ASAFETIDA DEVILS DUNG

ASAFETIDA, DEVILS DUNG (Ferula assa-foetida L.) ++
Labeled Ferula foetida in AHP, KAP, and PH2.

Activities (Asafetida):
- Alexeritic (f; DAA); Allergenic (f; CRC); Analgesic (f; CRC); Antiaggregant (1; CAN; CRC; DAA; PNC); Antiseptic (f; PHR; PH2); Antispasmodic (f; CAN; CRC); Antitumor (1; APA; PH2); Aperient (f; CRC); Aphrodisiac (f; APA); Carminative (1; APA; CAN; CRC; RIN); CNS-Stimulant (1; WOI); Deobstruent (f; DAA); Deodorant (f; DAA); Digestive (f; APA; DAA); Diuretic (f; CRC); Emmenagogue (f; APA; CRC); Enterostimulant (1; WOI); Expectorant (1; APA; CAN; CRC; RIN); Fungicide (f; APA); Hypotensive (1; CAN; CRC; PNC); Laxative (f; CRC; DAA); Mutagenic (1; PH2); Nervine (f; CRC); Respirastimulant (1; WOI); Sedative (f; PHR; PH2); Stimulant (f; CRC; DAA); Stomachic (f; CRC; DAA); Uterotonic (f; AHP); Vermifuge (f; CRC; DAA).

Indications (Asafetida):
- Amenorrhea (f; CRC); Asthma (1; APA; CRC; WOI); Bronchosis (1; APA; CAN; WOI); Callus (f; JLH); Cancer (1; APA; PH2); Cancer, abdomen (1; APA); Cancer, gum (f; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cholera (f; CRC; SKJ; WOI); Colic (f; APA; CAN; CRC); Cold (f; TAD); Colitis (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Constipation (f; PH2); Convulsion (f; CRC); Corn (f; JLH); Cough (f; PNC); Cramp (f; CAN; CRC; SKJ); Croup (f; CRC); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dyspepsia (1; APA; CAN; PH2); Enterosis (f; APA; CRC; PH2); Epilepsy (f; APA; CRC; PH2; WOI); Felon (f; JLH); Flatulence (1; APA; PNC; WOI); Fracture (f; CRC); Frigidity (f; APA); Fungus (f; APA); Gas (1; APA; CAN; CRC; HHB; RIN); Gastrosis (f; PHR; PH2); Gingivosis (f; JLH); Hemiplegia (f; CRC); Hepatosis (f; JLH; PH2); High Blood Pressure (1; CAN; CRC; PNC; DAA); Hyperlipidemia (f; CAN); Hypoacidity (f; PH2); Hypoglycemia (f; APA); Hysteria (f; APA; CAN; WOI); IBS (2; CAN); Impotence (f; APA); Indigestion (1; APA; CAN); Induration (f; JLH); Infection (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Insanity (f; CRC); Insomnia (f; PHR; PH2); Laryngismus (f; CAN); Mucososis (1; APA; CAN); Mycosis (f; APA); Nervousness (f; PHR; PH2); Neurasthenia (f; CRC; DAA); Neurosis (1; APA); Osteosis (f; CRC); Pain (f; CRC); Parasite (f; PH2); Pertussis (f; CAN; CRC; PH2; WOI); Pneumonia (f; SKJ); Polyp (f; CRC); Rheumatism (f; CRC); Rinderpest (f; CRC); Sarcoma (f; CRC); Splenosis (f; CRC; PH2); Stomachache (1; APA; CRC); Thrombosis (1; CAN; PNC); Tumor (1; APA; PH2); Wart (f; JLH); Water Retention (f; CRC); Whitlow (f; JLH); Worm (f; CRC; DAA).

Dosages (Asafetida):
- 0.3 - 1 g asafetida resin 3 ×/day (APA; CAN; HHB; PNC); 2 - 4 ml asafetida tincture (CAN, PNC); 20 drops tincture (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Asafetida):
- Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated for infant colic. Emmenagogue, uterotonic (AHP). Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages (PH2). Bitter acrid taste and disagreeable garlic-like odor, due mostly to its volatile oil. Odor imparted through excretions and eructations. Medicinal use may result in swollen lips, gastric burning, belching, flatulence, diarrhea, burning during urination, headache, dizziness, and convulsion (AEH; PHR; PH2). The gum of related species is an irritant to the skin and stomach, and causes dermatosis (CAN). Sulfur compounds in the oil may protect against fat-induced hyperlipidemia. Two double-blind studies report asafetida useful for irritable bowel syndrome (just below 5% significance level in one, near 1% in the other) (CAN). Because it is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle and to be an abortifacient, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. It oxidizes fetal hemoglobin but not adult hemoglobin. Coumarins may interfere with coagulation therapy and may cause chromosomal damage (CAN). 50 - 100 mg resin reported to cause convulsions in nervous people (AHP). Do not give to children; may cause methemoglobinemia (APA).