Asafetida is a typical Indian spice. It refers to the gum or later obtained from the taproot of an ancient plant known as the food of the Gods. It is best known as a spice used in cooking. Asafetida is a well-known herb known for its strong flavor. Its unique taste, with just a pinch of it, added to the pickles, pulses, and other dishes is a brilliant medicine from the shelf of Ayurveda.
It is a fetid gum-resin that is obtained from carrot-shaped roots of the Ferula plant. It is popularly known as Hing in Indian and is widely used as herbal medicine and flavoring agent in cooking.
Asafetida is used as a herbal medicine; it helps treat conditions such as breathing problems, indigestion and for women to restart their menstrual cycle after menstruation has stopped due to some reason.
The manufacturing industry uses it as a fragrance in cosmetics and uses it in products meant to repel animals, including dogs and cats.
10 Benefits of Asafetida:
Asafetida has been known for ages for the health benefits it offers to human beings. It has several medicinal properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammable, antiviral, and sedative. Asafoetida is also known as God’s food due to its therapeutic and healing powers.
Here are some of the beneficial health effects of asafoetida:
1. Abdominal Problems
Asafoetida is used to treat abdominal ailments with its anti-inflammatory properties and anti-flatulent properties. It treats many stomach-related problems such as ensuring abdominal gas, neutralizes acidity, relieves the burning sensation in the stomach, ache, stomach worms, stomach infection.
2. Respiratory Infection
Asafoetida helps treat respiratory infections, loosen the cough, and acts as an antitussive with high carbohydrates and anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Asafoetida for Menstrual Problems
When blended with other essential oils and rubbed gently over the abdomen, Hing oil relieves abdominal pain. Adding a pinch of the herb to a daily meal or taking the herb lemon water after a meal can help women combat cramps, manage the optimum blood flow, and regulate the menstrual period. Because asafoetida normalizes the secretion of sexual hormones.
4. Medicinal Properties of Asafoetida
Regular use of the herb in diet or intake of water helps treat headaches caused by the blockages in blood vessels. First, Hing is added to a cup of water to aid the headache, and then put the mixture over a flame to boil and then is allowed to simmer for at least 15 minutes. Take this mixture multiple times a day. Asafoetida is rich in coumarins that are known to reduce the viscosity of blood and prevent heart attack.
5. Anti-aging spice
Asafoetida can act as an anti-aging spice as it can remove wrinkles on the face. It is also a fantastic skin whitening agent and is used for removing black spots under the eyes.
6. Hair Growth
Hing helps in thick hair growth and to get shiny hair. It also helps in hair growth. The texture of the hair is improved, and dandruff is controlled when it is applied. It also helps in scalp maintenance. The standard ph value of the scalp is restored and also keeps the scalp oil-free.
7. Checks harmful viruses
The growth of harmful viruses such as H1N1 is kept under check when Hing is added to food. When Hing encounters this virus, it produces antibiotics and prevents the growth of the virus.
8. Can help with Epilepsy
Hing is known as anti-epileptic and is used extensively in Unani medicines. Unani is an ancient science that is used to treat diseases and helps in restoring health.
9. Indigestion Problems
It can aid metabolism and indigestion problems by easing the proper mixing and proper flow along the path.
10. Hing Improves Sexual Drive in Men & Women
It maintains the secondary sexual hormones and increases the amount that lubricates the vagina, which can be used to treat female infertility-related problems like PCOD. In men, it can prevent premature ejaculation and give overall endurance and has proven to be a good health tonic.
How to Use Asafetida?
Asafoetida is a herb that every household should have in their kitchen because it aids in treating a broad range of conditions and can significantly improve your health.
1. Asafoetida Powder:
The powder is known as hing churna in Ayurveda, and it is one of the best non-natural remedies to aid smooth digestion. It is a powder with a coarse texture and is yellow.
Availability:
Asafoetida powder is widely available in the market. In addition, it is available with other healing herbs such as dried ginger and long pepper to add to its effectiveness and therapeutic effect.
Preparation:
Sundry the herb in direct sunlight.
Once it gets dried, grind it well to make a smooth and coarse powder.
Dosage:
Use this powder under medical supervision.
Add a pinch of powder to lukewarm water to drink in the morning.
You can also add a pinch of the powder to tea or food items like veggies and dals.
When to use it?
You can even take this powder daily, but just a pinch of this is advisable.
Additionally, this shows lovely results when taken for therapeutic purposes to treat constipation, aid digestion, reduce bloating and clean your digestion, preventing intestinal blockage. It is also helpful if you take it for a foul smell or bad taste.
2. Asafetida Oil:
Another excellent way to use asafoetida is using oil. The oil is a potential healer and aids many ailments. So, if you are looking for something to give extraordinary results, here is this beautiful remedy.
Availability:
This volatile oil is available in markets and can be easily picked at affordable ranges.
Dosage:
1-2 drops of oil are enough to relieve the ailments. If you want to use this for throat infections or cold, you can add 1-2 drops of this oil to lukewarm water to gargle or few drops to boiling water to take steam.
When to Use:
- You can use the oil daily. Just use a small amount of it to gargle, take a steam or rub over the affected area.
- If you want to use it to help you ease stomach pain and cramps during menstruation, you need to add two drops of oil to 1-2 ml of sesame oil and gently massage over the abdomen.
- You can use it for dental problems, cough, and cold; add two drops of oil to lukewarm water and gargle for 30 seconds.
- It can also be used as an expectorant to treat congested chest and nasal tract. Would you please take a few drops of oil in boiling water and use them to make steam?
- When 1-2 drops of oil are mixed with two drops of garlic juice, the mixture can relieve pain and irritation due to insect stings. Just rub a little of the oil over the affected area.
Additional Uses of Asafetida:
- Pimples: The herb gives brilliant results when it is used to treat acne and rashes because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It inhibits any bacterial growth when two tablespoons of oil are applied with Multani mitti and rose water over the face.
- Haircare: Being oily and moist can do wonders for dry, brittle hair.
- Relieve Headache: With anti-inflammatory properties, it relieves headaches. Add a pinch of powder to warm water and drink it 2-3 times under medical supervision to relieve headaches.
- The tastemaker: It is an essential spice in the kitchen. It is a must ingredient in many household dishes, mainly used for its exclusive flavor and taste.
Asafetida Recipes
1. Lemon-Hing Water
What do you need?
- 2 tbsp asafoetida
- 1 tbsp jeera or cumin
- ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1-2 cups of water
The Procedure:
- Add water to a vessel and boil it.
- Add a pinch of asafoetida and cumin to it, boil for a few minutes, and put off the flame.
- Cool it down to make it just warm.
- Add some lemon juice to it, and your healthy drink is ready.
Nutritious Benefit:
The drink is a beautiful alternative to sugary beverages. With all the therapeutic properties, this is an excellent do-go drink if you are a health-conscious person. In addition, it is a beautiful drink to reduce your excess fat and that too with a simple natural remedy.
2. Masala Asafetida buttermilk
What do you need to cook?
- 10-15 mint leaves
- 5-6 coriander leaves
- 6-7 curry leaves
- 1-2 green chilies
- 1 tbsp dried ginger powder
- 2 cups homemade yogurt
- 1-2 tsp asafoetida powder
- 2-3 tbsp roasted cumin powder
- 1-2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 cup of chilled water
- 5-6 cubes of ice
- 1-tsp ghee
- Salt as per taste
Method
- Wash the mint, coriander, and curry leaves and keep them aside.
- Take the Grinder and add mint, coriander, green chili, asafoetida, dried ginger powder, jeera powder, yogurt, and salt.
- Grind all the ingredients until it becomes thick.
- Then add water and lemon juice to it and blend a little more.
- Pour it into a container and keep it aside.
- Add the curry leaves and jeera powder to it and saute for a minute.
- Now pour the masala over the buttermilk and mix it thoroughly with a big spoon.
- Pour it in glasses and relish on the chilled buttermilk.
Nutritional Benefits
The tasty buttermilk is a perfect drink to have on a sunny afternoon. It aids digestion and is a beautiful drink for detox.
You can have this low-calorie drink to quench your thirst or satisfy your appetite. This is also a yummy option for a weight loss diet plan.
Adverse Effects of Asafetida
- Do not give asafoetida to pregnant women without consulting a doctor, as it may cause a miscarriage.
- If consumed in more than required or prescribed amounts, it may show counter effects such as intestinal gas, diarrhea, swollen lips, blood disorders, etc.
Precautions
- During Pregnancy
- During breast-feeding
- Children might face the blood disorders
- Those with Bleeding disorders must avoid taking it
- Patients with Epilepsy or those with a history of convulsions
- Hypertension or Hypotension patients must take it after consulting a doctor.
- Two weeks before Surgery as asafoetida may slow blood clotting
Where to Buy Asafetida:
- From any online platform (Mountain Rose Herb and Amazon)
- Grocery store
- Supermarket
- Health food store
- Ayurvedic stores
- Directly get the plant from nursery life
Conclusion
A traditional remedy for a multifactorial cure, this treats digestive anomalies and offers innumerable health benefits. All because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, pain-relieving, and carminative properties, this exquisite aromatic herbal spice is an ingredient that offers treatment to almost all health problems.
Disclaimer: The information given here is exclusively for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be used in place of medical care from your doctor. Consult an appropriate healthcare professional on any issue concerning your health or well-being before engaging in any health-related activity.
