Ferula Asafoetida (Hing) The King Of Spice and The Traditional Indian Medicine

Ferula Asafoetida (Hing) The King Of Spice and The Traditional Indian Medicine

Introduction

Ferula Asafoetida (Hing) The King Of Spice and The Traditional Indian Medicine is a very common name in an Indian household and is used extensively in various Indian cuisines and as medicine as a casual home remedy.

Plants have long been a source of drugs, and there has recently been a lot of focus on discovering new therapeutic agents from medicinal plants. Many people nowadays prefer to use medicinal plants instead of chemical drugs. Asafoetida ferula Linn: The gum resin known as asafoetida comes primarily from the plant Ferula asafoetida, which is prized as a condiment in India and Iran. Ferula is a Latin word that means “carrier” or “vehicle.” Asa is a Latinized form of the Farsi word asa, which means “resin,” and foetidus means “smelling, foetid.” Asafoetida was kept in jars with pine nuts in ancient Rome, and both were used to flavour delicate dishes. 

Another method is to dissolve asafoetida in hot oil and add the oil to the food one drop at a time. Asafoetida enhances mushroom and vegetable dishes when used in moderation, but it can also be used to give fried or barbecued meat a unique flavour. It’s known as hingu in ancient texts, and centuries of continuous use have given it the distinction of being both a tasty spice and a reliable medicine. 

Hing has a bitter and pungent flavour and an effect that is light, sharp, unctuous, and hot. Hing is classified as deepniya and sanjna-sthapaka in Ayurvedic texts (an appetiser and a restorer of consciousness). It is a popular household remedy, and its components are used in many traditional healing prescriptions. 

Asafoetida is a flavouring agent that is found in a variety of spice blends. Curries, meatballs, dal, and pickles are all flavoured with it. The entire plant is consumed raw as a vegetable. The herb is also used as an opium antidote. It will counteract the effect of opium if given in the same amount as the patient has ingested.

Ferula asafoetida is a Umbelliferae family herbaceous plant. Oleo gum resin is derived from the plant’s rhizome and root. This spice is used in pickles, as a digestive aid, and as a condiment in food. Hysteria, some nervous conditions, bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough are all treated with it in modern herbalism. 

It was once used to treat infantile pneumonia and flatulent colic, among other things. Antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, and sedative are all properties of gum resin. Because the gum’s volatile oil is expelled through the lungs, it’s an excellent asthma treatment. The odour of asafoetida can be detected in the breath, secretions, flatus, and eructations of the stomach. It has antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, emmenagogue, and vermifuge properties. 

Asafoetida has been used as a sedative in the past. It thins the blood and lowers blood pressure, as well. It is widely used in Indian cuisine and as a medicine in Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda. From the beginning, asafoetida has been held in high regard among indigenous medicines, particularly in the Unani system.

Hing is a versatile spice that can be used in a variety of dishes. Hing is used to treat stomach disorders such as gas, bloating, acidity, and constipation andomach health. When asafoetida is consumed on a daily basis, respiratory disorders are kept under control, and it is a good spice to have on hand during the cold and winter months.

Hing aids in the removal of phlegm and chest congestion. It improves skin moisture and radiance while helping to maintain skin texture. Asafoetida is used to treat menstrual issues such as cramps and menstrual flow in women and infertility diseases such as PCOD. Hing is a healthy spice that can help to prevent the H1N1 virus from spreading in the body. It is an antidepressant that has been discovered to improve a person’s mood.

Myths And History 

As its name implies, asafoetida has a foetid odour and a nauseating taste, qualities that have earned it the moniker “devil’s dung.” A small piece of gum was worn around the neck to ward off diseases like colds and fevers in the Middle Ages. Its effectiveness was most likely due to the amulet’s antisocial properties rather than any medicinal virtue. 

Surprisingly, asafoetida was used as a condiment in Persia and was dubbed “food of the gods.” This herb, whose Sanskrit name is hing, is a major component in the well-known Ayurvedic herbal formula Hingashtak. This herb is so highly valued in Persia as a condiment that it is used in almost all of their dishes. 

French chefs season beef steaks with asafoetida and serve them on hot plates. The addition of this gum gives Worcestershire sauce its distinctive flavour. It adds character to curries, stews, gravies, and other dishes when used sparingly. Asafoetida has become a useful ingredient in fine perfumes thanks to careful manipulation. In Europe, the Near East, and the Far East, it is still considered a valuable medicinal. Only the brave and the hearty should use it as a condiment. 

Asafoetida is used in magic and mythology to gain insight and to banish all negative energy, evil spirits, and demons. It’s used to summon male gods, particularly those with phallic characteristics. According to legend, asafoetida grew from the sperm of a fertility god that soaked into the earth.

What exactly is Ferula Asafoetida?

Ferula Asafoetida, also known as Ferula Asafoetida is a spice. The spice is extracted from the herb Ferula and is available in tablet and powdered form. This spice has a strong odour and is commonly used in Indian and Persian cuisines. This spice provides fibre, calcium, phosphorus, iron, niacin, carotene, and riboflavin, and has earned the nickname “devils dung” due to its strong flavour. Hing, or asafoetida, is an antiviral and antibacterial spice that is also used for medicinal purposes. This spice has anticoagulant properties and is also a diuretic.

Ferula Asafoetida Nutritional Value per 100 Gm

Hing is known for having a high carbohydrate content. Hing contains 67 percent carbohydrates per 100 grammes. A 16 percent mixture and 4 percent fibre are found in 100 grammes of asafoetida. Asafoetida powder nutrition facts show that it contains only 1% fat, which is considered insignificant. Per 100 grammes of hing, 295 calories are released. The hing is made up of roughly 17 percent oils, 65 percent resin, and the rest is gum.

Nutritional information 64 calories per tbsp

• 1 gramme of total fat, 4 milligrammes of sodium, and 11 milligrammes of total carbohydrate
• 1 gramme of protein
• Minerals and vitamins
• 0.04\sCalcium

Ferula Asafoetida Powder’s Health Benefits

The best health benefits of Hing Hing for Stomach Problem are listed below.

Hing has anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat a variety of stomach disorders. Furthermore, the anti-flatulent properties of hing ensure that stomach problems such as gas, acidity, stomach burns, stomach ache, stomach worms, a stomach infections, and common stomach upset are managed and stomach health is restored. When Hing is added to the daily diet, the chances of irritable bowel syndrome and food poisoning are eliminated. The stomach benefits greatly from dissolving small pieces of Hing in warm water and drinking it daily after meals.

Ferula Asafoetida for Infections of the Respiratory System

Hing is known for having a high carbohydrate content. Asafoetida contains 67 percent carbohydrates per 100 grammes. Hing contains a 16 percent mixture and 4 percent fibre in every 100 grammes. The fat content is only 1%, which is considered insignificant. Asafoetida releases 295 calories per 100 grammes. The hing is made up of roughly 17 percent oils, 65 percent resin, and the rest is gum.

Menstrual Issues and Asafoetida

When Hing is added to a woman’s diet, she gets relief from menstrual problems. Hing is used to treating irregular periods, menstrual pain, and problems like overflow during periods. The body’s progesterone secretion is normalised, which regulates blood flow.

Medicinal Properties of Asafoetida

Ferula Asafoetida aids in the prevention of headaches brought on by blood vessel blockages. A cup of water should be used to boil the Ferula Asafoetidag, which should then be allowed to simmer for at least 15 minutes. To get relief from mild headaches, take this mixture several times a day. Hing contains coumarins, which are known to help prevent heart attacks by thinning blood vessels. This also ensures that the body’s cholesterol levels are at a healthy level.

Ferula Asafoetida is a spice that has anti-aging properties.

Asafoetida is a spice that can help you get rid of wrinkles on your face. Hing is a skin whitening agent that can also be used to remove dark circles under the eyes. Applying the Hing mixture to the face removes the oiliness of the skin. When Hing is applied to the face, it inhibits the body’s production of tyrosine. Tyrosine is required for the production of melanin, which causes the skin to appear dull.

When Ferula Asafoetida is added to food, it inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria. If the asafoetida mixture is applied to the face, dirt and oil are kept out of the pores. When the hing mixture is applied to the skin, it helps to ensure that oxygen is delivered to the skin, which improves the skin’s radiance.

Hair Growth with Ferula Asafoetida Powder

Hing aids in the growth of thick, lustrous hair. It also aids in the growth of hair. When hing is applied to the hair, the texture improves and dandruff is reduced. It also aids in the care of the scalp. The scalp’s normal ph value is restored, and the scalp is kept oil-free.

Check Viruses that are harmful.

When Hing is added to food, it inhibits the spread of harmful viruses like H1N1. This is due to the fact that when Hing comes into contact with the virus, it produces antibiotics, which prevent the virus from growing. 

Antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties are all present. Asafoetida has been found to help protect against potential pathogens such as Streptococcus bacteria strains in test tubes.

Epilepsy treatment With Ferula Asafoetida

Ferula Asafoetida is an anti-epileptic that is widely used in Unani medicine. Unani is an ancient science that treats diseases and aids in the recovery of health.

Indigestion Relief with Ferula Asafoetida

Constipation, diarrhoea, gas, and bloating are all conditions that are treated with hing. Toxins from the stomach are removed, which aids in the body’s ph level restoration. The hing mixture boosts metabolism by providing the body with a lot of energy. The reason for this is that the body’s toxic waste is flushed out.

One of the most common applications of asafoetida is to relieve indigestion. 

Ferula Asafoetida has also been shown to aid digestion by increasing digestive enzyme activity. It has the potential to increase the release of bile from the liver, which is required for fat digestion 

While spice is also commonly used to prevent or reduce post-meal gas, there is currently no research to back up this claim.

Benefits of antidepressants

If Ferula Asafoetida is added to the diet on a regular basis, it has been found to help with mood swings and depression.

Ferula Asafoetida Enhances Men’s and Women’s Sexual Desire

It aids in the moisturization of the vaginal area. This is used to treat female infertility issues such as PCOD. Hing mixture is a good health tonic for men and prevents premature ejaculation.

Ferula Asafoetida has anti-cancer properties.

It inhibits the formation of free radicals in the body as well as cell damage. Hing, when combined with turmeric, has a variety of health benefits due to its anti-cancer properties.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ferula Asafoetida is thought to help relieve symptoms associated with IBS because of its potential digestive effects.

After two weeks of taking asafoetida supplements, two small studies in adults with IBS found a significant improvement in reported IBS symptoms. Another study found that the supplement had no effect on IBS symptoms.

IBS symptoms may be alleviated with this supplement.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic GI condition marked by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, or both.

As an Emmenagogue

A hot water extract of the dried resin is taken orally. In chronic bronchitis, a hot water extract of the dried gum is taken orally as a carminative, antispasmodic, and expectorant.  

Ferula Asafoetida As an Abortifacient

A dried extract of Brassica alba and rock salt is diluted with vinegar and taken orally.  Guinea worm disease is prevented by eating dried gum resin exudates. Externally, stomachaches are treated with a mixture of gum resin, salt, and Moringa pterygosperma bark juice. 

Antioxidants Properties Of Ferula Asafoetida

Antioxidants have been discovered to be abundant in asafoetida These plant compounds protect your cells from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause cell damage. Therefore, Antioxidants may aid in the prevention of chronic inflammation, heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Asafoetida, in particular, has been found to contain high levels of phenolic compounds like tannins and flavonoids, which are known for their powerful antioxidant properties.

Ferula Asafoetida Applications

Pickles are made with Ferula Asafoetida and it’s also used a lot in cooking. It’s used to make vegetarian dishes like sambar and dal, which are popular in India. The spice is commonly used in ayurvedic medicine and is usually added when tempering. 

Ayurvedic medicines containing Ferula Asafoetida are used to control the occurrence of vatha and kapha in the human body. Making a hole in the tree bark, filling it with Ferula Asafoetida, and closing the hole uproots unwanted trees. 

Ferula Asafoetida is used to treat hysteria, insanity, and mental disorders in some people. Hing is sometimes used as a fragrance in cosmetics. Bee stings and other insect stings are treated with Ferula Asafoetida. Ear and toothaches, as well as pimples, are all treated with this herb. Hing is an ayurvedic mouthwash that can also be used to treat skin blemishes.

Ferula Asafoetida Side Effects & Allergies

Ferula Asafoetida should not be given to infants because it can cause internal bleeding. When a pregnant woman consumes Ferula Asafoetida, it may cause a miscarriage, and if a breastfeeding mother consumes it, it may cause bleeding disorders in the infant. The reason for this is that Ferula Asafoetida will pass through the mother’s milk to the infant. When Ferula Asafoetidais taken, blood clotting may be slowed, which is not recommended for people who have recently had surgery. Too much Ferula Asafoetidacan causes swelling of the lips, as well as bloating and gas. When Ferula Asafoetidais taken, it can cause diarrhoea in some people.

Hing’s Origins and Cultivation

Ferula asafoetida is a monoecious perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the UMBELLIFERAE family. Asafoetida is native to Central Asia, ranging from eastern Iran to Afghanistan, and is now primarily grown in Iran and Afghanistan, from where it is exported around the world. Although it is not indigenous to India, it has long been used in Indian medicine and cuisine.

Anghuzeh (Farsi); asafétida (Spanish); asafoetida; awei (Chinese); aza (Greek); devil’s dung; férule persique ou merde dudiable (French); haltit or tyib (Arabic); hing (Hindi); mvuje (Swahili); stinkasant or

Ferula plants have massive taproots or carrot-shaped roots that are 12.5-15 cm in diameter at the crown when they are 4-5 years old, and Asafoetida is extracted from them. The upper part of the living rhizome root is laid bare and the stem is cut off close to the crown just before the plant’s flower in March-April. The exposed surface is covered by a dome-shaped structure made of twigs and earth. The cut surface exudes a milky juice. 

When more latex exudes after a few days, the exudates are scraped off and a fresh slice of the root is cut; sometimes the resin is removed along with the slice. The process of collecting resin and slicing the root is repeated until exudation stops (about 3 months after the first cut). Incisions made at the junction of the stem or rhizome and the taproots are sometimes used to collect the resin.

Hing should not be given to infants because it can cause internal bleeding. When a pregnant woman consumes Ferula Asafoetida, it may cause a miscarriage, and if a breast-feeding mother consumes it, it may cause bleeding disorders in the infant. The reason for this is that hing will pass through the mother’s milk to the infant. When hing is taken, blood clotting may be slowed, which is not recommended for people who have recently had surgery. 

The final Yield is the dried sap obtained from the roots of Ferula plants is known as asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida)

While native to Afghanistan and Iraq, asafoetida is widely used in Indian cuisine, where it is dried and ground into a spice known as hing.

Aside from flavouring food, asafoetida has been used for centuries for its purported health benefits all over the world. However, too much hing can cause swelling of the lips, as well as bloating and gas. When hing is taken, it can cause diarrhoea in some people.

What is the best way to use Ferula Asafoetida

For thousands of years, asafoetida has been used to flavour foods. In fact, it was once stored in jars with pine nuts to be used as a seasoning by the ancient Romans.

Ground asafoetida powder, also known as Ferula Asafoetida, is now available online and in some Indian grocery stores.

If you’re following a gluten-free diet, look for Ferula Asafoetida powder made with rice flour rather than wheat.

To help reduce the sulphurous flavour and smell of Ferula Asafoetidapowder in culinary applications, mix it with hot oil or another source of fat.

Hing powder is frequently combined with other spices such as turmeric or cumin in Indian cuisine to add a savoury, umami flavour to lentil- or vegetable-based dishes. It’s sometimes used to boost the flavour of steaks in France.

Asafoetida’s Significance in Daily Life 

Asafoetida, which is technically a gum-resin, is a hard substance extracted from the Ferula plants’ large, carrot-shaped roots 

It’s usually dried, ground into a coarse, yellow powder, and used for culinary or medicinal purposes once it’s been extracted.

Because of its high concentration of sulphur compounds, asafoetida has a strong, pungent odour as a spice. In fact, this seasoning is sometimes referred to as stinking gum due to its foul odour.

When cooked, however, its flavour and smell become much more palatable, and it is frequently compared to leeks, garlic, and even meat.

Asafoetida has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, in addition to adding a distinct flavour to dishes.

Hing, for instance, is used in Ayurvedic medicine to help with digestion, gas, acidity and kidney stones. The dried gum was sometimes worn around the neck to help ward off infection and disease during the Middle Ages

Despite being used for thousands of years, modern science has yet to prove many of the traditional uses of asafoetida.

Asafoetida’s potential side effects

While there is little research on the safety of asafoetida in humans, the amounts used in cooking are thought to be safe for most people.

In one human study, 250 mg twice daily for 30 days was found to be well tolerated by the participants.

Large doses of asafoetida, on the other hand, have been linked to mouth swelling, gas, diarrhoea, anxiety, and headaches in animals. Furthermore, a mouse study suggests that doses greater than 455 mg per pound (1,000 mg per kg) of body weight may be toxic.

Asafoetida is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or young children, due to a lack of research.

People taking blood pressure medications or blood thinners should avoid taking asafoetida supplements because they can lower blood pressure or thin the blood.

Asafoetida is commonly mixed with wheat or rice flour when used as a spice. As a result, products containing asafoetida (or hing) may not be gluten-free. When dining out at a restaurant that uses Ferula Asafoetida powder in their dishes, this can be a major concern.

Before attempting to use asafoetida, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Asafoetida is likely safe for most people when used in small amounts for cooking. Asafoetida, on the other hand, may not be safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or when taken in large doses, due to a lack of research.

Traditional Medicinal Applications Across The World

• Afghanistan: hysteria, whooping cough, and ulcers are treated with a hot water extract of the dried gum.
• China: the plant’s decoction is taken orally as a vermifuge.
• Egypt: a hot water extract of the dried root is used as an antispasmodic, diuretic, vermifuge, and analgesic.
• Malaysia: the gum is chewed for amenorrhea and in Morocco, it is used as an antiepileptic. A water extract of the resin is used as an anthelmintic 
• Nepal: dried gum is used to treat whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis in Saudi Arabia.
• Brazil: males take a hot water extract of the dried leaf and stem orally as an aphrodisiac, and oleoresin powder is used as a condiment, crushed with the fingertips. 
• United States:, the resin’s fluid extract is used as an emmenagogue, a stimulating expectorant, an anthelmintic, an aphrodisiac, and a brain and nerve stimulant, as well as a powerful antispasmodic.
• India: asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) is used as traditional medicine.Since ancient times in India, asafoetida has been held in high regard among indigenous medicines. It’s said to be a drug that clears the stomach of wind and relieves spasmodic symptoms. 

SUMMARY

Asafoetida is a sulphur-scented gum-resin derived from Furula plants. It’s traditionally ground into a powder and used as a spice to add a savoury flavour to food, either for its purported medicinal properties or as a spice.

While asafoetida has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in test tubes and animals, more research on its potential antioxidant effects in humans is needed. 

Onions and garlic are high in fructans, which are indigestible, fermentable carbohydrates that can cause GI distress in some people with IBS. Because asafoetida has a flavour that is similar to onions and garlic, it may be a good alternative for those who need to avoid or limit their intake of these high-fructose foods.

Note: Contact our Writers at www.eastsidewriters.com  for writing Blogs/Articles on any niche. We have experts in various domains from Technology to Finance and from Spirituality to Lifestyle and Entertainment.