Asafoetida
Ferula assa-foetida (gum resin) · Plant · Apiaceae
The Asafoetida type is typically fat, flabby, and of a venous plethoric constitution with a puffed purple face reflecting cardiac and venous disturbance. They are extremely nervous, hypersensitive to pain, and subject to hysterical manifestations including fainting and choreic motions. The remedy is frequently indicated in syphilitic or psoric constitutions with periosteal and bone affections.
Key symptoms
- Reverse peristalsis; everything comes up, nothing goes down; flatus passes only upward
- Explosive eructations smelling like garlic, rancid or putrid in taste
- Globus hystericus; sensation of ball rising in throat obliging constant swallowing
- Pulsation in pit of stomach visible and perceptible to touch
- Caries and periostitis of bones; pains shooting from within outward
- Horribly offensive, thin, acrid discharges from all outlets
- Hysterical fainting from slight causes; closed room, excitement, or disturbance
- Deep flat ulcers with bluish edges, extremely sensitive to touch
Worse (aggravation)
- Night (bone pains and syphilitic complaints)
- Rest
- In a closed room
- Eating
- Suppressions of skin eruptions or discharges
- Mercury
- Noise
- Sitting
- Warm wraps
Better (amelioration)
- Motion in open air
- Pressure and touch
- Scratching
Introduction
This remedy in olden times was frequently abused for man and beast. Our grandfathers supposed it was a protection against disease and hence they used it in the stables.
Lumps of "foetty," as they called it, where put in the corn for the horse, to keep offdistempter.
What it has accomplished I am unable to say, but it is certain that these farmers looked upon Asa foetida as a great protective against disease.
It has been used also by the laity as a medicine for fainting, for hysteria, and all sorts of nervous symptoms and complaints.
The use is justified by the proving. These things are scarcely worthy of note, but it shows the general use among the people, as a domestic medicine, in crude form. It has been used more extensively in this form than in professional practice in a legitimate way.
Mouth and Throat
Sensation of a ball rising in the throat obliging frequent swallowing to keep it down, and causing at times, difficult breathing.
Stomach
Flatus all passing upward, none downward.
Abdomen
Great distension of the abdomen; flatus all pressing upwards.
Female Sexual Organs
Hysterical rising in the throat, as if a ball or large body ascended from stomach; uterine trouble.
Extremities
Carious ulcer of the tibia, extremely sensitive to touch and extremely painful at night.
Skin
Ulcers with high hard edges, sensitive to touch, easily bleeding, pus profuse, greenish, thin, offensive, even ichorous.
Bones
To be thought of in affections of the bones, when there is present great sensitiveness to the slightest touch, or even the slightest dressings.
Phatak's chapter on Asafoetida is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
