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Asparagus | | |
Most people are acquainted with this elegant vegetable and its green
stalks and tender sweet tips. However, it is the underground roots and
rhizomes that are dried and used medicinally. Research supports the use of
asparagus root primarily for conditions of the urinary tract and kidneys,
largely on the basis of animal studies that indicate it functions as a
mild diuretic. This means it draws fluid out of the body by increasing
urination. Because of this action, asparagus root may be beneficial in
several conditions associated with the kidneys and urinary tract.
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| Common Name | | | Asparagus
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Asparagus officinalis / cochinchensis
| | | Parts Used | | | Roots, rhizomes, shoots, and seeds.
| | | Other Names | | | Sparrowgrass, Tien Men Tong, and Shatavari.
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| | | Description | | | Native to Europe, the Middle East, Western Siberia, and Northern Africa,
asparagus has grown so popular as an elegant vegetable that it is now
cultivated worldwide. It also has a centuries-long history of use in
herbal medicine.
The sweet edible stalks, or shoots, are green,
with either a white or a bluish-red tinge. The plant sports fern-like
foliage, yellow-green flowers, and bright red berries. Asparagus root, the
part most often used medicinally, consists of the plant's fresh
underground shoots along with the rhizome and roots, which are dug up and
air-dried in autumn. Extracts of the seeds and roots are sometimes used as
flavorings in alcoholic beverages.
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| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | Root preparations of asparagus are widely considered to be diuretic and
laxative.
Folk medicinal use of asparagus root includes treatment
of heart disease, hypertension, and rheumatism (Leung and Foster, 1996;
Wren, 1988). The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that consuming wild
asparagus helped in the prevention of bee stings. This may possibly be due
to the uric acid metabolism of the extremities for which asparagus is
known (making it useful in the treatment of gout). The red berries (on
female plants) were regarded as a contraceptive (Leung and Foster,
1996).
India's asparagus species, A. racemosus, or
shatavari, which means "she who has a hundred husbands,"
is used to strengthen the female reproductive system, and is also
administered for diuretic and anti-inflammatory purposes by traditional
Ayurvedic practitioners (Lad and Frawley, 1986).
The Commission E
approved the use of asparagus root in irrigation therapy for inflammatory
diseases of the urinary tract and for prevention of kidney stones.
Traditionally, the root has been used as diuretic, laxative, and to treat
neuritis and rheumatism (Leung and Foster, 1996).
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| | | Traditional Topical Uses | | | Many home skin formulas reportedly employ asparagus shoots to rid the face
of dirt and blemishes. Due to the substantial amounts of vitamin A within
it, asparagus has been shown to improve skin conditions such as acne and
rosacea. Medical studies show a reduction in lines and wrinkles, good acne
control, and some psoriasis relief, all from using creams containing
significant vitamin A sources such as asparagus topical preparations.
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| | | Indications | | | Primary Indications: Kidney Disorders, Kidney Stones, Urinary Tract Infections and Inflammation, Bladder Infections (Cystitis), Gout
Secondary Indications: Neuritis, Rheumatism, Reproductive System, Constipation
Other Indications: Cardiovascular Disorders, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Acne, Psoriasis, Wrinkles, Contraception, Tooth Decay (Cavities / Caries), Parasites / Parasitic Infections, Immunity / Immune Disorders, Insect Bites and Bee Stings
Primary Indications: Swelling / Inflammation
Other Indications: Coughing
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| | | Actions | | | Antiparasitic, Diuretic, Laxative, Anti-Inflammatory
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | The main constituents include inulin, asparagusic acid, and eight
fructo-oligosaccharides (Leung and Foster, 1996). The two glycosidic
bitter principles, officinalisnin-I and officinalisnin-II, are isolated
from the dried root and yield b-sitosterol, sarsasapogenin, and nine
steroidal glycosides (named asparagosides A to I, in order of increasing
polarity) (Leung and Foster, 1996). Other constituents include asparagine,
tyrosine, succinic acid, arginine, a-aminodimethyl-g-butyrothetin (a
methylsulfonium derivative of methionine), fat, and sugar (Stecher, 1968).
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| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | Asparagus roots are thought to possess diuretic and hypotensive
properties, and to enhance the renal elimination of water (Bruneton, 1995;
Leung and Foster, 1996). Although asparagus herb (the stalk and fernlike
foliage) has also been found to increase urine production and therefore
act as a diuretic, its actions are much weaker than that of the root. The
root also contains substances called saponins believed to have antibiotic
properties. Test tube studies indicate that asparagus may even have
cancer-fighting properties.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | The fructo-oligosaccharides, the most frequently studied constituents in
asparagus, alter fecal microflora beneficially, particularly in elderly
patients (Mitsuoka et al., 1987).
Shoot saponin constituents have
been found to have some activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells in
vitro (Leung and Foster, 1996; Shao et al., 1996).
Immune stimulant
effects of roots may benefit cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
(Thatte and Dahanukar, 1988).
Root constituents may be found, as
were those in Chinese asparagus, A. cochinchinensis, to inhibit SA (Boik,
1995) and mouse S-180 leukemia cells (Huang, 1993).
In other
studies, Indian shatavari root was found to reduce gastric emptying time
comparably to metoclopramide (Dalvi et al., 1990), an effect that may
relieve heartburn.
Animal studies show that shatavari increases
macrophage activity and prevents intraperitoneal adhesions in laboratory
animals, an effect that may prevent postoperative intraperitoneal
adhesions (Rege et al., 1989).
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| | | Research | | | "Healing Urinary Tract Infections Naturally"
"Why Does Urine Smell After Eating Asparagus?"
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | Inflammatory kidney diseases.
Note: No irrigation therapy
should be administered if edema exists because of functional heart or
kidney disorders.
Do not consume Asparagus Shoot if you are
pregnant or nursing.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | In rare cases, allergic skin reactions. Additionally, an interesting
result of taking asparagus root can be a distinctive odor in the urine. If
this is the case for you, don't worry - it's harmless. According to one
study of 800 volunteers, about 40% of people have this reaction. The
latest findings indicate that it's more likely the ability to detect the
odor rather than the tendency to generate it that is at play. Researchers
speculate that those who smell it have inherited a specific genetic trait.
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| | | Dosage | | | Unless otherwise prescribed: 45-60 g per day of cut
rhizome.
Dried Extract: Generally, capsules containing dried
powdered extract measure between 200 mg and 600 mg. Take two capsules,
one to two times each day with water at mealtimes.
Infusion
(Tea): 45-60 g of cut herb in 150 mL water.
Fluid Extract
1:1 (g/ml): 45-60 mL.
Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 225-300
mL.
Special Tips: When using asparagus root as a diuretic,
it's very important to drink plenty of water to help literally
"flush" the urinary tract.
To relieve urinary tract
inflammation: Take 1 teaspoon (5 mL) liquid extract diluted in 1/4 cup
of water four times a day.
To prevent kidney stones: Take 1
teaspoon liquid extract diluted in water twice a day OR 2 capsules twice a
day.
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| | | References | | | 1. Boik, J. 1995. Cancer and Natural Medicine: A Textbook of Basic Science
and Clinical Research. Princeton, Minnesota: Oregon Medical Press.
Bruneton, J. 1995. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris:
Lavoisier Publishing.
2. Dalvi, S.S., P.M. Nadkarni, K.C. Gupta. 1990. Effect of Asparagus
racemosus (Shatavari) on gastric emptying time in normal healthy
volunteers. J Postgrad Med 36(2):91-94.
3. Hamilton, E.M.N. and E.N. Whitney. 1982. Nutrition: Concepts and
Controversies, 2nd ed. New York: West Publishing.
4. Huang, K.C. 1993. The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. Boca Raton: CRC
Press.
5. Lad, V. and D. Frawley. 1986. The Yoga of Herbs. Sante Fe, N.M.: Lotus
Press.
6. Leung, A.Y. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural
Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2nd ed. New York: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
7. Mitchell, S.C., R.H. Waring, D. Land, W.V. Thorpe. 1987. Odorous urine
following Asparagus ingestion in man. Experientia 43(4):382-383.
8. Mitsuoka, T., H. Hidaka, T. Eida. 1987. Effect of
fructo-oligosaccharides on intestinal microflora. Nahrung
31(5-6):427-436.
9. Rege, N.N. et al. 1989. Immunotherapeutic modulation of intraperitoneal
adhesions by Asparagus racemosus. J Postgrad Med 35(4):199-203.
10. Shao, Y. et al. 1996. Anti-tumor activity of the crude saponins
obtained from asparagus. Cancer Lett 104(1):31-36.
11. Stecher, P.G. (ed.). 1968. The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of
Chemicals and Drugs, 8th ed. Rahway, N.J.: Merck & Co., Inc.
12. Stephens, J.M. 1994. Asparagus-Asparagus officinalis L. Fact Sheet
HS-546, Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extention
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of
Florida.
13. Thatte, U.M. and S.A. Dahanukar. 1988. Comparative study of
immunomodulating activity of Indian medicinal plants, lithium carbonate
and glucan. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 10(10):639-644.
14. Wren, R.C. 1988. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and
Preparations. Essex: The C.W. Daniel Company Ltd.
Additional
Resources
Jiangsu Institute of Modern Medicine. 1977. Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian
(Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica), Vols. 1-3. Shanghai: Shanghai
Scientific and Technical
Publications.
Note
This material was adapted from The
Complete German Commission E Monographs-Therapeutic Guide to Herbal
Medicines. M. Blumenthal, W.R. Busse, A. Goldberg, J. Gruenwald, T. Hall,
C.W. Riggins, R.S. Rister (eds.) S. Klein and R.S. Rister (trans.). 1998.
Austin: American Botanical Council; Boston: Integrative Medicine
Communications.
1. The Overview section is new information.
2. Description, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Uses, Contraindications, Side
Effects, Interactions with Other Drugs, and Dosage sections have been
drawn from the original work. Additional information has been added in
some or all of these sections, as noted with references.
3. The dosage for equivalent preparations (tea infusion, fluidextract, and
tincture) have been provided based on the following example:
Unless otherwise prescribed: 2 g per day of [powdered, crushed, cut or
whole] [plant part]
Infusion: 2 g in 150 mL of water
Fluid Extract 1:1 (g/mL): 2 mL
Tincture 1:5 (g/mL): 10 mL
4. The References and Additional Resources sections are new sections.
Additional Resources are not cited in the monograph but are included for
research purposes.
Our thanks to the following information
resources: MedicinesComplete.com, WholeheatlthMD.com.
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| |
| | 6 total products | | | Asparagus (Read all about Asparagus.)
Botanical Latin Name: Asparagus officinalis / cochinchensis
Plant Part: Roots, rhizomes, shoots, and seeds. | |
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Asparagus - Health - GERD & Heartburn Support Tea - Peppermint, Asparagus, Turmeric and More
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Asparagus - Health - GERD & Heartburn Support Tea - Peppermint, Asparagus, Turmeric and More
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