What Is Griffonia Simplicifolia Seed?
Griffonia simplicifolia seed is produced from the beans of a native African vine. It has been used as an aphrodisiac as well as for other medical issues. Extracts of the seeds are often sold in powdered and capsule form by herbal health stores and online dealers.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Plant
-
Griffonia simplicifolia is an evergreen climbing shrub that can grow to about 9 feet tall. It has thick edible foliage and produces lots of large seeds. The plant is found most often in Central and West Africa.
Amino Acid
-
Griffonia is a natural source of the amino acid 5HTP, or 5-Hydroxytryptophan.
-
Depression
-
The seed has been used to treat depression. Because of its 5HTP content, it has the ability to raise serotonin levels which helps to regulate brain chemistry. This helps in the treatment of insomnia and depression.
Weight Loss
-
Griffonia seed has also been used as an aid in weight loss. This is also helped by the increase in the serotonin level. Conversely, the seed also helps those with anorexia nervosa to normalize their weight.
Analgesic
-
People who suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic headaches have used griffonia seed to reduce pain. It is also a treatment for stomach and intestinal ailments.
Endangered
-
Because of the economic value of griffonia, the plant is facing extinction due to over harvesting and/or poor harvesting methods. Efforts are being made to educate those communities that collect the plants and their seeds so that the species and their livelihood survives.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Trang Nguyen
