What is asafoetida?
How is it extracted?
And what does it taste like?
What are his medical claims?
And what are its harms?
What is asafoetida?
Asafoetida is a foul-smelling, bitter-tasting plant that is sometimes called "devil's dung," according to Webmd.
How is it extracted?
People use asafoetida resin, a gum-like substance, as medicine, which is produced by concentrating the juice from the cuttings made into the live roots of the plant.
Asafoetida is used by people in cases such as breathing problems, throat or digestion problems, or by women to restore menstruation after it has stopped for some reason. Asafoetida is also sometimes placed directly on the skin in search of corns, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In industry asafoetida is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and as a flavoring ingredient in foods and beverages, and is also used in products intended to repel dogs, cats, and wild animals.
Asafoetida damages, and there are people who vaporize it đ© pic.twitter.com/2RUZnzVXyi
â Fatima âš (@fly_3f) June 13, 2022
What does it taste like?
Asafoetida is bitter in taste.
Allegations of the use of asafoetida as a treatment
According to WebMed, there is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of asafoetida in cases of:
asthma.
Bronchitis.
convulsions;
Meat nails and flakes.
hysteria;
Intestinal gas.
IBS.
Menstrual problems.
Nerve disorders.
upset stomach;
According to WebMed, more evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of asafoetida for these uses.
Asafoetida side effects
When taken by mouth, asafoetida is LIKELY SAFE for most people in the amounts normally found in foods when added as a flavoring in cooking.
However, asafoetida may cause the following effects:
swollen lips;
burping;
Intestinal gas.
diarrhea.
headache;
convulsions;
blood disorders;
He recently spread in the media about the benefits of asafoetida and mentioned stories that have nothing to do with reality.
I would like to clarify that it is absolutely not true and I do not recommend using asafoetida internally in any way because of its serious damage to the digestive system.
The concerned authorities must take a stand against those who promote products that have serious harm
- Mr. Dr.
Jaber Al-Qahtani (@JaberAlkahtani) December 25, 2019
Apply asafoetida on the skin
There isn't enough reliable information to know if asafoetida is safe to apply to the skin or what side effects might occur.
Asafoetida side effects:
Asafoetida and pregnancy
It is unsafe to take asafoetida if you are pregnant, as it may cause a miscarriage.
Asafoetida and breastfeeding
Asafoetida is unsafe if you are breastfeeding, as the chemicals in it can pass into breast milk and cause blood disorders in the infant.
Asafoetida and children
Asafoetida is UNSAFE for infants when taken by mouth, as it may cause certain blood disorders.
Asafoetida and bleeding disorders
There are concerns that asafoetida may increase the risk of bleeding. Do not use it if you have a bleeding disorder.
Asafoetida, epilepsy or if there is a history of convulsions
Do not use asafoetida if you have epilepsy or some other central nervous system condition that may cause seizures or convulsions.
Asafoetida and stomach and intestinal problems
Asafoetida can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Do not use it if you have a gastrointestinal infection or other gastrointestinal condition.
Asafoetida, high or low blood pressure
There is some concern that asafoetida might interfere with blood pressure control, so avoid using it if you have a problem with it.
Asafoetida and surgery
Asafoetida might slow blood clotting. There is a concern that it might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking it at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Asafoetida and drug interactions
Asafoetida interacts with:
High blood pressure medications.
Medicines that slow blood clotting.
In conclusion, sweets may have potential benefits, but they need scientific evidence and the opinion of the doctor, do not take it as a dietary supplement without medical advice, and do not overdo it with food, and also consult a doctor if your food contains it continuously.
If you see what you should do in our maternity room, you will consider it a taboo that harms the mother and the child, and it is possible for him to be taken care of for days after his birth. May God protect us and protect all Muslims https://t.co/L2EVNwE75H
â Dr. Samiyah Alanazi Dr.samiyah alanazi (@Sam92Dr) June 14, 2022
Al-Haltit operates social media platforms in Saudi Arabia
In mid-June 2022, social media activists in Saudi Arabia were busy talking about the asafoetida plant after the poisoning of Saja Al-Qahtani, the sister of the "Snapchat" star, the late girl Dana Al-Qahtani, according to the monitoring of the Sanad Verification and Monitoring Agency in the Al-Jazeera Media Network.
Saja was poisoned after eating the asafoetida plant, and her father announced via Snapchat that his daughter was taken to the hospital after her body temperature rose as a result of eating it.
The father said that the doctor initially told him that his daughter's vital signs were not good, in addition to her high body temperature, which reached 42 degrees Celsius, with a sharp drop in blood circulation.
He also confirmed that doctors were conducting an intestinal lavage for his daughter to get rid of the asafoetida toxins that she ate, warning against eating it despite the promotion that it helps get rid of many diseases.
Tweeters transmitted her father's video clip and the photos that the family published from the hospital, warning of the dangers of this plant, and not to eat it because of the hidden symptoms and great risks.
Activists denounced Al-Qahtaniâs consumption of this plant, which is known for its harms and dangers, stressing that it is not eaten, but is used in other ways, including inhalation, not chewing.
Tweeters re-circulated an old tweet by Professor of Pharmacology Jaber Al-Qahtani, in which he wrote, "It has recently spread in the media about the benefits of asafoetida and mentioned stories that have no connection with reality. I would like to clarify that it is absolutely not true and I do not advise using asafoetida internally in any way because of its serious damage." on the digestive system.
"The concerned authorities must take a stand against those who promote products that have serious harm," he added.
Dr. Al-Qahtani appeared in an old video clip, which activists recirculated as well, in which he warned against this plant, and said that "it is one of the most dangerous and causes cancer in the rectum, and it was abolished from human medicine 40 years ago and is now used only in veterinary medicine."
Samia Al-Anazi, a gynecologist and obstetrician, wrote on Twitter, "If you see what you do in our maternity room, you will consider it taboo. It harms the mother and the child and may be taken into care for days after his birth. May God protect us and preserve all Muslims and Muslim women."