What is Fenugreek Herb Used For?
Grown for its dried leaves and seeds, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), indigenous to much of the African continent, is now propagated in commercial herb production in many parts of the world. A member of the bean family, fenugreek is used in culinary dishes, herbal teas and as an ingredient in alternative medical treatments. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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The fenugreek plant reaches a height of two to four feet, depending upon soil conditions and boasts elongated clover-shaped leaves. Small round flowers appear in early summer, followed by seedpods that resemble green beans. The seedpods turn yellow in midsummer when it is time to harvest. Both the seeds and the leaves of the fenugreek plant are valuable for cooking and alternative health treatments.
Culinary
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If eaten raw, fenugreek seeds have a bitter taste, but once heated, they provide an aromatic addition to sweet breads, Middle Eastern cuisine and teas. A staple during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, fenugreek seeds are boiled and the strained liquid added to soups. In the United States, fenugreek is sometimes substituted for pure maple in flavoring pancake syrups.
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Medicinal
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) lists fenugreek seeds as a dietary supplement that might benefit some physical disorders. It may be useful as an anticoagulant for thinning blood and as a sugar-regulating agent in diabetes and other blood sugar disorders. A 1990 study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrated similar results but further studies are necessary. Alternative medical uses suggest fenugreek as an infection fighter, a wound healer and as a treatment for arthritis.
Lactation
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A popular uses of fenugreek today, is by young mothers who find it difficult to breastfeed their infants. KellyMom.com suggests that fenugreek may increase a mother's milk supply (galactagogue). Nursing mothers may take up to 14 capsules of 500 mg fenugreek per day, taking only two or three at a time. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists fenugreek as a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substance for human consumption.
Precautions
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MSKCC suggests that pregnant women not use fenugreek to reduce the risk of premature birth from an oxytocic effect. Taking fenugreek may produce some undesirable side effects, including abdominal bloating, flatulence, diarrhea and hypoglycemia. In a few people, fenugreek may trigger an allergic reaction and asthma. Consult your doctor before taking fenugreek as a dietary supplement.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo, curtesy of Wikimedia Commons
