ASAFOETIDA

Homeopathy

ASAFOETIDA

Narthex assa-foetida
Asafetida, devil’s dung.

Key Uses:

Digestive disorders

Nervous twitching

Sensation of a lump rising from the stomach

Origin : Native to Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Background : In the 7th century BCE the Charaka Samhita, an Ayurvedic medicine book, advocated this foul-smelling plant for bloating and flatulence, for which it is still used in India and the Middle East.

Preparation : Gum resin from the living roots is macerated in alcohol.

Remedy Profile : People who respond best to this remedy tend to be in a rather nervous, hysterical, hypersensitive, and hypochondriac state. This nervous state extends to the physical symptoms, which generally focus on digestive disorders and on nervous twitching. The stomach may feel as if it is pushing upward so that everything will burst into the mouth, or there may be a sensation as if a lump in the stomach is rising upward into the throat.

Symptoms Better : For open air; for movement; for pressure on the affected area; for scratching.

Symptoms Worse : At night; for rest; for sitting; for touch.