Asafoetida For Gas/Smells? Hmmmm ...

I first heard of this substance while watching the old John Wayne Western, El Dorado.   If you have seen the movie, there is a scene where they are trying to sober up the old drunk sheriff (played by Robert Mitchum) ..  They come up with this odd concoction and make him drink it, and the herb is mentioned as one of the ingredients.   

 I was curious as to what asafoetida actually is, comes from, and is used for.  I was surpirsed to find the following info. on the substance in Widipedia (its a plant herb, and not a chemical compound, as I first thought):   

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This spice is used as a digestive aid, in food as a condiment and in pickles. Its odour, when uncooked, is so strong that it must be stored in airtight containers; otherwise the aroma will contaminate other spices stored nearby. However, its odour and flavor become much milder and more pleasant upon heating in oil or ghee, acquiring a taste and aroma reminiscent of sautéed onion and garlic.^[2]

[edit] Antiflatulent

Asafoetida reduces the growth of indigenous microflora in the gut, reducing flatulence.^[3]

[edit] Medical applications

• fighting flu - Asafoetida was used in 1918 to fight the Spanish influenza pandemic. Scientists at the Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan report that the roots of Asafoetida produces natural antiviral drug compounds that kill the swine flu virus, H1N1. In an article published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Natural Products, the researchers said the compounds "may serve as promising lead components for new drug development" against this type of flu.^[4][5]

• Digestion - 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."^[6]

• asthma and bronchitis - It is also said (See this Link) to be helpful in cases of asthma and bronchitis. A folk tradition remedy for children's colds: it is mixed into a pungent-smelling paste and hung in a bag around the afflicted child's neck.

• antimicrobial - Asafoetida has broad uses in traditional medicine as an antimicrobial, with well documented uses for treating chronic bronchitis and whooping cough, as well as reducing flatulence.^[7]

• contraceptive/abortifacient - Asafoetida has also been reported to have contraceptive/abortifacient activity,^[8] and is related (and considered an inferior substitute to) the ancient Ferula species Silphium.

• antiepileptic - Asafoetida oleo-gum-resin has been reported to be antiepileptic in classical Unani as well as ethnobotanical literature.^[9]

• balancing the vata - In Ayurveda, asafoetida is considered to be one of the best spices for balancing the vata dosha.^[10]

[edit] Regional usages

• In the Jammu region of India, asafoetida is used as a medicine for flatulence and constipation by 60% of locals.^[11] It is used especially by the merchant caste of the Hindus and by adherents of Jainism and Vaishnavism, who do not eat onions or garlic. It is used in many vegetarian and lentil dishes to add both flavor and aroma, as well as to reduce flatulence. 
   
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    Note that one of the main uses of asafoetida is as an anti-flatulent (despite its strong sulphurous odor - sometimes called "Devil's Dung" for another name!) and that it has antibacterial properties in the gut .. The cited medical reference reports that this works by killing off the clostridia intestinal - i.e. "bad" - bacteria ..   

    In effect, it sounds like asofoetida COULD be an all-natural substitue for Flagel, for purposes of our gas and odors.   

   Has anyone used this herb before?   

   I am going to try some, and report back how it works ..

Thanks! I would love to know if it helps with gas, because I always have gas and bloating. I'll be watching for your results. Just thought, where do you get it, and I will try it too and report my results. Thanks   Dee

I was going to see if any of my local health foods stores carry it as a supplement  ..  If not, there is a store here that sells stuff for Indian cooking, which might have it as a spice ..  Other than that, I'll try Amazon.com, since they seem to carry just about everything anymore!   

Hi Dee,

Gas and bloating can almost always be controlled by diet and probiotics.

Unless you have c.diff. Have you been tested? (And a false negative test apparently is not uncommon).

Have you tried a round of flagyl?

Have you tried an elimination diet to find out what foods you can't tolerate?

I cannot eat any gluten or flour. I cannot eat lactose. I cannot eat sugar alcohols. When I avoid these foods (and excess sugar) I don't have any gas or bloating.

I tried a Margarita over Christmas and blew up like a whale and farted to beat the band. Something in the mix does not agree with me, but I found out I can drink straight Tequila with no problems.

You have to do your homework and find out what is CAUSING your gas and bloating. That works a whole lot better than trying to cure the gas and bloating with herbs or whatnot.

What probiotic are you on? Have you taken an antibiotic? Have you been tested for c.diff? What foods have you learned cause you to bloat and fart?

~Becky

Hi Becky,
 Yes I tried flagyl did not help, Just about every food gives me gas and bloating I am taking probiotics, Primal Defence ultra. I do feel it is making my problem worse. I take 1 a day.  I do think if I just lived on meat my problem would not be as bad, but I find that impossible to do.  I do eat low carb every day . I think because I can eat so much food more than any DSer I know, I think that is part of my problem.  Just to much food, But I am hungry all the time. I was not tested for c.diff butI think that is a very good idea, since I don't know what else to do.  Any other thoughts would be so much appreciated. Thank you  Dee

 I took Primal Defense Ultra for a little over 2 months and had awful gas almost every day.  Once I stopped taking it and switched to a different (and much cheaper) brand the gas has 90% ceased.

For most people PD Ultra is great but for a few of us there are negative effects from taking it.

I now take 1-2 daily Digestive Advantage for Gas.  Available in almost any drug store.  Walmart has the best price.

~GG

Asafoetida absolutely stinks, in a horrible way, its also called 'Devil's Dung'.  I think you could just be trading one smell for another trying to use it.  In my experience cooking it did not dimini****s odor.  It made my entire house stink, even in a sealed container.  Even after I threw it out the smell stayed for some time.