228 Handbook of herbs and spices
as a substitute (Andi et al. 1997). Vegetarian foods of South India that use asafetida
include sambar, rasam and some lentil preparations. It is also used to season some
fish dishes and in making certain types of pappadam. In Iran, asafetida is rubbed onto
warmed plates prior to serving meat dishes, and the large cabbage-like tops of asafetida
plants are eaten raw (Anon., 1991).
While asafetida itself has many medicinal uses, other parts of the plant also have
some therapeutic properties. The leaves have anthelmintic, carminative and diaphoretic
properties, the stem is good as a brain and liver tonic and the root is antipyretic. The
gum resin is antispasmodic, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, expectorant, mildly
laxative and a nerve tonic. It is a useful remedy for asthma, bronchitis, croup, flatulence,
colic pain and for spasmodic movement of the bowels and infantile convulsions
(Duke, 2003). It is also an important ingredient in medicinal preparations prescribed
for controlling diarrhoea, flatulence, habitual abortion, indigestion and liver problems.
Applied externally, it is good against ringworm (Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1995),
goitre and swelling of joints.
Asafetida is reported as an effective carminative against intestinal flatulence and
gas formation. It is an antispasmodic drug widely administered by Hakims in India
for hysteria and also for nervous disorders among women and children, especially
neurological diseases such as facial paralysis and other types of paralysis, including
epilepsy, convulsions and tremors. It also has anti-malarial properties.
Asafetida helps to dissolve abscesses and acts as a purgative, promotes menstruation,
destroys worms and heals wounds. It is one of the ingredients used in ointments for
wounds, lesions and ulcers. After dissolving in vinegar, it is applied on skin afflictions
such as black spots, freckles and disfigurements. It can also be used for curing hard
growth of piles. Asafetida acts an expectorant in chronic bronchitis and is administered
with honey as an electuary in chronic cough and asthma. Asafetida kills germs in
phlegm and is therefore taken to eliminate the foul smell associated with phlegm. It
also lowers the viscosity of phlegm, promoting its expulsion. Modern medicine has
observed that asafetida is expelled from the body through the kidneys and the skin.
It stimulates these organs to encourage urination and sweating. It also has applications
in a few veterinary preparations (Krishnamurthy 1994).
Asafetida, galbanum and ushak have many common medicinal properties. Galbanum
is a stimulative and reduces provocations of kapha and vata. It heals abscesses and
convulsions. Like asafetida, it promotes healing of wounds and ulcers. Galbanum is
also used to strengthen the uterus after delivery. It is employed in neurological
afflictions, such as facial paralysis, nervous tremors, epilepsy, fits in children and
coma. It is beneficial for the common cold, stops a running nose and is effective
against indigestion and stomach pain. It is reported that galbanum has some deleterious
effects on testicular functions.
Ushak is good against abscesses and swellings. It is a purgative, promotes
menstruation and cleans up worm-infected wounds. It is used for eliminating hard
growth of piles and also in skin afflictions, such as black spots, freckles and
disfigurements (Krishnamurthy 1994). According to traditional Chinese medicine,
asafetida enters the liver, spleen and stomach. It stimulates the intestinal, respiratory
and nervous systems. It is used in weak digestion, intestinal parasites, flatulence,
asthma, whooping cough and chronic bronchitis. It is also administered for neurological
problems associated with hysterical and epileptic affections, and in the case of cholera.
A traditional practice in some European countries was to tie a small piece of
asafetida around the necks of children to ward off diseases. During the days of the