Asafoetida
Botanical Name: Ferula asafoetida
Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Other Names: Assyfetida, devil's dung, food of the gods, giant fennel, gum asafoetida, kandaharre hing
Description: 6 - 10 ft Fleshy root with bristly fibres. Long, slim leaves. Green-yellow flowers. Flat reddish-brown fruit
Native to: Afghanistan, Asia
Part Used: Root, leaves
Actions: Antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, hypotensive, stimulant
Constitutes: Resins consisting of asaresinotanols and their esters, farnesiferols, ferulic acid. Gum consisting of polymers of glucose, galactose, L-arabinose, rhamnose, glucuromic acid. Volatile oil consisting of polysulphides such as diallyl- and allylpropyl-sulphides, 2-butylmethyl-, di-, tri-, and tetra-sulphides, propenyl sulphides, sulphated terpenes, pinene, cadinene, vanillin. Courmarins –assafoetidin, umbelliferone, foetidin, ferocolicin, farnesifol C, gummosin, coniferol, acetylepisamarcadin, umbelliprenin
Respiratory: Asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough
Nervous System: Fatigue