Asafoetida
(Ferula assa-foetida · Asafoetida gum)
The remedy of trapped wind that rises upward. In the materia medica, Asafoetida is associated with bloating, loud, difficult belching and a sensation of something rising in the throat, in sensitive people who feel their troubles keenly.
Source
The dried gum resin of asafoetida, a giant fennel from Central Asia
Kingdom
Plant
Abbreviation
Asaf.
Home acute kit
Usually prescribed by a homeopath
The classic picture
(a remedy is chosen when the whole picture fits the person, not from a single symptom)
Great difficulty bringing up wind, then loud, forceful belching
A feeling as if digestion were running backward, with a ball rising in the throat
Bloating with a beating or pulsing feeling in the pit of the stomach
Very sensitive and irritable, with throbbing pains that are worse at night
Tends to feel better
Open air
Motion
Pressure
Tends to feel worse
Night
Touch
Rest
Warm applications
How it compares
(remedies that are often confused with Asafoetida)
-
Carbo vegetabilis
(Carbo vegetabilis)
Both bloated and belching; Carbo vegetabilis is sluggish and faint and wants fanning, Asafoetida's wind rises with spasm and pulsation.
Read more -
Ignatia
(Ignatia amara)
Both feel a lump rising in the throat; Ignatia's comes with grief, Asafoetida's with gas and digestive spasm.
Read more -
Argentum nitricum
(Argentum nitricum)
Argentum nitricum's loud belching comes with anticipatory anxiety and hurry; Asafoetida's with sensitivity and reverse movement in the gullet.
Read more
Free printable guide
12 remedies to keep at home
When to think of each one, how to tell them apart, when to call a doctor instead and a printable home remedy guide.
Get the free guide
From the classic texts
“The flatulence and spasmodic contraction of stomach and oesophagus with reverse peristalsis are the most marked symptoms.”
Looking for more than a quick remedy?
Acute remedies can be a starting point for short-term complaints. Ongoing or recurring issues call for a full case: a detailed conversation about your physical, mental and emotional symptoms, so the remedy fits you as a whole person.
Book free intro callThis page is for education only and is not medical advice. Homeopathy is complementary care, not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a licensed medical provider. Seek medical care for severe, worsening or emergency symptoms. Please view our Disclaimer.