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Asafoetida [Herb]
Started by: Jayashree at March 16 2008
Replies: 6 & Views: 6752
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Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
Jayashree
Calcutta, India
 
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March 16 2008
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Click picture for many more pictures
Asafoetida
Botanical Name: Ferula fetid, Ferula northex
Indian Name: Hing
Origin, Distribution and Composition
Asafoetida is a resinous gum of a tall perennial herb, with robust carrot-shaped roots. It is dirty yellow in colour with a pungent smell. It is used as a flavouring agent and forms a constituent of many spice mixtures. Asafoetida has several varieties which are distributed from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia. It is grown in Iran and Afghanistan. The other species, known botanically as Ferula northex, grow abundantly in Kashmir, Western Tibet and Afghanistan. It forms a good substitute for asafoetida.
An analysis of asafoetida shows it to consist of carbohydrates 67.8 per cent per 100 gms, moisture 16.0 per cent, protein 4.0 per cent, fat 1.1 per cent, minerals 7.0 per cent and fibre 4.1 per cent. Its mineral and vitamin contents include substantial calcium besides phosphorus, iron, carotene, riboflavin and niacin. Its calorific value is 297.
Asafoetida contains resin, gum, volatile oil and ash. The resin consists Chiefly of asaresinotennol, free or combined with ferulic acid. Umbelliferone seems to be present in the combined state.
Healing Power and Curative Properties
Asafoetida has been held in great esteem amongst indigenous medicines from the earliest times in India. It is reputed as a drug which expels wind from the stomach and counteracts any spasmodic disorders. It is also a nervine stimulant, digestive agent and a sedative.
Respiratory Disorders
Asafoetida is useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders like whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis. About 3 to 6 centigrams of this gum, mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey, a quarter teaspoon of white onion juice and I teaspoon of betel leaf juice, taken thrice daily would keep the patient away from such disorders.
Hysteria
The herb is an effective remedy for hysteria. Inhaling this gum prevents hysterical attacks. An emulsion made by 2 grams of the gum with 120 mI of water is a valuable enema per rectum in treating hysteria, when oral dosage not advisable.
Impotency
The herb is beneficial in the treatment of impotency. Aboaut 6 centigrams of asafoetida should be fried in ghee and mixed with honey and a teaspoon of fresh latex of banyan tree. This mixture should be taken once daily for 40 days before sunrise. It is also considered a specific medicine for spennatorrhoea and premature ejaculation.
Children's Disorders
The herb is extensively used in the treatment of nervous disorders of children. There is an old European belief that a small piece of this gum, hung around a child's neck, would protect it from many diseases, especially germs which are sensitive to its particular odour.
Women's Ailments
The herb is considered useful in the treatment of several problems concerning women such as sterility, unwanted abortion, pre-mature labour, unusually painful, difficult and excessive menstruation and leucorrhoea. About 12 centigrams of gum fried in ghee mixed with 120 grams of goat's fresh milk and a tablespoon of honey, should be given thrice daily for a month. It excites the secretion of progestrone hormone.
Asafoetida is also useful for women after childbirth. Owing to its antiflatulent and digestive properties, the herb can be taken with beneficial results during the post-delivery period. In southern India, the powder of the herb mixed with rice is given to women after delivery.
Stomach Disorders
The herb is an effective remedy for several diseases of the stomach. It is one of the best remedies available for flatulence and is an essential ingredient for most of the digestive powders.
In case of flatulence and distension of the stomach, asafoetida should be dissolved in hot water and a pad of cloth steeped in it may be used for fomenting the abdomen.
Toothache
Asafoetida is useful in alleviating toothache. After being pestled in lemon juice, it is slightly heated. A cotton piece, soaked in the lotion and placed in the cavity of the tooth, relieves pain quickly.
Preparation and Doses:
Asafoetida fried in ghee is administered either as a solution, emulsion or pills. The dose is 30 to 90 centigrams. The solution is made by thoroughly mixing 20 grams of the gum with half a liter of hot water. The dosage for adults is one to two tablespoons and one-fourth to half for children.
Other Uses
Antidote of Opium:
The herb is used as an antidote of opium. Given in the same quantity as opium ingested by the patient, it will counteract the effect of the drug.
The gum resin is relished as a condiment in India and Iran where it is used to flavour curries, meatballs, daI and pickles. It is used in Europe and the United States in perfumes and for flavouring. The whole plant is used as a fresh vegetable.
http://www.divinere medies.com/ asafetida. htm
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.
Jayashree Kanoi
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Re: Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
M patil
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March 16 2008
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When children have bloating problme, a piece of asofoeteda is rubbed around their naval area and instant relief comes.
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Re: Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
garcot
Bangalore
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March 22 2008
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Any left sided symptoms in the ENT region, asaf. gives relief. That is my observation after taking it small quantities. It matches well with what is listed in MM. However, we can derive many more advantages when we use them.
Rgds
Garcot
"wisdom in your body is deeper than your deepest philosophy"(Nietszche)
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Re:Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
Pat2011
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August 31 2011
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Thank you, Udaya, for recommending the asafoetida powder. I picked some up right away at my local Indian store. The picture helped because the sales person didn't know what Asafoetida was. I had to return to the store with a picture of the container. As soon as she saw the picture, she knew what it was. I left her the literature.
Here is the link again that Udaya posted earlier to the picture.
http://www.wiseshe.com/2010/04/all-about-asafoetida.html
As instructed by Udaya, I made it into a paste. I applied it to the belly button several times yesterday. I immediately noticed that it is working on my water retention. It appears to work on the kidneys also.
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Re:Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
udaya kumar
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August 31 2011
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Do not over do. The substance you have purchased is Asafotida ( It may carry local name as Hing in HIndi or Kayam in Tamil and Malayalam). You can continue it once a day if needed.
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Re:Asafoetida [Herb]
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By:
aisha
Europe
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March 15 2013
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Dear Sir,
I have question about that link in previous post, and this asafoetida. I have hard time to find asafoetida gum in pace, not ground. I see that Pat2011 use this one and like she said it's working for her.But it's not pure.
i need to to ask somebody for help and pay a lot to get it from US, so don't want to do it again. Thank you
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use Asofotida 3X homeopathic medicine instead. just forget about it.
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