Hing---Asafoetida : The Food of Gods
Asafoetida Asafoetida is the dried latex (gum oleoresin ) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula , a perennial herb that grows 1 to 1.5 m tall. The species is native to the deserts of Iran , mountains of Afghanistan , and is mainly cultivated in nearby India .As its name suggests, asafoetida has a fetid smell but in cooked dishes it delivers a smooth flavor reminiscent of leeks . Uses: Antiflatulent . Asafoetida reduces the growth of indigenous microflora in the gut, reducing flatulence . A digestion aid . In Thailand and India, it is used to aid digestion and is smeared on the abdomen in an alcohol or water tincture known as mahahing Fighting influenza : Asafoetida was used in 1918 to fight the Spanish influenza pandemic . In 2009, researchers reported that the roots of Asafoetida produce natural antiviral drug compounds that demonstrated potency against the H1N1 virus in vitro Remedy for asthma and bronchitis