Asparagus

(Asparagus officinalis)

Other Names:

Garden asparagus, sparrow graww

Range:

Family:

Asparagaceae - Asparagus Family

Growth Type:

Herbaceous perennial

Height:

Can grow to 5 feet tall.

Leaves:

The leaves are actually leaf scales along the stems. What appear to be the leaves of the older plant are in fact multi branched modified stems approximately 1¼ inch long and 1/32 inch wide. These 'false leaves' are clustered together in groups of as many as 15, and they grow from the axils of the actual leaf scales.

Stem/Trunk:

Stems are stout and branching in the older plant. The young shoots are harvested before the bud starts to open, typically when less than 1 foot tall. After the buds open the stems become too fibrous to eat.

Root:

The root is referred to as a crown.

Flower Appearance:

The greenish-white to yellowish bell shaped flowers are approximately ¼ inch long, with six tepals partially fused together at the base. They grow singly or in clusters of two or three at branches.

Seed/Fruit:

The toxic fruit is a red berry approximately ¼ inch in diameter.

Miscellaneous characteristics:

N/A

Habitat:

Asparagus prefers full sun and disturbed soils. It can be found along ditches, on abandoned homesteads, and along forest margins.

Parts Used:

Young shoots

Culinary Uses:

The young shoots can be eaten raw, or as a cooked vegetable. Older stems may be peeled to remove the fibrous outer layer, and cooked.

Energetics:

Taste: Sweet
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Moistening

Traditional Medicinal Uses:

A volume diuretic for anabolic individuals with chronic hyperacidic urine and high specific gravity. Use to increase urine output for the treatment of edema and gravel. Effectively treats autoimmune disorders like crohn's disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc., by modulating the immune system. A russian study demonstrated that I. obiquus efectively cured psoriasis. May be effective in the treatment of congestive heart failure. May help slow or stop the growth of cancerous tumors. As demostrated by Wang et al., (2012) that A. officinalis saponins (SSA) inhibit the viability of various cancer cells including breast, colon, and pancreatic.

Indications

Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress, Weight reduction

Indications Citations

The fact that studies concerning all indications listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Inflammation: Prasertsri P, Padkao T, Boonla O, Buddhisa S, Prakobkaew N, Sripinyowanich S, Phoemsapthawee J. Synergistic Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Asparagus officinalis L. Root Extract Supplementation on Metabolic Regulation, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Adults. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Dec 15;26(24):12054. doi: 10.3390/ijms262412054. PMID: 41465480; PMCID: PMC12733034.

Insulin Resistance: Sripinyowanich S, Denben B, Satapoomin P, Tumnark P, Phoemsapthawee J. Effects of Asparagus-Derived 20-Hydroxyecdysone Supplementation on Fat Oxidation and Insulin Sensitivity in Resistance-Trained Males. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2025;71(6):526-536. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.71.526. PMID: 41485968.

Oxidative Stress: Prasertsri P, Padkao T, Boonla O, Buddhisa S, Prakobkaew N, Sripinyowanich S, Phoemsapthawee J. Synergistic Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Asparagus officinalis L. Root Extract Supplementation on Metabolic Regulation, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Adults. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Dec 15;26(24):12054. doi: 10.3390/ijms262412054. PMID: 41465480; PMCID: PMC12733034.

Weight Reduction: Sripinyowanich S, Denben B, Satapoomin P, Tumnark P, Phoemsapthawee J. Effects of Asparagus-Derived 20-Hydroxyecdysone Supplementation on Fat Oxidation and Insulin Sensitivity in Resistance-Trained Males. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2025;71(6):526-536. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.71.526. PMID: 41485968.

Medicinal Actions:

Anorexiant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Hypoglycemic

Action Citations

The fact that studies concerning all of the traditional medicinal actions listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said actions are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Antidiabetic (Reverses insulin resistance): Sripinyowanich S, Denben B, Satapoomin P, Tumnark P, Phoemsapthawee J. Effects of Asparagus-Derived 20-Hydroxyecdysone Supplementation on Fat Oxidation and Insulin Sensitivity in Resistance-Trained Males. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2025;71(6):526-536. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.71.526. PMID: 41485968.

Anti-Inflammatory: Prasertsri P, Padkao T, Boonla O, Buddhisa S, Prakobkaew N, Sripinyowanich S, Phoemsapthawee J. Synergistic Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Asparagus officinalis L. Root Extract Supplementation on Metabolic Regulation, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Adults. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Dec 15;26(24):12054. doi: 10.3390/ijms262412054. PMID: 41465480; PMCID: PMC12733034.

Antioxidant (Renders free radicals harmless): Prasertsri P, Padkao T, Boonla O, Buddhisa S, Prakobkaew N, Sripinyowanich S, Phoemsapthawee J. Synergistic Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Asparagus officinalis L. Root Extract Supplementation on Metabolic Regulation, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Overweight and Obese Adults. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Dec 15;26(24):12054. doi: 10.3390/ijms262412054. PMID: 41465480; PMCID: PMC12733034.

Hypoglycemic (Reverses insulin resistance): Sripinyowanich S, Denben B, Satapoomin P, Tumnark P, Phoemsapthawee J. Effects of Asparagus-Derived 20-Hydroxyecdysone Supplementation on Fat Oxidation and Insulin Sensitivity in Resistance-Trained Males. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2025;71(6):526-536. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.71.526. PMID: 41485968.

Anorexiant (Suppresses appetite): Sripinyowanich S, Denben B, Satapoomin P, Tumnark P, Phoemsapthawee J. Effects of Asparagus-Derived 20-Hydroxyecdysone Supplementation on Fat Oxidation and Insulin Sensitivity in Resistance-Trained Males. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2025;71(6):526-536. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.71.526. PMID: 41485968.