ASAFOETIDA
Asfoetida, commonly known as Hing in India, is a versatile spice renowned for its medicinal properties as well as culinary uses. Derived from a plant, its resin is collected in different forms—Tears, Mass, and Paste—depending on the region and harvesting methods. In Iran, during the spring when the plant is about to bloom, stems are cut, and milky gummy resin exudes from the surface, solidifying into Mass and Tear forms over three months. In Afghanistan, a different method involves scratching the plant's root to extract a thick, paste-like resin, sometimes collected in Mass form where the resin is particularly thick.
Traditionally, Asafoetida has been prized in India not just for its ability to add flavor and aroma to dishes but also for its therapeutic properties. It is believed to warm the blood, improve circulation, and act as an antiseptic and germicide. These properties have made it a remedy for various ailments such as colds, coughs, burns, bruises, and stomach upsets.
Despite its historical medicinal uses, Asafoetida's popularity has declined with the advent of modern medicine. However, its distinct aroma—stronger and more tenacious than that of onions—and bitter, acrid taste continue to make it a staple in Indian cuisine, especially in vegetarian cooking where it serves as a substitute for onion and garlic.
Asafoetida is the oleo-gum resin obtained by incising the living rhizomes and roots of Ferula, a member of umbelliferous plant of Ferula family The Ferula in Latin means carrier or vehicle, ferula plants are not cultivated or grown they grow themselves as they are arid by air though called carriers or ferula. It grows up to 6 feet high it has large fleshy root covered with bristly fibers. Its stem grows up to 5 to 6 feet's numerous stem leaves with wide sheathing petioles pale greenish yellow flowers, oval fruit it has a milky juice and a strong foetid odour. It was found somewhere around 12th century, there are several species of Ferula yielding Asafoetida. one of them is Tibetian Asafoetida( Narthex Asafoetida ) another one is Scorodosma foetida found in sandy steps of caspian both appears very similar to actual Asafoetida but does not turns pink when oxidized to air and is less pugent then Asafoetida produced in native to the high plains of Iran and Afghanistan.
The bulk of the Asafoetida comes from the official plant, which is indigenous to Afghanistan and grows from two to four thousand feet above sea level. These high plains are arid in winter but are thickly covered in summer with a luxuriant growth of these plants. June to August are the month from when the juice is collected from plants of about four years old. The oldest plants are most productive, anything less than four years is considered virtually worthless., the upper part of the carrot shaped roots of plants which have not flowered is laid bare and the stem is cut off close to the crown. After a few days the exudates is scraped off and a fresh slice of root is cut to gather more resin. Its chief constituent is of about 50 to 62 per cent of resin (means wax-containing plant oils), 25 per cent. of gum and 6 to 17 per cent Volatile oil (volatile oils are all scent unlike general oils that has no scent.) It also contains free ferulic acid, water, and small quantities of various impurities.
Asafetida has been a popular spice in Europe since the Roman times It is an important ingredient in Persia, and is popular with Brahmins in India who refuse to eat garlic. In Indian cuisine, it is normally not combined with garlic and onions and is seen as an alternative or substitute for them, it is nearly always used for vegetarian dishes. Usage differs a little bit for the powdered form and the pure resin. Which are refered in different chapters
BENEFITS OF ASAFOETIDA
Stomach Disorders :
We are into Asafoetida (Hing) Business since last 6 decades when grandfather of Shri Jagdish Gambhir Hingwala. Late Shri Daulatram Gambhir along with his son L/Shri Basantlal Gambhir, use to supply Hing to Indian markets popularly known as Maharaja Hing from Multan (now in Pakistan).
Respiratory Disorders :
Whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis can all be treated with asafetida. Mix a large pinch of the powder or a small piece of the gum with two teaspoons of honey, a quarter teaspoon of white onion juice and one teaspoon of betel-leaf juice and take three times daily.
Hysteria :
Smelling this gum can prevent hysterical attacks. An emulsion of two grams of asafetida in 120 ml of water can be given as an enema if oral administration is not advisable.
Sexual Dysfunction :
In cases of impotency, about six centigrams of the spice should be fried and mixed with honey and a teaspoon of fresh latex from a banyan tree. This mixture should be taken before sunrise, once daily for 40 days.
Toothache :
Grind a bit of the gum with a pestle in lemon juice and warm slightly. Soak a piece of clean cotton in this lotion and place in the cavity of the painful tooth for speedy relief