Handbook of Medicinal Herbs

(Nandana) #1

A


Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Asoka) — Not covered (AHP; KOM; PH2).
Contains an androgenic ketosterol. Bark uteroactive, stimulating endometrium and ovarian tissue
(KAP). Bark contains a powerful oxytocic phenolic glycoside P2. Alcoholic bark extracts antibac-
terial. Aqueous extract active against carcinoma and sarcoma.

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); Hepato-
protective (1; JNU); Hypotensive (f; APA; BGB); Immunostimulant (1; BGB; JNU); Laxative
(1; BGB; PED; PNC); Litholytic (2; KOM); Nematicide (1; PNC); Sedative (1; PNC); Spermi-
cide (1; PH2).

Indications (Asparagus) — Acne (f; APA; BGB); Anemia (f; APA); Anorexia (f; WO2); Arthro-
sis (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.
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