#Digestion disorders: Asafoetida is traditionally used as carminative. It is effective over various digestive disorders like flatulence, colic and stomach spasm, acidity, intestinal worms, digestive weakness. Minute quantities of Asafoetida in food are beneficial for proper digestion.
#Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant: Asafoetida is a good anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant agent and helps in relieving various stomach related disorders. Asafoetida is also considered effective in treatment of cholera.
#Antimicrobial: Asafoetida was used to fight Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918. Research also shows that roots of Asafoetida produce natural drug compounds effective over swine flu. Asafoetida along with lemon juice is used in case of toothache.
#Respiratory disorders: Asafoetida is effective on respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough.
#Hysteria: Asafoetida has been traditionally used in treatment physical and emotional symptoms related to mood swings and depression. Pungent sulphurous smell of Asafoetida is believed to calm hysteria and Epilepsy.
#Women related disorders: Traditional medicines use Asafoetida in treatment of problems in women like painful menstruation. There is no adequate research, but Asafoetida has also been reported to have contraceptive activity.
#Other health benefits: Asafoetida is considered opium antidote and administered on opium addicts. It is also believed to have sedative properties and considered helpful in lowering blood pressure.
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Amla or Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)
Sanskrit name: Dhatri (mother, nurse)
Other Name: Indian Gooseberry
Sacred association: worshipped as Mother Earth in Hinduism
Part used: fruit, seeds, root, bark
Dosha effect: balances all three doshas, but pita in particular
Energetics: all tastes but salty, predominantly sour/cooling/sweet
Dhatus: works on all tissue elements and increases ojas
Systems: circulatory, digestive, excretory
Indications: Bleeding disorders, hemorrhoids, anemia, diabetes, gout, vertigo, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis, osteoporosis, constipation, biliousness, weak liver or spleen, premature graying or hair loss, general debility and tissue deficiency
Actions: nutritive tonic, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac, laxative, stomachic, astringent, haemostatic
Precautions: acute diarrhea, dysentery
Preparation: decoction, powder, confection
Amalaki is one of the strongest rejuvenatives in Ayurvedic medicine. The Charaka Samhita says it is the best of medicines to prevent aging. It rebuilds and maintains new tissues and increases red blood cell count and ojas. Amalaki cleanses the mouth, strengthens the teeth, nourishes bones, and causes hair and nails to grow. It improves eyesight, bleeding of gums, and relieves inflammation of the stomach and colon. It is very high in vitamin C (3,000 mg per fruit). It improves appetite, cleanses intestines and regulates blood sugar.
Amalaki includes all tastes but salty and is predominantly sour/cooling/sweet. It is sattvic in quality and gives good fortune, love and longevity – it is itself a long-living tree. It calms and balances the emotions of mothers who behave angrily towards their children. For children who have lost their mothers, it fills them with the sense that their mother is there.
Five grams of the powder, mixed in one cup of warm water, can be taken twice a day as a general tonic. It is used as a paste applied to the head for mental disorders. Triphala is a mixture of amalaki, haritaki and bibhitaki. It is the main ingredient in the famous medicinal jam chyavanaprasha, used for treating respiratory complaints and for rejuvenation.
It is also used in inks, shampoos and hair oils.
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