Any Indian dried, powedered herb used as a sexual stimulant in Ayurvedic medicine. The herb has a very strong, garlicy flavor. Asafetida is known to increase the secretion of the female hormone, progesterone. Thus it facilitates menstruation.
Dried asafetida is basically made up of a resin (25 to 60% of the total mass. Asafetida is a flavoring obtained from a giant fennel-like plant that grows mainly in Iran and India. It's used in many Indian dishes and can be found in powdered or lump form in Indian markets.
Asafetida is conventionally used as water decoction or pill, wherein the special strong odor of asafetida is difficult to be covered up and therefore limits its application. Use of modern preparation technology may cover up or weaken the special odor of asafetida. Asafetida is most often combined with other herbs. For example, in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems, one sees it combined with other carminatives, such as milk thistle, chelidonium, boldo and dandelion root. Asafetida is available at Indian grocers and specialty stores.
Asafetida is a potent spice that is India's answer to the truffle. In most Indian spice shops this resin from fennel-like plants comes ground in small tins. Asafetida is a bad smelling substance prepared from the juice of certain plants of the parsley family and is extremely unpleasant if tasted on its own. Asafetida is a good example for the overlapping of culinary and medicinal use of a plant. Particularly in South India, asafetida is almost canonical for the preparation of legumes (beans, peas, lentils).
Asafetida is claimed to be a preventive medicine for infectious diseases. It has been used in medicine as an antispasmodic. Asafetida is also conventionally used as water decoction or pill, wherein the special strong odor of asafetida is difficult to be covered up and therefore limits its application. However, the use of modern preparation technology may cover up or weaken the special odor of asafetida. In most cases, asafetida is not used externally but internally, and it is prescribed to aid the action of other purgatives, and also to stimulate the muscular coat to expel flatus. Asafetida is sold in lump and ground form and is available at Indian and Middle Eastern markets or kalustyans.com. If unavailable, garlic powder makes a good substitute.
Labels: Asafetida, lesser known sex food stimulants