Health benefits of asafoetida

Asafoetida is a latex gum obtained from a perennial plant. The latex is usually collected in earthen pots and dried. It is either packaged in solid blocks or powdered and sold. Asafoetida is popularly called "Hing" in Hindi, "Perungayam" in Tamil. I always prefer to buy in blocks, as they remain fresh longer and I break it into small pieces, sun dry and store it. Asafoetida has got a strong pungent smell, that many dislike. If we touch asafoetida with our hands, the smell will linger even after we wash our hands with soap. You will never find a Indian household without this spice. We use it in almost all our dishes in small amounts. Asafoetida apart from being an important spice in our day to day cooking, occupies an important place in home remedies too. Since we always have asafoetida at home, it is one of the first spice that we turn to, if any one is suffering from indigestion. Apart from using it for indigestion, we also use it as a home remedy for menstrual pain, ear ache, body pains and tooth ache. However people with high blood pressure should avoid taking asafoetida separately, as they interfere with pressure medications. Pregnant women and those suffering from blood clotting problems should practice caution when taking asafoetida separately.
Along with its culinary uses, asafetida has a prominent place in traditional medicine. Its health benefits come from its carminative, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative, diuretic, vermifuge, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Asafoetida is used for breathing problems including ongoing (chronic) bronchitis, H1N1"swine" flu, and asthma. It is also used for digestion problems including intestinal gas,upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and irritable colon. Other uses include treatment of “whooping cough” (pertussis), croup, and hoarse throat.
Some of the most interesting health benefits of asafoetida include its ability to protect the gastrointestinal system, improve menstrual symptoms, reduces inflammation, boost the immune system, eliminate respiratory issues, prevents reproductive disorders, improve mood swings and nervous disorders, and ease pain.

Treats Stomach Problems

Asafetida is an amazing spice to treat various kinds of stomach problems. It has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiflatulent properties that help alleviate problems like indigestion, upset stomach, intestinal gas, intestinal worms, flatulence and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is also considered useful in treating food poisoning.
Consume a little bit of asafetida on a daily basis by adding it to curries and food.
Another option is to dissolve a few small pieces of asafetida in one-half cup of water. Drink it daily after eating your meal.

Cancer Prevention: 

There is a wealth of research in the world concerning the prevention andtreatment of cancer, and as such, asafoetida has received considerable attention. The highconcentration of antioxidant compounds, namely ferulic acid and umbrelliprenin, have been shown to actively seek out and neutralize free radicals within the body, and have been directly linked to a reduction in cancerous cells.

Analgesic: 

Although the exact mechanism of pain relief is still a bit mysterious, asafoetida has been recommended as a safe analgesic for a wide range of pain levels and symptoms, from chronic pain from injuries or surgeries to the colic pain of toddlers. Asafoetida is known to eliminate many of the primary conditions that cause pain, such as eliminating bloating and flatulence build-up in infants, thereby relieving their crying and pain. Whatever your pain symptoms happen to be, adding a bit of asafoetida to your diet certainly won’t hurt.

Cures Respiratory Disorders

Due to its anti inflammatory, antiviral and antibiotic effects, asafetida is often used to treat respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, dry cough, whooping cough and colds. Plus, it acts as a respiratory stimulant, which is very useful in relieving chest congestion and releasing phlegm.A paste prepared by grinding asafoetida in water and then applying it on your chest is an effective remedy for relieving a cough.
You can also mix together one-half teaspoon each of asafetida powder and dry ginger powder and two tablespoons of honey. Have this mixture at least three times a day to get relief from a dry cough, whooping cough, bronchitis and asthma.

Fertility Boost:

 One of the ancient uses of asafoetida is as a sexual stimulant, and it is well-known to eliminate symptoms of impotence or infertility in men and women. By stimulating hormonal activity and boosting energy and blood flow, asafoetida is basically an aphrodisiac that is easily accessible and has no side effects except a better sex life.

FOR STOMACH DISORDERS:


Asafoetida is an amazing spice to treat flatulence and expelling wind. Many suffer from gas when they consume lentils. Whenever you cook dals and pulses, adding asafoetida prevents the problem and helps in quick digestion. A small pinch of asafoetida will go a long way and if you add too much, the dish will turn bitter and will have the strong smell of asafoetida that you will never be able to get rid off.
It is useful in treatment of numerous women ailments
The presence of anti-inflammatory compounds in hing is responsible for providing quick relief from menstrual cramps, irregular periods and dysmenorrhoea. Apart from this, this herb aids in the treatment and fastens your recovery from candida infection and leucorrhoea (thick white/yellow coloured discharge from the vagina).Women sometimes use asafoetida to restart their menstrual periods after menstruationhas stopped for some reason.
Soothes Headaches
Whether you have a headache due to a common cold or a migraine, asafetida can surely solve your problem. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, asafetida can help reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, which in turn will reduce headaches.
Heat a dash of asafetida in one and one-half cup of water. Allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes and then drink it a few times a day to relieve mild tension headache.
Another option is to take one teaspoon each of asafetida, dried ginger, camphor and two teaspoons of tailed pepper. Add enough milk or rose water to form a paste. Apply this paste on your forehead to treat tension and migraine headaches.
Some people use asafoetida for hysteria, insanity, convulsions, and as a nerve stimulant for ongoing mental and physical fatigue with depression (neurasthenia).

Male Impotence

Natural remedies making use of this medicinal herb assist assuage sexual dysfunction. For problems associated with impotency a bit of asafetida fried in ghee might be taken just before sunrise, for around a month and a half, in conjunction with honey and also the gum procured from the banyan tree.Are you aware of the fact that hing can be used to treat impotency in men, spermatorrhoea and premature ejaculation? Just add a pinch of this spice while preparing your food to prevent and treat various sexual problems. Apart from this, drinking a glass of warm water mixed with hing increases your libido by enhancing blood flow

It is used to combat respiratory disorders

Being a potent respiratory stimulant and expectorant, hing helps release phlegm and relieve chest congestion naturally. To get rid of dry cough, whooping cough and bronchitis, consume a mixture of hing, honey and ginger.

For Stings

Asafoetida is extremely useful for dealing with stings of bees, wasps etc. The paste of asafoetida needs to be utilized like a poultice on the affected region as well as left to dry. To help make the paste, a little piece of asafoetida is rubbed on the stone, together with little water till you obtain a thick paste. Use this paste within the stings.

For Tooth Ache 

Asafoetida is excellent for the treatment of tooth pains. To create a poultice for tooth aches, create a paste of asafoetida and lemon juice in the mortar as well as pestle and use with the aid of a ear bud on the affected tooth. You’ll find your pain progressively reducing.

Skin Protection:

 Insect bites are annoying no matter what country you’re from, and that itching irritation can almost drive you mad. Fortunately, if you create a paste based of asafoetida, you can apply it directly to the spot of the bug bite to speed healing and reduce inflammation, which should also eliminate your desire to constantly scratch it!

Nervous Disorders: 

It seems that the list of benefits from asafoetida never stops; you can also use this taproot resin to soothe the body and mind, making it an effective treatment for hysteria, mood swings, chronic anxiety, depression, and stress. This is a crucial health benefit of asafoetida, as all of these disorders can wreak havoc on your overall system if not properly regulated and controlled