Name: Asparagus officinalis
ASPARAGUS
A perennial herbaceous plant from the lily family, known throughout the world, 50-150 cm high. The rhizome is thick, horizontal, densely planted with cord-like roots, forms several underground vertical fleshy shoots (asparagus), equipped with scaly leaves. With further growth, the shoot develops into a strongly branched aerial stem, smooth, with branches extending at an acute angle. The leaves are reduced to barely noticeable scales, in the axils of which sit bunches of so-called cladodies – modified shoots that look like leaves. The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, dioecious. The fruit is a red, small, spherical, six-seeded berry. Blooms in June-July.
In the wild, it grows almost everywhere: on steppe and flood meadows, sands, among thickets and shrubs. Cultivated as a vegetable and ornamental plant.
Medicinal raw materials are rhizomes with roots and young shoots (grass) mainly of wild asparagus.
The herb contains asparagine, glycoside coniferin, saponin, chelidonic acid.
Asparagus is officially used for heart neurosis and kidney disease. The main action of asparagus products is a diuretic. It has been experimentally established that asparagine and asparagus extract, when administered intravenously, cause a decrease in blood pressure, increase contractions and slow down the heart rate, dilate peripheral vessels, increase diuresis and improve liver function. Asparagus extract, compared with asparagine, causes a longer and deeper decrease in blood pressure. Asparagine and asparagus extract do not change the filtration probability of the glomeruli, but significantly reduce the reabsorption function of the convoluted tubules of the kidneys. A decoction of the herb is used for pain in the heart, diseases of the kidneys, bladder.
In folk medicine, a decoction of asparagus roots is used for dropsy, inflammation of the bladder, difficulty urinating, palpitations, rheumatism, epilepsy. Outwardly – from all kinds of rashes, with eczema (in the form of lotions). Fruits – in the form of infusion for impotence and dysentery.
Used in homeopathy. In Chinese medicine, a decoction of the asparagus root is used internally as a diuretic, tonic, antipyretic, improves blood circulation and digestion, for gout, rheumatism, diabetes, lung diseases, impotence, whooping cough.
Application
Root decoction: 15 g per 200 ml.
Syrup preparation: grind a certain number of shoots of fresh asparagus, squeeze out the juice, strain well through filter paper, add 1500 g of lump sugar, place in a water bath, where to keep until a thick syrup is obtained. Pour into bottles with hermetic stoppers. Take 5 tbsp. spoons in the morning and evening.
Infusion: 2-3 teaspoons of raw materials in a glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours and drink 1-2 tbsp. spoons 3 times every day for diabetes, palpitations, epilepsy, diseases of the kidneys, liver and gallbladder. The fruits are used as a coffee substitute.