Asparagus

Synonyms in a broader sense

Latin name: Asparagus officinalis Folk name: Spurgewort, Aspars Family: Asparagus

Plant description

The asparagus plant is anchored in the soil by a woody rootstock with thick root fibers. In spring, finger-thick shoots sprout, our popular vegetable asparagus. If they are not harvested, the stems grow up to 1m long, forming small, elongated leaves and later small, greenish-white flowers.

From these, red berries are formed in autumn. These were also used as a substitute for coffee in the past. Flowering time: July to August Occurrence: Asparagus came to Europe from the Orient and is now cultivated in large crops for the production of vegetable asparagus.

Medicinally used plant parts

The root.

Ingredients

asparagine, arginine, asparagosis, saponins

Effect and application

The ingredients of the vegetable asparagus increase the cell activity in the kidneys and promote water excretion. In addition, it has a slight laxative effect and is therefore generally considered a so-called “blood cleansing agent”. The root is used for medicinal purposes, usually mixed with other diuretic drugs.

The asparagus root alone is not used. A tea made from asparagus root is mainly used as a household remedy for problems in the kidneys and urinary tract, urinary retention and also for rheumatism and gout. A decoction from asparagus root is also used for envelopes to treat skin impurities.

Preparation

Tea from asparagus root is prepared as follows: 2 heaped teaspoons of asparagus root are poured over 1⁄4 l of cold water. Heat it until it boils and strain. Two cups a day are recommended. This decoction is also suitable for an envelope for skin impurities.

Combination with other medicinal plants

Often the asparagus root is mixed with another diuretic drug in equal parts. This is a good idea: birch leaves, bean shells, dandelion root, parsley root, juniper berries or horsetail, to name but a few. These drugs are often used for ready-made tea blends. For urinary tract infections it is recommended to mix with drugs that are effective against bacteria, such as bearberry leaves or horseradish root.