ASPARAGUS ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis L.) ++

Synonym:
A. longifolius Fisch. ex Steud.

Activities (Asparagus) :
Antiaging (1; JNU); Antibacterial (1; APA; WO2); Anticancer (1; APA); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; JNU); Antileukemic (1; APA; BGB); Antioxidant (1; JNU); Antirheumatic (1; APA; PED; PNC); Antiviral (f; APA); Bitter (f; PED); Cardiosedative (1; WO2); Cardiotonic (1; PNC); Contraceptive (1; WO2; WO3); Demulcent (1; WO2); Depurative (f; PED); Detoxicant (1; JNU); Diuretic (1; APA; KOM; PH2); DNA-Sparing (1; JNU); Hepatoprotective (1; JNU); Hypotensive (f; APA; BGB); Immunostimulant (1; BGB; JNU); Laxative (1; BGB; PED; PNC); Litholytic (2; KOM); Nematicide (1; PNC); Sedative (1; PNC); Spermicide (1; PH2).

Indications (Asparagus):
Acne (f; APA; BGB); Anemia (f; APA); Anorexia (f; WO2); Arthrosis (1; APA); Asthma (f; PH2); Bacteria (1; APA; WO2); Bladder Stone (2; PHR; PH2); Cancer (1; APA); Cancer, mouth (1; JNU); Cancer, pharynx (1; JNU); Cardiopathy (1; BGB; LAF; JNU; PH2; PNC; WO2); Cholecystosis (f; APA); Constipation (1; BGB; PED; PH2; PNC); Cough (f; PH2); Cystosis (f; APA); Diarrhea (f; WO3); Dropsy (f; PH2; WO2); Dyspepsia (f; APA); Dysuria (f; PED); Fertility (1; WO2); Gout (1; PH2; WO2); Gravel (2; PHR); HIV (f; APA); Hemoptysis (f; PH2); Hepatosis (f; PH2); High Blood Pressure (f; APA; BGB; LAF); Immunodepression (1; BGB; JNU); Inflammation (1; APA; JNU; PH2); Insomnia (1; PNC); Jaundice (f; WO2); Kidney Stone (2; APA; PH2); Leukemia (1; APA; BGB); Nematode (1; PNC); Nervousness (1; PNC); Neurosis (f; PED; PNC); Pain (f; APA); Parasite (1; PED); Rheumatism (1; APA; PED; PH2; PNC); Schistosomiasis (1; WO2); Sore (f; APA); Sore Throat (1; APA; JNU); Stomatosis (1; JNU); Stone (2; KOM; PH2); Stroke (1; JNU); Toothache (f; APA); Tuberculosis (1; WO2); UTI (2; KOM; PH2); Virus (f; APA); Water Retention (1; APA; KOM; PH2); Worm (1; PNC); Xerostomia (f; PH2).

Dosages (Asparagus):
Food farmacy (JAD); 1 tsp powdered seed in juice (APA); 45 - 60 g rhizome (KOM); 1 tbsp fresh root (PED); 1.5 g dry root (PED); 1.5 g:7 g alcohol, 8 ml water (PED). Daily dosage is 45 to 80 g (PH2); a typical single dose is 800 mg (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Asparagus):
Class 2d. Contraindicated in inflammatory kidney disorders (although Commission E contraindicates in irrigation therapy when edema is caused by impaired kidney or heart function, this is not of concern in oral therapy) (AHP). Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages (PH2). Commission E reports contraindications of inflammatory and renal diseases and adverse effects of allergic skin reactions (very rarely). Ironically, the diuretic shoots, which we eat, are not approved for therapeutic use (KOM). Allergic reactions occur very rarely (AEH). Workers canning asparagus may get
asparagus scabies (PHR). Interactions with other drugs unknown (KOM).

Extracts (Asparagus):
Asparagusic acid nematicidal. As the richest source of glutathione (at least as cited in JNU), asparagus could be credited with many of the activities of glutathione, a major antioxidant that also detoxifies carcinogens and pollutants, maintains healthy liver, boosts the immune system, aids cell replication, repairs damaged DNA, and reduces inflammation.