asparagus officinalis

action	aperient, aphrodisiac, blood cleanser, cardiac, demulcent, deobstruent, diaphoretic, diuretic, fattening, purgative, sedative
body	bladder, heart, kidney, liver, lung, thigh
common name	asparagus, garden-asparagus, sparrow grass
contains	fiber, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C
family	liliaceae
indigenous use	cherokee, iroquois
native habitat	gardens, waste places
range	acadia national park, apostle islands national lakeshore, arches national park, assateague island national seashore, badlands national park, bandelier national monument, big bend national park, big south fork n. river & rec. area, bighorn canyon national recreation area, bryce canyon national park, canyonlands national park, cape cod national seashore, capital reef national park, chickamauga & chattanooga, chiricahua national monument, colonial national historic park, colorado national monument, coronado national memorial, cuyahoga valley national recreation area, death valley national monument, dominican republic, ebey's landing national historic river, effigy mounds national monument, egypt, europe, fire island national seashore, fort union trading post, france, gateway national recreation area, glacier national park, great smoky mountains national park, haiti, harpers ferry national historic park, homestead nm of america, hopewell furnace national historic site, indiana dunes national lakeshore, iraq, kennesaw mountain, knife river indian villages, mammoth cave national park, manassas national battlefield, mesa verde national park, north cascades national park, pipestone national monument, richmond national battlefield park, rocky mountain national park, roosevelt vanderbilt nat. hist. site, saint croix national scenic river, san antonio missions national monument, saratoga national historic park, scotts bluff national monument, shenandoah national park, shiloh national military park, sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore, spain, turkey, venezuela, wind caves national park, zion national park
used to treat	asthenia, backache, debility, depurative, dropsy, gout, hepatitis, hydropsy, lumbago, nausea, neurasthenia, obesity, rheumatism, stones, toothache, tumor (bladder)
comments	Asparagus acts to increase cellular activity in the kidneys and therefore increases the rate of urine production. It may also encourage evacuation of the bowels by increasing fecal bulk with undigested fiber. The powdered seed can be used to relieve nausea and calm the stomach. Not to be used when the kidneys are inflamed.