The Gem of a Gum
Although dirty brown in colour, its flavour elevates the spirit of Indian cuisine, making it an out of the world experience. As it expels wind from the stomach, it is the main ingredient in Ayurvedic digestive powders (churan). In certain parts of India, the entire plant is used as fresh vegetable.
Recent studies reveal that asafoetida has definite sedative properties. It’s likely use in alleviating heart problems cannot be ruled out.
Asafoetida: A Profile
Latin Name: Ferula asafoetida Linn
Indian Names: Hing, hinger, perungayam, hengu, badhika, agudagandha, inguva
Family: Umbelliferae
Distribution and appearance: A perennial herb, commonly grown in the Punjab and Kashmir with robust, carrot shaped roots. Leaves are of two kinds: lower ones simple and ovate, and upper ones are divided into numerous segments.
Flowers: Small and yellow and grow in clusters.
Asafoetida: How to use it
| Ailment | Prescription |
| Asthmatic problems (avoid curd, butter-milk, banana, guava, fried food, etc.) | Mix a little asafoetida powder in 2 tsp honey. Add to this a little juice of white onions and betel leaf. Sip thrice daily. |
| Diabetes | Mix a little asafoetida powder in 2 tsp of karela (bitter gourd) juice. Have regularly. |
| Stomach problems | Dissolve a little asafoetida in a glass of hot water. Drench in it a cloth pad, foment the abdomen. |
| Earache | Heat equal amounts of asafoetida, garlic and bach (Acorus calamus L.) in little neem oil. Strain and use it as ear-drops when lukewarm. |
| Gas problems | A small piece of asafoetida eaten with a banana. |
| Heart problems | A little asafoetida eaten with munaqqa. |
| Sexual debility | Fry a small piece of asafoetida in ghee. Mix in 1 tsp latex of banyan tree. To be had every morning for a few days. |
| Toothache | Mix a little asafoetida in lime juice. Warm this mixture slightly. Soak a piece of cotton and place it in the tooth cavity. |
| Stomach ache, liver problems, etc. | Fry equal quantities of asafoetida, fenugreek (methi seeds), mustard seeds and turmeric powder in ghee. Powder them. Take 3-4 tsp of this powder with little rice. |