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(According to *Tang Bencao*)
[Correction] Moved from the Herb section to this section.
[Names] A Yu (*Bencao Gangmu*), Xun Qu (*Tang Bencao*).
Li Shizhen said: Barbarians call themselves "A". This substance has an extremely foul odor, which is what "A" fears.
The Kingdom of Persia calls it A Yu, the Kingdom of Tianzhu (India) calls it Xing Yu, and the *Nirvana Sutra* calls it Yang Kui. The Mongols call it Hasini; it was consumed during the Yuan Dynasty.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong said: Asafoetida grows in Xifan and Kunlun regions. Its seedlings, leaves, roots, and stems closely resemble Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Bai Zhi). The root juice is extracted by crushing, sun-dried or boiled into cakes; these are of the highest grade.
Those made by cutting the roots, threading them, and drying them in the sun are of secondary grade. Asafoetida has an extremely foul nature yet can stop foul odors, making it a remarkable substance. Another account from Brahmins states: Xun Qu is indeed Asafoetida. The root juice is sun-dried into a gum-like substance, or the roots are cut and dried, both being extremely foul-smelling. Sorcerers in Western countries prohibit its consumption. Regular consumption is said to remove body odor. The Rong people value this herb as highly as common people value Piperis Fructus (Hu Jiao, Pepper), just as the Ba people value Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fu Zi, Prepared Root of Chinese Aconite).
Kou Zongshi said: According to *Guang Zhi*, Asafoetida grows in the Kingdom of Kunlun. It is the sap of a tree, resembling Gum Tragacanth (Tao Jiao). Those with black color are unusable; those appearing as yellow powder are of the best quality. It is also found in the Chang River in Yunnan, similar in taste to imported varieties, but lacking the yellow hue.
Su Song said: Currently, it is only available in Guangzhou, where it is described as congealed from tree resin droplets, differing from Su Gong's description. According to Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu*, the Asafoetida tree grows in the Kingdom of Persia and Qiana (Northern India). The tree is 8-9 chi tall, with greenish-yellow bark. Leaves emerge in March, resembling mouse ears. It bears no flowers or fruits. When branches are broken, sap flows out like malt syrup, hardening over time into what is named Asafoetida. Monks from Magadha stated that its sap is fermented with rice and bean bran. This description is close to the variety produced in Guangzhou.
They are similar, though the latter is slightly milder in flavor, merely lacking the resinous juice.
This is authentic. Tree-derived Asafoetida comes from the Southern Fan regions.
It is said that Asafoetida from Huozhou, Shalu, and Haiya countries consists of herbs about one chi high, with independent root stocks, umbrella-like foliage, and overpowering odor; the fresh juice is collected and named Asafoetida. From Srivijaya and Siam, the trees are not very tall; locals insert bamboo tubes into the trees, filling them with resin, which is harvested in winter by breaking the tubes.
Some say the resin is extremely toxic, so people dare not approach. During collection, sheep are tied under the trees and shot from a distance. The toxic resin adheres to the sheep, and once the sheep dies, it becomes Asafoetida.
Observing this, it is clear there are two types. Generally, the trees are low and small, similar to Lycii Cortex (Gou Qi Pi) or Vitex Negundo (Mu Jing), and due to different southwestern climates, some resemble herbs while others resemble trees.
The story of tying sheep and shooting for resin is passed down in folklore but lacks factual basis. The proverb says: "Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Qin) has no fakes, but Asafoetida has no truth," because it is often adulterated. Liu Chun wrote in a poem:
"Asafoetida may lack authenticity yet possesses true value;
Foul yet stopping foul odors, it is truly precious."
Place half a zhu of Asafoetida in a clean copper vessel overnight. By morning, the area touching the Asafoetida will turn white as silver, remaining red-free permanently. On the first night, by morning it appears blood-red. On the third night, place one zhu on a pomelo tree; after drying upright, [impurities are removed], then sifted for medicinal use.

[Flavor and Toxicity] Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic.
[Therapeutic Actions] Kills various small parasites, removes foul odors, breaks up masses and accumulations, directs evil qi downward, and dispels evil spirits and gu poison (*Tang Bencao*). Treats wind-pathogen ghostly afflictions, coldness in the heart and abdomen (Li Xun). Transmitted corpse-cold qi, repels [evil qi] (Chen Cangqi). Resolves toxins from naturally dead cattle, sheep, and horses.

[Elucidation] Zhao Bing said: Asafoetida is extremely effective in expelling intestinal parasites.
Li Shizhen said: Asafoetida resolves flesh accumulations and kills small parasites, thus it can detoxify and repel evil, treating malaria, dysentery, childhood malnutrition (Gan syndrome), consumptive fever, corpse-infection (Shi Zhu), and cold pain syndromes.
According to Wang Qiu's *Bai Yi Xuan Fang*: Tan Kui from Kuizhou suffered from malaria for half a year. His friend Dou Cangsou prescribed: Use genuine Asafoetida and high-quality Cinnabar (Dan Sha), each one liang, ground together uniformly, mixed with rice paste, and formed into pills the size of soap beans. Take one pill dissolved in Ginseng Decoction on an empty stomach; recovery is immediate. People commonly treat malaria using only Chang Shan (Radix Dichroae) and Realgar (Pi Shuang), which are toxic, or send down with Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian) and Aucklandiae Radix (Mu Xiang) decoction. Malaria and dysentery often arise from stagnation/accumulation.

[Attached Prescriptions] Ten new prescriptions.
Repelling Evil Spirits and Dispelling Pathogens: Grind Asafoetida to powder (amount the size of a jujube pit). Decoct in cow's milk or meat broth for five to six boils and take. In the evening, take Anxi Xiang (Benzoin Resin) the size of a jujube pit with milk. For chronic cases, ten days suffice. Avoid all vegetables. Minister Sun used this with efficacy. (Cui Xinggong, Tang Dynasty, *Zu Yao*)
Severe Abdominal Pain from Evil Affliction: Take Asafoetida powder, administer with hot wine, one to two qian; pain stops immediately. (*Yong Lei Qian Fang*)
Corpse-Infection and Evil Qi Invasion: Proximity to corpses allows evil qi to enter the abdomen, causing lifelong incurable conditions.
Use three liang of Asafoetida. Each time, use two qian, mix with flour, wrap to make more than ten wontons. Boil and eat, three times daily. After three to seven days, it is permanently eradicated.
[Avoid certain foods].
Hernia Pain: Caused by stale essence and evil blood knotting in the scrotum. Use two liang of Asafoetida (wrapped in a cake of vinegar-mixed buckwheat flour and roasted), two large Arecae Semen (Bin Lang) drilled and filled with melted Frankincense (Ru Xiang), also wrapped in buckwheat flour and roasted. Add one qian of Nao Sha (Sal Ammoniac) powder and one liang of Red Peony Root (Chi Shao Yao) powder. Mix with paste to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take thirty pills with wine before meals. (Wei Shi, *De Xiao Fang*)
Infant Intestinal Colic with Unceasing Abdominal Pain: Grind Asafoetida into powder. Roast half a clove of garlic until soft, mash, and mix to form pills the size of hemp seeds. Take five pills with Mugwort Decoction. (*Zong Wei Lun*)
Spleen Accumulation and Masses: Five chicken eggs, five fen of Asafoetida, one liang of Yellow Beeswax. Simmer together until melted. Divide into ten doses. Chew thoroughly on an empty stomach and swallow with warm water. No dietary restrictions apply; abdominal pain is not a concern. After ten days, bloody stool indicates the resolution of accumulation. (*Bao Shou Tang Jing Yan Fang*)
Stagnant Masses with Accumulation: Five qian of Asafoetida, five qian of Trogopterori Faeces (Wu Ling Zhi) (stir-fried until smoke ceases). Grind into powder. Mix with bile from a yellow male dog to form pills the size of millet grains. Take thirty pills on an empty stomach with saliva. Avoid mutton, vinegar, and wheat products. (*Fu Shou Jing Fang*)
[Prescription for] Erythrina Seed (Yan Zhi) [and another ingredient], each the size of a soybean, ground uniformly. Mix with garlic paste. Apply to the Hegu region (back of hand between thumb and index finger); left side for males, right side for females. (*Sheng Ji Zong Lu*)
Chou Huang [and another ingredient] in equal parts, ground into powder. Form pills the size of mung beans with paste. Wrap one pill in cotton each time. Insert into the ear according to the affected side. Immediate effect. (*Sheng Hui Fang*)