Asafoetida is a spice or security, purging and edification. It is utilized to exile cynicism, insidious spirits and evil presences. This cautious spice can be worn as an ornament to deflect the hostile stare.
Convey a squeeze in a red magic sack to ward the law off. One of the most grounded banishing spices, it is utilized for repulsing evil, switching hexes and cursing foes. Dress a dark feline flame with Asafoetida Liquid. Roll it in Asafoetida Powder and light the flame to get somebody out of your life for good.
What is asafoetida?
Technically a gum rosin, asafoetida is a hard substance extracted from the large, carrot-shaped roots of the Ferula plants.
Once extracted, it is usually dried, ground into a coarse yellow powder, and used for culinary or medicinal purposes.
As a spice, asafoetida is known for its strong, pungent smell, which is due to its high concentration of. In fact, due to its unpleasant smell, this seasoning is sometimes referred to as stinky gum.
However, when cooked, its flavor and smell becomes much more palatable and is often described as being similar to leeks, garlic and even meat.
Besides adding a distinct flavor to dishes, asafoetida has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
For example, hing is used to aid digestion and gas, as well as to treat bronchitis and kidney stones. While in the Middle Ages, the dried gum was sometimes worn around the neck to help prevent infection and disease.
Yet, despite being used for thousands of years, many of the traditional uses of asafoetida have not been proven by modern science.
Potential Benefits of Asafoetida
Although research is limited, asafoetida may provide some health benefits.
Good source of antioxidants
These plant compounds help protect your cells from potential damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. As a result, antioxidants may also help protect against chronic inflammation, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Specifically, asafoetida has been shown to contain high amounts of phenolic compounds, such as and, which are known for their powerful antioxidant effects.
While test-tube and animal studies have shown asafoetida to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, more research needs to be done on its potential antioxidant effects in humans.
Additionally, because asafoetida is used in such small amounts when cooking, it’s unclear whether culinary use of the spice would still provide these potential health benefits.
May be good for digestion
One of the most common uses of asafoetida is to help.
In a 30-day study of 43 adults with moderate to severe indigestion, those taking 250 mg capsules containing asafoetida twice daily reported significant improvements in bloating, digestion, and quality overall life compared to the placebo group.
This study was funded by the company that produced the supplement, so it may impact the results.
Asafoetida has also been shown to help stimulate digestion by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes. Specifically, it may increase the release of bile from the liver, which is needed for fat digestion.
Although the spice is also frequently used to prevent or reduce gas after eating, there is currently a lack of research to support this effect.
May help reduce IBS symptoms
is a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) condition characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, and constipation, diarrhea, or both.
Due to its potential effects on digestion, asafoetida is thought to help reduce symptoms associated with IBS.
Two small studies in adults with IBS found significant improvement in reported IBS symptoms after 2 weeks of taking asafoetida supplements. Yet another study found no effect of the supplement on IBS symptoms .
Overall, research on the effectiveness of asafoetida in managing IBS symptoms is quite limited.
However, a less direct way that asafoetida may benefit people with IBS is to substitute onion and garlic in cooking.
Onion and contain high amounts of fructans – fermentable indigestible carbohydrates that can cause gastrointestinal upset in some people with IBS.
As asafoetida offers a similar flavor to onions and garlic, it could be a good option for those who need to avoid or limit their intake of these fructan-rich foods.
Other possible benefits
Although studies on asafoetida are quite limited, early research suggests that it may have additional benefits, including:
Antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial effects. Test-tube studies have shown that asafoetida may help protect against potential pathogens, such as various strains of Strep bacteria.
Helps lower blood pressure. Asafoetida can help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. However, the research is very limited and has only been studied in animals.
Anticancer effects. Animal and test-tube studies have shown that asafoetida may help stop the growth and spread of certain cancer cells, including breast and liver cancer.
Protect brain health. Several animal studies have shown that asafoetida may help protect against memory loss and nerve damage in the brain .
Helps relieve asthma symptoms. Studies in mice have shown that asafoetida has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the airways, which is important in the treatment of asthma. Although promising, this effect has not been proven in humans.
Helps lower blood sugar. A study in rats found 50 mg/kg of asafoetida extract to. However, this effect has not been studied in humans.
Overall, while animal and test-tube studies suggest many potential benefits of this pungent spice, there is currently a lack of human evidence to support these claims.
It should also be noted that these studies use a concentrated form of asafoetida rather than the amounts typically used when cooking. As a result, culinary use of the spice may have minimal effects.