Fenugreek is an herbal remedy for
menopausal symptoms and digestive problems. Fenugreek also has been reported
stimulate milk production in breast-feeding women.
Fenugreek Seeds - Fenugreek: The
first recorded use of fenugreek is described on an ancient Egyptian
papyrus dated to 1500 B.C. Fenugreek seed is commonly used in cooking.
Fenugreek is used as an herb (the leaves) and as a spice (the seeds).
Fenugreek has an ancient history of both culinary and medicinal
use. It has traditionally been used as an appetite stimulant, and recent
research indicates a role in natural steroid production, the hormones that
drive the growth process. In addition, Trigonella helps to support healthy
digestive systems, as well as to maintain healthy levels of glucose and
cholesterol in the blood.
Fenugreek softens hardened mucus. Fenugreek helps expel toxic waste.
Fenugreek helps to expel mucus from the lungs and bowels.
Fenugreek also helps reduce cholesterol. Fenugreek also helps dissolve fatty substances.
Drink Fenugreek with lemon juice and honey to soothe your body.
Common Names--fenugreek, fenugreek seed
Latin Names--Trigonella foenum-graecum
- What Fenugreek Is Used For
- Historically, fenugreek was used for a variety of health
conditions, including menopausal symptoms and digestive problems. It was
also used for inducing childbirth.
- Today, it is used for diabetes and loss of appetite, and
to stimulate milk production in breast-feeding women. It is also applied to
the skin to treat inflammation.
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- How Fenugreek Is Used
The dried seeds are ground and taken by mouth or used to form a paste that is
applied to the skin.
- What the Science Says about Fenugreek
- A few small studies have found that fenugreek may help
lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
- There is not enough scientific evidence to support the
use of fenugreek for any other health condition.
- Side Effects and Cautions of Fenugreek
- Possible side effects of fenugreek when taken by mouth
include gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Fenugreek can cause irritation when
applied to the skin.
- Given its historical use for inducing childbirth, women
should use caution when taking fenugreek during pregnancy.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative
practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your
health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
What's an Herb? An herb is a plant or part of a plant used for its flavor,
scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves,
bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots. Herbal medicine products are dietary
supplements that people take to improve their health. Many herbs have been
used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as
tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants.
However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some
may interact with other drugs you are taking.
to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed
health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and
fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not
effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
Dietary supplement is a
product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino
acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for
dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.
To use an herbal product as safely as
possible:
-
Consult your doctor first
-
Do not take a bigger dose than the label
recommends
-
Take it under the guidance of a trained
medical professional
-
Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or
nursing
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Why should I use herbal products?
The decision to use herbs to improve your
health is, as with all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however,
many good reasons to consider herbal products to complement your own
health care methods. One of the best reason, however, may be the fact that
herbs and herbal products, continue to provide real health benefits while
maintaining a remarkable safety profile. Readily available natural
substances were the first medicines used by humans. Primitive and ancient
civilizations as well as contemporary cultures throughout the world have
always relied on herbs to provide the benefits that have been observed with
their use. In fact, the World Health Organization has estimated that 80
percent of the world's population continues to use traditional therapies, a
major part of which are derived from plants, as their primary health care
tools. In our own time and culture, most herbs are available in the form of
"herbal supplements." These products are found in the form of teas, tablets,
capsules, liquid extracts, and others. We now have ready access to products
that bring the herbal traditions from all over the world in a variety of
convenient forms. In addition, scientific inquiries continue to develop our
knowledge of the benefits of plants, and often validate the observations
made over the past centuries.
Are herbs safe?
Plants that enjoy broad culinary and
therapeutic usage are generally safe. We can flavor our food with any number
of herbs to make a meal more flavorful. We can appreciate a delicious cup of
peppermint leaf or ginger root tea, or benefit from the soothing properties
of marshmallow root or the bark of slippery elm. We can take an herbal
supplement containing dandelion root or saw palmetto berries, or any number
of the other herbs. Although allergies and reactions have been recorded for
a few herbs that are widely used in foods and supplements, such individual
concerns are also seen with many foods, and do not diminish the safety
profile of the many herbs that are generally recognized as safe. On the
other hand, and as everyone knows, there are any number of plants that are
highly toxic, even deadly.
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