asafoetida plant seeds Asafoetida Seeds

asafoetida plant seeds Asafoetida SeedsNothing connects us to nature and our materials, like growing and tending the plants that give us such wonderful gifts. Plants will indeed communicate with us, and there is truth in the concept of plant allies. However, we must initiate and establish a giving, nurturing, and mutually reciprocal relationship with them first. Germinating and growing a plant and tending to its needs is a wonderful way to strike up an enduring, meaningful, and mutually

 Nothing connects us to nature and our materials, like growing and tending the plants that give us such wonderful gifts.

Plants will indeed communicate with us, and there is truth in the concept of plant allies. However, we must initiate and establish a giving, nurturing, and mutually reciprocal relationship with them first. Germinating and growing a plant and tending to its needs is a wonderful way to strike up an enduring, meaningful, and mutually beneficial relationship.

I hope that by spreading the seeds of these plants, someone will find ideal growing conditions, learn how to cultivate them commercially and relieve some of the stress on the wild populations that we are overharvesting.

Asafoetida

The aroma of Asafoetida resin is extremely pungent and strong.  It is often compared in aroma to a blend of sulphur and onions, However. Asafoetida has a much more complex and rich fragrance profile. In perfume, incense, medicine and magic, only a very small amount is needed. I have to point out here that the essential oil of Asafoetida is drab and non-descript compared to the fresh resin and does not do the plant justice. I imagine a tincture of the resin could deliver much more to a perfume blend.

"Ferula asafoetida is a herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae family. It is oleo gum resin obtained from the rhizome and root of the plant. This spice is used as a digestive aid, in food as a condiment and in pickles. It is used in modern herbalism in the treatment of hysteria, some nervous conditions, bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough. It was at one time employed in the treatment of infantile pneumonia and flatulent colic. The gum resin is antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, and sedative. The volatile oil in the gum is eliminated through the lungs, making this an excellent treatment for asthma. The odour of asafoetida is imparted to the breath, secretions, flatus, and gastric eructations. Its properties are antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, emmenagogue and vermifuge. Asafoetida has also been used as a sedative. It also thins the blood and lowers blood pressure. It is widely used in India in food and as a medicine in Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda. Asafoetida has been held in great esteem among indigenous medicines, particularly in the Unani system from the earliest times."

The preceding paragraph is an excerpt from an excellent article about Asafoetida on NCBI. Rather than repeat or rehash what is already presented so well, I suggest you read the full article here-www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3459456/ (You may have to copy and paste the link in your browser.

In Folk Magic traditions, Asafoetida is considered a powerful protective and banishing herb often used in magical incense blends and protective amulets. It is hot in nature and I believe ruled by Mars/Pluto/Scorpio from an Astrological point of view.

It is considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures and used to boost the libido.

How to germinate Asafoetida seeds

• Biologist Lennard Pisa has been experimenting with growing plants from these seeds. His suggestion is-

• "Chill for 3 to 6 weeks at 5°c. Ferula Asafoetida, Gummosa, and Foetida take an average of a month to germinate; Dorema takes longer. Not all seeds sprout at the same time; some take 3 weeks, and some take 5. Ferula is close to Angelica taxonomically. Technically, it is a monocarpic perennial; the plants live for 3-5 years and then flower, after which they die."

• The nominal temperature of most domestic refrigerators is 5 degrees Celsius. Which makes them perfect for seed stratification.

• After stratification, plant your seeds in deep pots or directly in the soil at a depth of 1 centimetre and water them in.
  

• Asafoetida seeds send down long tap roots, so if you sow them in pots first, make sure the roots have enough room to develop and won't be disturbed too much when planting out.
• There are approximately 200 seeds in a half-ounce packet, which is 15 Grams. I am not sure of the germination rate, so having more than you need is always a good idea. 

Materials-Ferula Asafoetida seeds

Dan