Asafoetida (Hing – हींग)

Asafoetida also known as Hing, is the most prime ingredient in Indian cooking. It is an herbal spice which is extracted from Ferula Assa-Foetida. Asafoetida is a plant which has a peerless smell and tastes bitter. The plant is grayish-white in color when fresh but darkens with age to yellow, red and ultimately brown.

Hing derives from the dried sap extracted from the stem and roots of a plant species. The resin is hard to grate so it is usually crushed with the hammer and asafoetida is easily available in the market in the form of a fine powder.

Health Benefits of Asafoetida (Hing)

Asafoetida (Hing) offers many benefits for health, skin and hair. Following are some health benefits attached to hing: –

1. Digestive Benefits: Due to its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, asafoetida (hing) helps to cure stomach related problems; such as irritable bowel syndrome, gas, intestinal worms, bloating. It is also used as a healing medicine for stomach injuries.
2. Blood Pressure Level:It is identified to be a natural blood thinner which helps in lowering blood pressure level and helps improving the blood flow.
3. Asthma: Hing is one of the finest home remedy for asthma and bronchitis.It helps in relieving symptoms of whooping cough and ulcers.
4. Headaches: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is very helpful in reducing the headaches.
5. Hair Benefits: It control the hair fall, improves the texture of the hair and makes hair thicker. It also maintains and restores the PH level of scalp.
6. Skin Benefits: It is good for reducing wrinkles, age spots and fine lines, also lightens the acne marks, dark spots and promotes fairness. Hing increases the oxygen supply to facial tissues too.
7. Menstrual Problems: Women also use asafoetida to start again their menstrual periods.
8. Depression: Asafoetida is also a effective medicine to encourage the happiness and reduce the negative feelings.

Side Effects of Asafoetida (Hing)

Asafoetida is completely safe for most of the people to have in food or taken by mouth. Asafoetida should not be given to infants, because it can cause the internal bleeding to them. Women’s should avoid to take asafoetida by mouth, if they are pregnant because it might cause miscarriage and if you are breast feeding then it can cause bleeding disorders to infants. Excessive consumption can also cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, discomfort in passing urine, lip swelling,headache, blood disorders and burping. Also avoid hing if you are on blood thinners and high blood pressure medications.

Asafoetida (Hing) as Indian Spice

Asafoetida (Hing) is used as a spice in Indian kitchen/cooking. It is a very important and most regularly used spice in Indian cuisine. It is very common to use a pinch of asafoetida powder in tadka/tempering of dals (lentils) and vegetables to add more flavors.