Asafoetida is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family. The medicinal part is the milk exuded from the cut stems, which is collected and dried and is called asafoetida essence. People also use the roots for medicinal purposes. Contains volatile oils (pinine, various disulfides), resins, gums, ferulic acid, farniferol, etc. It tastes pungent and is warm in nature. It has the functions of regulating qi, reducing swelling, activating blood circulation, eliminating phlegm, and stimulating effects. It can be used to treat food accumulation, chest and abdominal distension and pain, gastrointestinal diseases, measles in children, malaria, cold and heat, accumulation of abdominal distension, neurasthenia, and mushroom poisoning. Distributed in Xinjiang, mostly in northern Xinjiang. The stems can be cut to collect the milk 7 to 8 years after planting.

It likes to grow in desert areas with hot summers and cold winters, drastic temperature changes, long sunshine, drought, and little rain. The soil is mostly desert ash-calcium soil and ash-calcium soil. Propagate from seeds.