Asafoetida

 

What is Asafoetida?

Asafoetida, is a gum, which is obtained from a perennial plant botanically, called as Ferulla foetida. The common name for this gum is Hing. This is widely used spice, which is known for its strong pungent smell. It is yellowish brown in color. It is used as a flavoring for many curries and spicy mixtures and it is also used in making pickles. Apart from adding a unique flavour to the dishes it also has some medicinal properties.

Uses of Asafoetida

Asafoetida has been used as a traditional ayurvedic medicine in India and eastern    countries. It is known to pocess many medicinal values. It has been used as an antispasmodic agent. It is mainly used in the treatment of stomach troubles such as indigestion, gastritis, and flatulence. It helps to release the locked-up gas from the abdomen and relieves stomachache. It is also applied as water based mixture on the stomach to relieve pain and distention of stomach.

It provides quick relief form flatulence when taken orally along with buttermilk. It is used as an important ingredient in many of the ayurvedic digestive tonics. It is also used as a main ingredient in the Hingwashtak Churna along with many other herbal ingredients. It also helps to improve appetite and digestion.

Treatment with Asafoetida

Asafoetida is used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections and in the treatment of coughs. It helps in relieving chest congestion and release of the phlegm. It is mainly used as a house hold remedy for treating whooping cough and bronchitis. It also helps to treat patients with asthma and wheezing problems. It is used commonly with other herbal mixtures such as honey, dry ginger, onion juice, juice of tulsi and betelnut juice. Ayurvedic medicine suggests many combinations. But combinations that are effective for a person have to be determined after many trials. Some combinations many not be suitable or effective for certain individuals.

This treatment provides great relief for small infants and children who do not know how to expel the accumulated cough. For treating whooping cough, hing is roasted with little bit of ghee and taken along with food.

Asafoetida is also suggested to be useful in the treatment of impotency. Roasted Asafoetida is taken  along with honey and extract of Banyan tree for a period of 2 months on empty stomach in the morning. This treatment is considered to be beneficial for women with menstrual problems such as irregular menses, menstrual cramps and aches and also helpful in the treatment of leucorrhoea. It is also used in the treatment of frequent miscarriages, and delivery problems in women.

It is also used as an essential ingredient in the diet of lactating mothers for their good health. Asafoetida also helps in preventing toothaches due to dental caries. It is used as a nervine in some ayurvedic medicinal preparations.