Ferula asa-foetida and Curcuma longa in traditional medical treatment and diet in Nepal.
Food and eating have powerful symbolic value among the hinduistically-influenced ethnic groups of Nepal. In addition, food plays a major role in the concepts of illness and curing and constitute an integral part of traditional medical prescriptions. Materials that are consumed in 0.5-1.5 g amounts in the daily diet (e.g. the spices turmeric and asafoetida) are used in minute amounts for medical purposes. Why? Three hypotheses are offered here to discuss this issue.
Eigner
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Institute for Tibetology and Buddhist Studies, Vienna, Austria.
Scholz
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D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D005309:Ferula; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D009390:Nepal; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic
D003474:Curcumin