Health Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus is a Eurasian vegetable that has diuretic properties. It is widely grown in many parts of Asia and Europe. ‘Asparagus officinalis is the botanical name given to Asparagus. It is a member of Liliaceae family. The generic name is obtained from the Greek Spargao turgid.
Asparagus grows on a perennial plant with a small rhizome; the stems can grow to over 61/2 ft. (2m). The plant has numerous long, delicate branches and Subulate branch lets that resemble leaves. The shoots emerge directly from the rhizome.
Asparagus plant bears fruit known as ‘red berry’ containing four seeds. The tree is available abundantly in India, China, Britain, Taiwan, Africa and Malaysia and all around the Mediterranean see. Asparagus is highly beneficial to health. It is diuretic, anti- plethoric, anti- dropsical, aphrodisiac (not proven), anti- leukamic and used in treating many diseases that are related to heart, lungs, kidney, skin, tooth etc.
Asparagus is used in the form of a Decoction, tincture, pulp, juice and powder.
Asparagus juice is considered extremely beneficial for health and used in cooking to add nutritive value to the food.
A Sherry- glassful of Asparagus Juice is recommended thrice a day for extra benefits to the body.
The juice is helpful to remove water from the body. It purifies the blood, tones up the nervous system and acts as gentle laxative.
One must choose fresh looking stems that have not dried out and gone floppy.
The white, woody base of the asparagus stem is beneficial in preventing moisture from losing. The asparagus can be stored for long, if stored for a few days wrapped with a damp cloth around the base and kept in a cool place.
Asparagus contains therapeutically active substance (alkaloid asparagines), that exert rapid effect on the kidney, thereby stimulating them.
The asparagines is much reduced in quantity during cooking, so that the use of quite a small amount of the raw juice produces a good diuretic effect.