Evidence supporting the use of: Asafoetida
For the health condition: Colic (adults)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Asafoetida has been traditionally used in various systems of medicine, particularly Ayurvedic and Unani, for treating digestive ailments including colic in adults. Historical texts and ethnobotanical records indicate its frequent use as a carminative and antispasmodic agent, believed to relieve flatulence, abdominal pain, and intestinal spasms—symptoms that characterize colic. The resin is thought to relax smooth muscle in the gut, thereby alleviating discomfort associated with colic.

However, scientific validation for its efficacy in adult colic is limited. Most available research focuses on its general effects on digestion and flatulence, with a few studies suggesting it may possess antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. Some animal studies and in vitro experiments demonstrate that asafoetida can reduce smooth muscle contractions, but robust clinical trials in adults with colic are lacking. The bulk of the evidence for its use in adult colic is therefore traditional, with modest support from indirect scientific findings related to its pharmacological activities.

In summary, while asafoetida's use for adult colic is well-established in traditional medicine, high-quality scientific evidence specifically confirming its efficacy for this condition in adults is minimal. The rating reflects moderate traditional support with limited but plausible mechanistic scientific data.

More about asafoetida
More about Colic (adults)

Products containing asafoetida

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.