1. Names:

Sanskrit:	Ramatha		Enlarge photo
English:	Asafoetida
Botanical:	Ferula assafoetida
Hindi:	Hingu
Telugu:	Ingua
Common names:	Asafetida, Assafetida, Assafoetida, Devil’s Dung, Devil’s Durt, Food of the Gods (Persian), Laser (Roman), Stinking Gum. French: assa foetida, ferulr perisque German: Asafotida, Stinkender Asant Italian: assafetida Spanish: asafetida Afghan: kama-i-anguza Indian: hing, hingu, heeng Tamil: perunkaya
Family name:	Umbelliferae

2. Parts used:

• Seeds

3. Properties and Action According to Indigenous Medical Systems:

• Rasa: Spicy and mild bitter
• Veerya: Ushna veerya

4. Uses:

(Culinary)

• It gives good taste and smell to the dishes when it used in small quantity.
• It is a main ingredient in vegetarian dishes.
• It is widely used in pickles and soups.

(Medicinal)

• It is an antidote for flatulence.
• It also cures respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough.
• It kills germs.
• As a combination it acts as remedy for hysteria.
• It also cures acute alcoholism.

5. Names due to Physical properties:

• Sakhya: Used in recipes.

6. Names due to Medical properties:

• Hrudya: Good for heart.

7. Reference:

Vasthu guna deepika, Vasthu guna prakashika, Chakradatta, Susrutam, Basabarajeezam, Bhavaprakashika, Vangacena, Charakasamhita, Vagvatamu, Hareetasamhita, Srijanakalpavalli.

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