Asafoetida or also called in the botanical world as "Ferula assafoetida". It is the gum of the stems /roots that is the most used part of this plant. Native to Afghanistan, India, Persia, this herb has been an important part of Indian cooking for time long. An astringent in taste, this spice has a very different odor , thus also called as stinking Gum or Devil's dung in the west . Though a spice, still it has a history of medical use .Here are some of the uses:
1] Anti flatulence:
Eat beans and see the conditions that one suffer from ... bloating, flatulence are known to happen. Thus if you look closely to Indian cooking one may notice whenever anyone cooks beans or such food group that causes excess bloating or flatulence one use Asafoetida in that recipe . Hing also commonly known in Indian cooking has an amazing power to work as an Anti flatulence agent and thus used when cooking beans or potatoes .Both of them which can cause excess gas.
2] Colic pain:
Excess bloating do result in colic pain, and asafoetida comes really handy during such conditions. It is said that because of the astringent nature of the spice that it works magic on this condition. Try internally or externally. Apply small amount of hing with warm oil on the stomach when going through colicky pain and see the results.
3] Anti Viral:
Asafoetida as an anti viral herb has been known since a long time.Even in the history one could find reference o f use of this herb as an antiviral .During the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, it was this herb that gave magic results.
Today the world faces another pandemic known as Swine flu. Recently a research paper from the Kaoshing University of Taiwan report that the root of this plant has certain antiviral properties that can work on even Swine flu.{Read more here }. Even the American Chemical society of Natural products says in on its research paper that this herb posses amazing components to work against flu virus. {Read here }
4] Expectorant:
It is due to the astringent nature of this spice that it is said in traditionally medicine such as Ayurveda to be working against cough especially chronic cough. It is said that this herb works magic on the throat area, releasing the cough that has been attached to the throat interior and thus helping the patient a lot .Bronchitis, Asthma are some of the conditons that this herb has been known used .
5] Anti Hysteria /Depression:
Some of the known unknown use of this herb is in the area of brain activity. This herb though not scientifically proved has shown interesting answers when used for depression, mood changes and even for Hysteria.Here are some research paper that throws some light on this herb use in Hysteria ,depression .
6] Dental Use:
Have a small tooth ache, a traditional would suggest you to have small cotton piece with this herb and oil added applied on that affected tooth .Results have been seen in such ways.
This herb in Ayurveda has been known as one of the best spices to treat any conditions related to Vatta .
I guess one would now not underestimate the power of this simple stinking herb namely called as "Asafoetida".
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