symptoms are short lived and go un-noticed. If the symptoms persist, ayurveda doctor’s consultation is highly advised otherwise complications like fibrocystic breast disease (painful lumps in breast) can develop.
- Possible interaction with diuretic medicines because shatavari itself is a diuretic herb. Hence, do consult your doctor if you are taking any diuretic medicine. Diuretic medicines are those which cause frequent urination to expel excess water and salt from the body.
- Increases kapha in the body because shatavari is unctuous (oily and heavy) in nature. If you are already dealing with any health condition related to excessive kapha such as congestion, cold, cough, accumulation of mucus, ama (body toxins) – then long term consumption of shatavari can worsen these symptoms.
To avoid any adverse effect, it is always advisable to start with a low dosage and gradually increase it to the desired level.
From where to buy
Buy pure shatavari powder (or capsules) of a trusted brand from an herbal store. You can get it online from Amazon as well:
If you are from USA, click here to check
If you are from UK, click here to check
If you are from India, click here to check
Conclusion
Shatavari is a female health tonic which has potent hormone balancing properties. Being a natural herb, it would take several weeks of regular consumption to show significant results. For better results, make positive changes in your diet and lifestyle- avoid processed, packaged and junk foods. Eat more of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and freshly prepared juices. Follow a healthy lifestyle with regular yoga and exercise to reduce stress and anxiety in a natural way.
References
http://www.erdic.nl/file_handler/documents/original/download/6/Breast-20Augmentation-20by-20The-20Effect-20of-20Phytoestrogen-1-.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17240097
http://www.ijptonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/36-47.pdf
http://www.ejpmr.com/admin/assets/article_issue/1431515084.pdf
http://www.bhj.org.in/journal/2004_4603_july/july_2004/htm/original_pilot.htm
http://www.ijam.co.in/index.php/ijam/article/view/231
www.wjpps.com/download/article/1461994113.pdf
http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/14191/1/IJEB%2050%286%29%20419-424.pdf
