Fear of asparagus (spargarophobia)

Spargarophobia is listed as a fear of asparagus. In practice it might mean avoiding the vegetable on menus, disliking its look or texture, or being put off by its strong taste and smell.

About this phobia

The term was found in a medical reference table with no supporting documentation, so it is best treated as a curiosity. It does not appear to be a recognised clinical fear. Dislikes of particular vegetables are very common, and a wider fear of trying new foods is better documented.

What it feels like

• Pushing asparagus to the side of the plate
• Discomfort at the stringy or woody texture
• Checking menus in advance to avoid dishes that include it

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it a problem if I cannot stand asparagus?

On its own, disliking one vegetable is very ordinary and not a cause for concern. It may be worth a closer look if many foods feel off limits. If a fear of foods means eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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