8 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT ASAFOETIDA

ASAFOETIDA

(S) Hingu

Part Used:

• resin (exuadate from the root)

Energetics:

• pungent/heating/pungent

• VK-P+

Tissues:

• plasma

• blood

• muscle

• bone

• marrow and

• nerves

System:

• digestive

• nervous

• respiratory

• execratory

• circulatory

Actions:

• stimulant

• carminative

• antispasmodic

• analgesic

• anthelminatic

• aphrodisiac

• antiseptic

Indications:

• indigestion

• flatulence

• abdominal distention

• intestinal colic pain

• constipation

• arthritis

• rheumatism

• whooping cough

• convulsions

• epilepsy

• hysteria

• palpitation

• asthma

• paralysis

• worms

Precautions:

• high fever

• hyperacidity

• rash

• urticaria

• pregnancy

Preparation:

• mainly powder

  • (low dosage, 100 to 250 mg),

  • paste

• which removes food stagnation from
  • the gastro intestinal track.
• It is effective in
  • breaking up impacted fecal matter,
  • accumulations from excessive eating of
    • meat or
    • junk food, and
  • for destroying worms,
    • particularly round worms and
    • thread worms.

• Asafoetida
  • cleanses the intestinal flora
    • while strengthening Agni.
  • It also
    • dispels intestinal gas,
    • relieves cramping and
    • pain and subdues high Vata.
  • It is
    • similar in properties to garlic
    • but stronger and
    • more malodorous.
    You may have to put it in air-tight jar or
    • it will impart its sulphurous odor to the entire kitchen.
• Externally, asafetida can be applied as a paste for
  • abdominal pain,
  • arthritic pain,
  •  painful joints.
• As a spice, particularly for
  • lentils and
  • beans,
  it makes food lighter and decreases gas.  
• Like garlic,
  • its quality is tamasic.
  •  It has a grounding but
    •  dulling effect upon the mind.
• It is used with such spices as
  • ginger,
  • cardamom and
  • rock salt
  as a digestive agent.
• For dual action of
  • stimulating Agni and
  • moving Vata (Samana vayu),
  there is probably nothing as effective.