Fenugreek Seed

Western Bulk Herbs – Fenugreek Seed

Fenugreek is used for bad breath or halitosis, and it can stimulant the muscles, such as the causing the uterus to contract to induce labor. Recent studies showed it can treat diabetes and several types of cancer. It will help stimulate the appetite, especially if someone is recovering from a long illness.

Fenugreek will increase breast milk in nursing mothers and can be used as a douche to reduce vaginal discharge. It can be applied to abscesses, ulcers, and boils. It can be soothing for burns.

Latin Name:
Trigonella foenum-graecum

Common Names:
Bird’s Foot, Greek Clover, Bird’s Foot, Bockshornklee, Bockshornsame, Chandrika, Foenugraeci Semen, Foenugreek, Greek Hay, Greek Hay Seed, Hu Lu Ba, Medhika, Methi, Trigonella.

Parts Used:
The dried fruit or “seeds,”

Properties:
Stimulant, muscle stimulant, and antiseptic

Traditional Uses:
Normally put in a capsule for use because the seed are bitter

Topical Uses / Applications:
N/A

Culinary Uses:
Can be used for cooking.

Chemical Properties:
Arginine, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, coumarin, diosgenin, fiber, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), kaempferol, luteolin, magnesium, manganese, niacin, potassium, pyridoxine, quercetin, riboflavin, rutin, sulfur, thiamine, trigonelline, tryptophan, vitexin, vitamin C, zinc.

Cautions:
Excessive use of fenugreek should be avoided during pregnancy. Fenugreek lowers blood sugar and therefore should be used cautiously by individuals taking insulin and other hypoglycemic medications. Also, fenugreek has the potential to enhance cholesterol lowering drugs and possibly interact with warfarin treatment.

Folk Lore:
Ancient Egyptians used Fenugreek to treat burns. The Greeks used it for women’s health problems and to start labor for childbirth.

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resources:
PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2000. Medical Economics Company, Montvale, New Jersey.

The New Holistic Herbal. David Hoffmann, 1990. Barnes and Noble Books, New York.

A Modern Herbal, Mrs. M. Grieve, (Dover Publications, New York, 1971)

Major Herbs of Ayurvedic.Compiled by Dahur Research Foundation and Dahur Ayurvet Limited, Ghaziabad, India., 2002. Churchill Livingstone, London, England.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition, Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, 1986. Eastland Press, Seattle, WA.