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| Asparagus racemosus: The Queen of Herbs |
The
‘Queen of Herbs’, Asparagus racemosus
(family Liliaceae) is a spiny-stemmed, woody climber
native to the Himalayas. Also popular as Shatavari, it has been mentioned in
Ayurvedic texts like the Charak Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Samgraha &
Kashyap Samhita for preventing
and treating various health disorders. Other vernacular names for this
herb are Shatawari,
Satmuli, Shatamuli, Asparagus, Satawari, Kurilo and Satawar.
Its
principal constituents include steroidal saponins,
rhamnose moieties, sarsasapogenin, alkaloids, proteins, starch, tannin, isoflavones
including 8-methoxy - 5, 6, 4 - trihydroxyisoflavone 7 - 0 - beta - D - glucopyranoside,
asparagamine, racemosol, polysaccharides. The
dried roots (tubers) of asparagus contain a large amount of saccharine,
mucilage & minerals.
The healing
properties of Asparagus are useful to a wide array of ailments. The
tuber of asparagus is the main source of ‘Shatawar’ drug, used in indigenous
medicine as a tonic, for improving appetite and increasing the secretion of
milk in lactating women. The drug is a demulcent and aphrodisiac. It has
diuretic and gastric sedative properties, and is used to treat urinary problems
and rheumatic conditions. It is also prescribed for treating cases of nervous
breakdown and menstrual trouble.
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| Asparagus Tubers (Roots) |
The tubers are considered
stomachic, tonic & astringent to the bowels. The tubers are also useful in
dysentery, tumors, inflammation, biliousness, leprosy, epilepsy, night
blindness, and diseases of the nervous system. It is also used for diabetes,
jaundice, gleet, gonorrhea, as well as kidney and liver disorders. The herb is
capable of improving memory, intelligence and physical strength.
Asparagus is effective in
curing diseases due to impurities of the blood, piles, eye diseases, vaginal
disorders like leucorrhea, uterine disorders & also regulates menstruation. It
is also used for sexual debility & infertility for both men and women.
