Derived from the root of the plant, Chinese asparagus is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic, an expectorant, and to treat a variety of conditions including liver and airway inflammatory diseases.
Scientists are not sure how Chinese asparagus works, since little research has been performed on this botanical. In the lab, Chinese asparagus extracts slowed the growth of lung cancer cells and protected liver cells from toxins. Animal studies suggest it may help reduce airway inflammation. However, it is not known whether these effects could occur in the human body and additional studies are needed to evaluate its safety and effectiveness.