Deepika Rathod
A few months ago, I shared the numerous benefits of hing (asafoetida) and how adding this simple ingredient to our meals regularly can greatly improve gut health. Since then, many of you have asked how else you can use hing beyond just adding it to food. Let’s explore a few more ways to make it a part of your daily routine:
For babies with colic: Avoid giving medication unless truly necessary. Mix about half a teaspoon of hing with one teaspoon of warm water to make a paste. Apply this externally from the diaphragm down to the pelvic area and around the navel, using downward strokes. This helps release trapped gas and brings relief within 5–10 minutes. It can be used both externally and internally (in very small quantities) to ease gas production.
For high blood pressure and cardiovascular health: Hing has natural blood-thinning properties, which improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. This, in turn, supports overall heart health.
For gas and flatulence: Excess gas or bloating often indicates poor gut health or imbalanced gut flora. A simple hing concoction—just a pinch of hing in a glass of warm lemon water, taken 30 minutes after meals—can help manage and reduce gas production.
For menstrual pain: Mix a pinch of asafoetida and half a teaspoon of fenugreek (methi) seed powder in a glass of buttermilk (or warm water if you’re off dairy). Take this an hour after any one meal during the day. It can help ease abdominal cramps during periods.
For headaches and migraines: The anti-inflammatory properties of hing can provide relief from headaches, especially when the root cause is digestive—like constipation, acidity, or gas. A hing concoction may offer temporary relief when such symptoms are present.
After eating outside food: If you feel heavy, too full, or bloated after eating out (especially when unsure about the food quality), having the hing concoction 30 minutes post-meal can help ease discomfort and support digestion.
Let’s follow our Indian wisdom to maintain good health.
(The writer is a chief nutrition officer (CNO) and lifestyle expert with Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems (LCHHS))
