Ferula assa-foetida and its Traditional Knowledge and Economic Importance in the Rural Areas of South East of Iran

Year 2019, Volume: 2 Issue: 3, 164 - 170, 01.07.2019

Farhood Golmohammadi

Abstract

Traditional knowledge is employed to mean knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities
embodying traditional life-styles; the wisdom developed over many generations of holistic traditional scientific
utilization of the lands, natural resources, and environment. Traditional knowledge is valid and necessary, and awaits
its currently relevant wider application for human benefit. Many people in Mediterranean region who consult with
spiritual healers, homeopaths and herbalists are utilizing traditional therapies. These are the first choice for problems
such as liver diseases, inflammation, skin diseases, infertility, impotence, diabetes, obesity, epilepsy, psychosomatic
troubles, and many other diseases. Ferula assa-foetida L. (Apiaceae) is one of the most important among the thirty
species of Ferula distributed in Iran. One part used is an oleo-gum resin, called asa-foetida or Anghoze in Persian,
obtained by incision from the roots. Ferula is one of the most important endangered medicinal plants, which is rare in
nature due to poor seed germination. In this article introduce his field, qualitative and participatory study on main
characteristics, harvesting and economical importance of this valuable medicinal plant in South-Khorasan province,
south east of Iran as a major producer and exporter. 

Keywords

Ferula, Iran, Traditional knowledge, Medical plant, Rural regions, Iran

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