Asafoetida

Asafoetida it is an antiepileptic, antimicrobial, laxative, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antispasmodic, and anti-flatulent agent.Ferula Asafoetida, popularly known as Asafoetida, is a dried gum obtained from the tap root of various species of Ferula. It is a perennial herb and is also known as devil’s dung, giant fennel, stinking gum, or hing. True to these names, Asafoetida has a strong pungent smell, but adds a subtle flavor to dishes when cooked with other spices. It is native to Afghanistan, and grows in Turkey, Iraq and India. The plant grows to six to seven feet tall and is not harvested until four years old. Health Benefits of Asafoetida

• Asafoetida health benefits are many; it is an antiepileptic, antimicrobial, laxative, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antispasmodic, and anti-flatulent agent.
• Asafoetida helps reduce flatulence, digestive disorders, prevents constipation and is an excellent laxative. A pinch of Asafoetida can be taken with butter milk to reduce flatulence and cleanse the digestive system.
• Granules of Asafoetida can be dissolved in water and taken for relieving migraines and headaches. Asafoetida is also a natural remedy for colic in babies by placing a small amount of warm Asafoetida on the baby’s stomach.
• Asafoetida also acts as an anti-coagulant and helps lower blood pressure.
• Asafoetida is favorable for women’s health as it helps counter leucorrhoea, dysmenorrhea, excessive and painful menstruation, and has positive benefits in treating candida infection.
• Asafoetida’s medicinal uses are many, which include the treatment of influenza. Asafoetida is beneficial in fighting the swine flu and H1N1 virus. It is also used in treating asthma and bronchitis and is effective is treating colds and the flu in children. In addition, it can also be used for reducing chronic bronchitis and whooping cough due to its anti-microbial action.
• It is also considered to have contraceptive properties and is used for contraception in traditional medicine.
• Asafoetida is good protection against triglycerides and cholesterol formed due to excessive fat consumption. However, care needs to be taken when it is used along with blood pressure medication.
• Asafoetida helps in countering the effects of long-term alcohol intake, which can cause severe liver damage and even death. To fight the condition, phytochemicals present in dietary supplement like Asafoetida are beneficial in avoiding ethanol induced hepatotoxicity. This is enabled due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. The active compounds from its resin, gum, volatile