Hingu

Ferula narthex Boiss – Ayurvedic Herb

 

 

Synonyms and interpretation

 

Gudagandha : Its smell cannot be covered by any means

Janthuka : It is available in sectretion form

Janthugna : It acts as a antimicrobial

Jaranam : It is a good appetizer and helps in digestion

Bahalika : It is mainly available in bahalika desha

Ramatam : It is also available in ramata desha

Sahasravedi : Asit posses many properties it curies many diseases

Atyugra : Exessive penetrating smell

Bhuthanashana : It is antibacterial

Agundhagandha : has a penetrating smeel

Supagandha : has a distinctive smell

Hingu : It has a penetrating smeel and curies diseases of kapha

 

VERNACULAR NAMES

 

English – Asafotida

Hindi – Hingu

Kannada – Ingu

Malayalam – Kayam , Perukayam

Gujurati – Bagharani

Tamil – Perukayam

Telugu – Inguva

Punjabi – Hing

Marathi – Hing

Persian – Angoj

Arabic – Hillatil

Burma – Shinka Sindh Vagharni

French – Ferula Asafoetida

Germany – Stinkendes

Bengali – Hingu

Officinal part

 

• Oleogumresin (Niryasa)

 

Dosage

• 125-500mg of drug

 

Chemical Constituents

• Resin – 40-64%.
• Gum -25% Apinene.
• Volatile oil – 1.5-10%.

 

• Gum : Apinene, Phellandrene, see butylprophenyl disulfide

A trisulfide, Asaresinotannol, Farnesiferol, Kamolonol, Mogoltadone, polyanthinin, polyanthin.

 

• Root : Foetidin, Luteolin.
• Whole plant : Assafoetidin, Ferocolicin.

 

 

Actions

• Samasthapana
• Vedanasthapana
• Uttejaka
• Deepana
• Pachana
• Rochaka
• Anulomaka
• Shulaprashama
• Krimigna
• Hridya
• Jantugna
• Kapha nisaraka
• Shwasara
• Mutrajanana
• Beejakarna
• Arthavajanana
• Balya
• Jvargna
• Shitaprasamana
• Chakshusya
• Chedana
• Akshepahara
• Vatanulomana
• Shothahara

 

Indications

 

• Udara Vikara
• Shula
• Adhmana
• Anaha
• Agni Mandya
• Gulma
• Uibhanda
• Udavartha
• Krimi
• Hridroga
• Hridrava
• Kasa
• Jeernakasa
• Kukkuso Kasa
• Shwasa
• Puppusa Shotha
• Vata Vikara
• Pakshaghata
• Arditha Sangnanasha
• Murcha
• Grudrasi
• Akshepaka
• Mutra Ghata
• Basti Shula
• Raja Kruchra

 

Formulations

 

• Hinguvastaka choorna
• Hingvadi choorna
• Hinguvachadi choorna
• Hingutriguna taila
• Abhaya lavana
• Lashunadi ghrita
• Dashamula ghrta
• Phalaghrta
• Mrutyunjaya rasa
• Hingvadi taila
• Kanaka sunadara rasa
• Boladi vati

Therapeutic uses

 

Gum is used as stomachic, laxative ageitis and kamala.

Krimidanta- hingu in warm state is used to fill the dental cavities. [Vrinda madhava]

Vishama jwara- Chaturthaka jwara is treated by snuffing hingu mixed with old ghee. [Vrinda madhava]

Madatyaya- hingu mixed with suvarcalavana and marica shall be given with madatyaya and amla kanjika in alcoholism.

[Cha. Su.24/49]

Stem-has sharp taste flavors it is tonic to brain and liver in paralysis.

Gum resin is applied as paste in ringworm.

It produces remarkable effect in pneumonia.

 

Research

• Asafoetida produced slight inhibition of stap aureus and shigella sonnei.
• Cutcolin exhibited anti-polio virus activity which was comparable to that of ascorbate stabilized querectin.
• The acutenessof the sense of hearing is diminished by continued ingestion of asafetida.
• Essential oil showed significant protective action against fat induced increase in plasma fibrinogen and decrease in coagulation time and fibrinolytic activity on alimentary hyperlipaemia serum , cholesterol was also slightly lowered.

 

Formulations

Folklore uses

• Fruits are used as vegetables.
• Fruits are believed to be particularly suitable for convalescents.
• Vegetable is easilydigestive and is saidto be diuretic and laxative.
• Prescribed for patients sufferingfrom disorder of circulation system.

 

Cultivation

The resin and gums comes from the dried sample extracted from the stem and roots and is used as a species. The resin is greenish- white when fresh but dries to dark amber colour. The asafetida resin is difficult to grate and is traditionally crushed between stones or with hammer. Today the most commonly available form is compound asafoetida a fine powder containing 34% asafoetida resin along with rice flour.

 

Substituent and adulterants

 

Merchants mix pebbles mud leaves and gum acacia as adulterants which collect at the bottom of the water, if dissolved in it pure hingu burns well.

 

The important material usually found mixed with small stones, sand, rootlets of plant from which it is obtained.

 

Controversial studies

Bapalasi is of the opinion that hingupatri and vamsapatri are aynonymous according to some commentators. But Bhavamishara consider both as separate plants.

 

Hingupatri is considered by many as Nadi Hingu i,e Gardenia gummiferaeinn. The author is also of the same opinion to conclude that hingupatri may not have any relation with hingu as is the case with ‘Nimba niryasa’ which is famous as ‘HInguniryasa”