Asparagus officinalis L.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 21-22

Asparagus officinalis L.

Names.

Myanmar: kannyut, sani kamat (Mon). English: asparagus.

Range.

Europe, Asia, North Africa. Not common in Upper Myanmar. Found in humid locations; cultivated in hilly and cooler regions.

Conservation status.

Least Concern [LC] ( IUCN 2017).

Uses.

Whole plant: Has cooling properties and a sweet taste. Leaves, stems, shoots, roots and fruits are all beneficial for humans. The plant is considered especially beneficial for new mothers, to fortify the blood and help prevent anemia. It is used to break up phlegm, as well as to control the gall bladder, external hemorrhaging, and vomiting of blood. Shoot: Eaten to eliminate gas and to strengthen the body. Shoot and Root: Considered especially useful for extra strength, either cooked on their own or incorporated into rice pudding with milk. Root: Bulbous, can be boiled to make a paste for external application as a remedy for inflamed joints, aches, and flatulence disorders. For urinary tract disorders and various liver and gall bladder diseases, the juice of the roots mixed with honey and/or milk is ingested. The juice mixed with an equal amount by weight of milk is consumed as a cure for long-standing kidney stones and gallstones. It is also taken as a cure for diseases caused by poisoning.

Notes.

The medicinal uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Medicinal uses of this species in China are discussed in Duke and Ayensu (1985). Medicinal uses of asparagus are also discussed in Perry (1980).

Reference.

Agricultural Corporation (1980).