Hing or Heeng are the Hindi word for Asafetida, which has also been known as 'Devil's Dung' and "Stinking Gum'! This dark-brown, resin-like substance has a distinctive, sharp, pungent smell when raw but is extremely fragrant when added to hot oil or ghee (clarified butter) to temper a dish or into a cooked/ cooking dish. It is in the form of small lumps or as a powder.

In Indian cooking, it is used largely for its digestive properties. It is added to foods that are thought to be 'gaseous' or gas-producing in nature, to make them easier to digest... foods like daals and beans for example. Hing has been used since ancient times as a home remedy for indigestion and other stomach problems. its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties alleviate upset stomach, intestinal gas, intestinal worms, flatulence and irritable bowel syndrome (ibs).