Asafoetida
Remedy of hysterical and flatulent conditions. Ball sensation rising from stomach to throat. Offensive discharges from every orifice. Reversing peristalsis — everything seems to go upward. Bones ache and are sensitive.
Source
Prepared from the gum resin of Ferula asafoetida (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae).
Available Potencies
Get Personalized Safety Info
Sign in and complete your health profile to see safety warnings personalized to your age, sex, medications, conditions, and allergies for this remedy.
Keynote Symptoms
Ball-like or plug-like sensation rising from stomach to throat (globus hystericus). Reversing peristalsis — eructations, flatus, and discharges tend to go upward rather than downward. Extremely offensive discharges. Bones sensitive, painful, feel as if scraped. Ulcers with foul, thin, dark-coloured discharge. Hysterical spasms.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Hysterical. Changeable moods — laughing and crying. Great sensitiveness — irritable, cannot bear anything. Hysterical fainting. Complaining.
General Symptoms
Reversed, upward tendency of discharges and sensations. Extreme offensiveness. Bone sensitivity. Worse from night, rest, sitting, warm room, touch, left side. Better from open air, pressure, motion.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Headache from suppressed discharges. Sensitive bones of skull.
Eyes
Pain over eyes. Orbital neuralgia. Iritis with offensive discharge.
Throat
Ball or plug sensation rising to throat (globus). Reversed peristalsis — eructations loud and offensive.
Stomach
Pulsation in pit of stomach. Flatulence rises upward. Loud, offensive eructations. Rancid belching. Sensation of ball rising.
Abdomen
Flatulence and bloating. Reversed peristalsis — flatus presses upward. Colic with distension.
Rectum
Explosive, offensive flatus. Diarrhea offensive and watery. Pain after stool.
Extremities
Periosteal pain. Ulcers affecting bones. Bones feel bruised. Caries of bone with fetid discharge.
Skin
Ulcers — with thin, dark, offensive discharge. Sensitive to touch. Itching.
Modalities
Better From
Open air, pressure, motion, contact
Worse From
Night, rest, sitting, warm room, touch, left side, suppressed discharges
Constitutional Type
Hysterical individuals, especially women. Those with offensive, foul discharges. Persons with bone sensitivity. Syphilitic diathesis.
Clinical Indications
Globus hystericus, offensive flatulence, bone caries, hysteria, ulcers with fetid discharge, reversed peristalsis, periostitis
Comparative Materia Medica
Ignatia also has globus sensation but from grief, not hysteria per se. Moschus has hysterical spasms with fainting. Valeriana has hysterical symptoms with changeable pains. China has offensive flatulence but with debility from fluid loss.
Safety Information
Camphora, China, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Valerian.
Asafoetida gum resin is used as a spice (hing) in Indian cooking. Low toxicity. Strong, foul odor. Large doses may cause GI irritation. Safe in all potencies.
Find the Right Remedy
Not sure if Asafoetida is the best match? Our Remedy Finder can help you compare remedies based on your specific symptoms, modalities, and constitutional type.