The difference between asafoetida and myrrh

 The difference between asafoetida and myrrh, what is it? Many women wonder about this subject, considering that both asafoetida and myrrh are substances that are extracted from plants and each has different uses and that the uses of asafoetida for medicinal purposes are similar to those of myrrh, and therefore there is very great confusion between the two producers, and in the location of the contents The difference between asafoetida and myrrh, the composition of myrrh and asafoetida, and the way to use each will be learned.

The difference between asafoetida and myrrh

The doctor and scientist in the field of medicinal plants and medicines, Dr. Jaber Al-Qahtani, has shown that there is a big difference between asafoetida and myrrh despite the great similarity between the composition of each. The doctor said, through a tweet he posted on his Twitter account, that he always hears from people, Asafoetida is the same as myrrh, but the doctor explained that this information that is being circulated among people is wrong. Asafoetida and myrrh are two substances that are extracted from two different plants. Exactly a Ferula fetid the parachute family, but these two substances are similar in terms of the internal composition of the chemicals for each of them, where both asafoetida and myrrh consist of a mixture of volatile oils, resin, and gum, but asafoetida contains in addition sulfur materials, which made its uses within the medical purposes of human diseases. Gradually shrinking in recent years, it has been relied on to make medicines for animals, and myrrh does not contain any harmful substances, so it is widely used to treat human diseases. [1]

What is asafoetida?

Asafoetida or Ferula asafetida is a dried starch extracted from the roots of the Kerala plant, and this powder is in the form of a root that is dried under sunlight and ground into a medium-coarse powder, and it is yellow in color. Its used for medicinal purposes and is the original home of the Kerala plant in Afghanistan and Iran, but its greatest use of it is in Indian kitchens, where it is famous for its very strong and unpopular smell that spreads easily because it contains sulfur compounds, and this smell disappears with cooking and becomes lighter, and it has other uses. It improves the health of the digestive system, aids in digestion, and gets rid of gases. It is also used to treat respiratory infections such as bronchitis and get rid of kidney stones. It was used in the Middle Ages to get rid of diseases. [1]

What are the benefits of asafoetida?

The following is a group of the benefits of asafoetida for which these roots are used: [1]

Good source of antioxidants

Asafoetida contains a variety of antioxidant compounds such as phenolic compounds, the most famous of which are tannins and flavonoids, which work to protect the cells of the body from the negative effects caused by free radicals, thus contributing to protecting the body from diseases and chronic infection, and preventing heart disease, cancer, and type diabetes. Second,

Aiding in the digestive process

One of the most common uses of asafoetida is to help get rid of indigestion, one study showed that taking about 250 mg twice daily can help get rid of gas and improve bowel movement, and this compound also activates digestive enzymes in the intestines and increases its strength. It stimulates the production of bile from the liver, which is very important in improving the digestion of fats in the body.

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic digestive disease that causes the patient to have very severe pain in the pelvic and abdominal area and a sense of discomfort with the accumulation of gases. in cooking; Because it gives a similar flavor without causing bloating, it does not contain the sugary fructans that cause indigestion,

Other potential benefits

The following are a group of additional benefits of this compound that can be summarized as follows:

• Asafoetida has anti-pathogen and anti-infective effects such as germs, fungi, microbes, and parasites, so it can be used to prevent infection.
• help lower blood pressure; Because it has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels.
• Helps prevent the spread of malignant cancer cells, especially breast cancer and liver cancer.
• Maintains brain health, protects against diseases that affect nerve cells, and activates memory.
• Relieves asthma symptoms by affecting the smooth muscles within the airways and relieving their spasm.
• It helps in controlling the level of sugar in the blood and stimulating the secretion of insulin.

Possible side effects of asafoetida

A small amount of asafoetida is harmless in cooking in the form of 250 mg per day, but there can be other effects when consumed in large quantities, such as: 

• Intestinal cramping, increased gas, and diarrhea.
• Feeling anxious and headache.
• It can cause a significant drop in blood pressure, especially for patients who are primarily taking pressure-lowering medication.
• It can pass through milk and blood, so it is not safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

How to use asafoetida

This compound is available in the form of an available powder or in the form of medicinal capsules of 250 mg taken twice daily, and it has been used for several ages in the form of a kind of spice in kitchens, and it is preferable to use it as follows: 

• Mix asafoetida with rice or with wheat, and it is preferable not to use it with wheat for those who suffer from gluten sensitivity.
• Add asafoetida to hot oil or other fats to reduce its smell.
• Add it to vegetable dishes, soups, and steaks with other spices such as cumin and turmeric.

In conclusion, the question was answered, the difference between asafoetida and myrrh, and it was found that these two substances have the same components, but each is extracted from a different substance, and the most important benefits of asafoetida were identified, what are its uses, the way of using it and its side effects.