ASPARAGUS SARMENTOSUS, Willd. History, Uses, &c.

These two plants appear to be the Satávari and Maha-satávari of the Nighantás: among the synonyms of the first, we find Dvipika, Dvipa-satru, Vara-ghantika, Náráyani, and Sata-padi; the synonyms of the second are very similar, amongst them we note Bahu-puttrika, Dagdha, and Bhasma-rohâ. Both plants are considered to be heavy and cold, sweet, demulcent, galactogogue, tonic, and strengthening, and to remove bilious and rheumatic humors, blood diseases, and swellings; they are used both internally and in the preparation of several medicated oils. The tubers are candied and eaten as a sweetmeat. The fresh juice of the root is given with honey as a demulcent in bilious dyspepsia or diarrhœa (Sárangadhara). As an aphrodisiac, Chakradatta directs four sérs of the juice of the roots and four sérs of ghi to be boiled in forty sérs of milk, and to be flavoured with sugar or honey, and long pepper.