Women taking 300 milligrams of shatavari root extract daily experienced significant improvements in hot flashes, perceived stress, fatigue and overall menopausal symptoms compared with a placebo group during an eight-week randomized study.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A plant extract traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine significantly reduced hot flashes, psychological stress and other symptoms associated with perimenopause, according to a randomized clinical trial published in the International Journal of Women’s Health.
Researchers found that women who took 300 milligrams of shatavari root extract daily for eight weeks experienced greater improvements in menopausal symptoms than participants receiving a placebo. The findings suggest that the herb, scientifically known as Asparagus racemosus, may offer a potential nonhormonal approach to managing certain symptoms during the menopausal transition.
The peer-reviewed study, published Nov. 3, 2025, enrolled 80 women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a standardized shatavari root extract or a placebo, with neither the participants nor researchers knowing which treatment each woman received during the trial.
Of the 80 women enrolled, 73 completed the study according to its protocol, including 37 in the shatavari group and 36 in the placebo group.
Researchers assessed symptoms at the beginning of the study and again after four and eight weeks, using established questionnaires measuring menopause-related symptoms, quality of life, psychological stress and mood.
By the end of the trial, women taking shatavari reported a substantially greater reduction in their overall Menopause Rating Scale scores.
The treatment group’s average score declined by 12.54 points, compared with a 1.61-point reduction among women receiving placebo. The difference was statistically significant.
Improvements extended across three major categories of symptoms: physical complaints, psychological symptoms and urogenital concerns.
Hot flashes showed particularly notable improvement.
Participants receiving shatavari experienced an average reduction of 3.84 points on the study’s hot-flash assessment, compared with a 1.03-point reduction in the placebo group.
The difference reached statistical significance after eight weeks, although the researchers did not identify a significant difference between the groups after four weeks.
The findings suggest that symptom improvement may require several weeks of consistent treatment, although the study was not designed to establish the ideal treatment duration.
Psychological stress also improved substantially.
At the beginning of the study, both groups had nearly identical average scores of approximately 24 points on the Perceived Stress Scale, a questionnaire used to measure how stressful individuals find their everyday lives.
After eight weeks, the shatavari group’s average stress score had declined by 7.11 points, while the placebo group’s score increased by 3.81 points.
A statistically significant difference was already evident at the four-week assessment.
Researchers also observed improvements in fatigue and energy.
Women taking shatavari reported significantly lower fatigue scores after eight weeks and greater feelings of vigor after four weeks compared with participants receiving placebo.
However, other measurements of mood, including anger, depression, confusion and tension, did not show statistically significant differences between groups.
The distinction indicates that the treatment’s apparent effects were not uniform across every psychological symptom examined.
The researchers also assessed menopause-specific quality of life, which includes physical, sexual, emotional and vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
Women receiving shatavari generally reported greater improvements across these categories, with the overall quality-of-life score showing a modest but statistically significant advantage over placebo at the end of the study.
Blood testing identified changes in several hormones.
Estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and triiodothyronine, also known as T3, increased significantly in the treatment group.
These findings are noteworthy because shatavari contains naturally occurring plant compounds that have been investigated for possible hormonal activity.
The plant belongs to the asparagus family and has been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine, particularly in preparations associated with women’s reproductive health.
Its roots contain steroidal saponins, including compounds called shatavarins, as well as other phytochemicals being studied for their biological properties.
Researchers have proposed that some of these compounds may interact with pathways involved in hormonal regulation, inflammation and stress responses.
However, the precise mechanisms responsible for the improvements observed in the trial remain uncertain.
The hormone changes also mean that shatavari should not automatically be regarded as hormonally inactive simply because it is a botanical product.
Women with hormone-sensitive medical conditions or those taking hormonal medications should consult a qualified health professional before using concentrated extracts.
The study also included laboratory testing to assess potential effects on liver and kidney function.
Researchers reported no harmful changes in those measurements during the eight-week treatment period, and the extract was generally well tolerated.
However, the relatively small number of participants and limited follow-up period mean the findings cannot establish long-term safety.
The results add to a growing body of research investigating plant-based treatments for symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.
A separate randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements in July 2026 also examined shatavari root extract in women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, reflecting continued scientific interest in the botanical ingredient.
Another multicenter study published in August 2026 evaluated 400 milligrams of shatavari daily in 70 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women over 56 days.
Although such studies provide additional evidence for investigation, differences in extract formulations, doses, participants and outcome measurements make direct comparisons difficult.
The findings also do not establish that commercial shatavari supplements will produce the same results. Botanical preparations can vary considerably in their active compounds, manufacturing processes and concentrations.
Menopause-related hot flashes and night sweats are associated with changes in estrogen signaling and the body’s temperature-regulation system. They can disrupt sleep, affect concentration and interfere with daily activities.
Hormone therapy remains among the most effective treatments for vasomotor symptoms, but it is not appropriate or preferred for every woman.
Nonhormonal prescription treatments and behavioral interventions are also available, depending on individual symptoms, medical history and treatment preferences.
The shatavari findings are preliminary in the context of clinical practice and do not establish the extract as a replacement for established menopause treatments.
Larger randomized trials involving diverse populations, longer treatment periods and standardized botanical preparations are necessary to determine whether the benefits can be reproduced and maintained.
Nevertheless, the study provides evidence that a standardized shatavari root extract improved several commonly reported perimenopausal symptoms over eight weeks, with the most notable differences involving hot flashes, perceived stress and overall symptom severity.
The researchers concluded that shatavari may warrant further investigation as a potential option for women seeking relief from menopause-related symptoms, while emphasizing the importance of additional studies to establish its effectiveness and long-term safety.
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