Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Asafoetida (Ferula narthex), of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. Robust umbellifer with a massive resinous taproot and tall hollow flowering stem; native range: Western Himalaya and Kashmir, extending into the Iranian and Central Asian ranges. Globally recognized as hingu / ramatha in Sanskrit, hing in Hindi, a wei (阿魏) in Chinese, hiltit / anghuza in Arabic, and Kashmiri asafoetida · giant fennel · asafoetida root in English. The part used is the oleo-gum-resin dried from the incised root. Pale to reddish-brown resinous masses smelling powerfully of garlic and sulphur; bitter and acrid on the tongue, softening to a savoury pungency when cooked in fat.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ASAFOETIDA
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Asafoetida
- Scientific name
- Ferula narthex Boiss.
- Family
- Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Form
- Part used
- the oleo-gum-resin dried from the incised root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · bitter
- Ayurveda
- pungent (katu)
- Western
- acrid · bitter
- Unani
- pungent · bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna, tikshna)
- Western
- hot
- Unani
- hot & dry (3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Spleen · Stomach · Liver
- Western
- digestion · nerves
- Unani
- stomach · intestines · nerves · uterus
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- disperses accumulations and food stagnation, softens masses, kills parasites, moves blood stasis
- Ayurveda
- dipana-pachana, vata-anulomana, shula-prashamana (antispasmodic), krimighna, hridya
- Western
- antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, nervine and sedative
- Unani
- kaasir-e-riyah (carminative), musakkin-e-alam (antispasmodic), muharrik-e-aasab (nervine), emmenagogue
Cautions
Contraindications: high pitta, hyperacidity and ulcer, bleeding disorders; pregnancy (emmenagogue)
Toxicity: large doses irritate the gut and are unsuitable for infants
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: coumarin content adds to antiplatelet effect
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