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Herbs > Ayurvedic Herbs and their Healing Power > Asafoetida
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
The
colloquial name for Asafoetida is ‘hing’
and its botanical name is Ferula Foetida.
Asafoetida is a resinous gum of a tall perennial
herb. It is crystal yellow in color and has a b
pungent smell. It is one of the famous spices used
for flavoring sour and spicy curries and forms a
constituent of many spice mixtures. It adds to flavor
of the many recipes and has medicinal value.
Asafoetida is
known for its medicinal properties from ages and has
being in use as a medicine in India, China and Far
East since a long time. Ayurvedic scholars use
asafoetida in antispasmodic and anti-flatulent
mixtures. It helps in relieving the ‘locked’
gas in stomach and helps in relieving pain and
flatulence. It is either taken orally or applied
externally on abdominal region in the form of freshly
prepared water based solution. It is also a nervine
stimulant and sedative to some extent. Hingwashtak
churna (a combination of hing and 7 other herbal
medicines) is a `popular medicine in digestive
troubles.
It is useful
in respiratory conditions like whooping cough, upper
respiratory tract infections where congestion is a
problem, asthamatic attacks and bronchitis.
Especially in childhood bronchitis where
expectoration is a problem asafetida helps in
expelling accumulated cough. Many combinations are
suggested and a patient or caretakers of sick child
can find out appropriate combinations with few trials
and errors. Roasted fresh resinous gum powder with
real ghee is one of the famous combinations for
whooping cough. A mixture of asafetida powder with
honey, white onion juice, betel nut juice and dry
ginger is another effective combination.
One ayurvedic
school of thoughts has recommended asafoetida in
classical hysteric attacks. Nasya (inhaling by
nose) or basti (administration per rectum)
also is permitted when oral administration is out of
question.
One branch of
ayurvedic science has discussed its benefits in
impotency. A fried asafoetida (preferably in real
ghee/clarified butter) with honey and fresh extract
from banyan tree is to be taken for 5 to 6 weeks
regularly early in the morning. It is also considered
as ‘male child’ producing agent. If taken
regularly before and after conceiving, chances of
getting a male child are more than a female child,
says an ayurvedic sanhita. We can say it has some
good effects on spermatogenesis and premature
ejaculation. Few ayurvedic practitioners recommend
asafoetida for menstrual problems and leucorrhoea.
Few others advice this herbal medicine for sterility,
abortion, premature delivery pains in combination
with other herbal medicines. It is deliberately
included in lactating mothers diet in the view that
it will contribute to mother and child health both.
It is also an
effective remedy for toothache. In general it helps
in preventing dental caries or at least in relieving
pain due to caries.
Asafoetida is
known to Indian society from ages and is widely used
as flavouring agent in Indian recipes. It is
considered as a safe home made remedy for digestive
disturbances until one sees the doctor. In short,
asafoetida is a medicinal gum of the plant used in
stomach disorders like nausea, anorexia and
flatulence. Taken internally or applied externally it
helps in relieving distention of abdomen due to
improper digestion or gases.
For further information on Ayurveda and/or questions
please Visit India Herbs For Genuine Ayurvedic Medicines and
Nutritional Supplements or contact Dr. Satish Kulkarni |
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Index
Quick Reference
Alfalfa
Aloe Vera
Arnica
Asafoetida
Betel Leaves
Bishop’s Weed
Blessed Thistle
Burcock
Cascara Sagrada
Cardamom
Chamomile
Chaparral
Chicory
Cinnamon
Comfrey
Coriander
Curry Leaves
Dandelion
Echinacea
Euphrasia
Fenugreek
Garlic
Ayurvedic Garlic
Ginger
Aurvedic Ginger
Ginko Biloba
Ginseng
Goji
Gotu Kola
Guarana
Henna
Holy Basil
Hoodia Gordonii
Horny Goat Weed
Hyssop
Isapghula
Kalonji
Kava
Lavender
Liquorice
Mullien
Sage
Sandalwood
Sarsaparilla
St Johns Wort
Tee Tree
Thyme
Tribulus
Turmeric
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