(^24) • JULY
uncommonHERBS/GET TO KNOW BOTANICALS
Meet Fenugreek
You’ve probably seen Fenugreek seeds at Indian restaurants, but have you tried
the herb in supplement form? There are so many benefi ts to discover, from
easing heartburn to lowering high blood sugar levels to soothing sore throats
/// BY KARTA PURKH SINGH KHALSA, DN-C, RH
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum),
a legume that grows from the Mediter-
ranean to China, is an ancient spice with
a bitter fl avor. Although rare in American
cooking, the seeds are popular in India for
pickles and curried dishes. Dry roasting
can enhance the fl avor and reduce bitterness,
and the seeds may also be eaten raw or
boiled. Fenugreek leaves are an important
food from Western Asia to Northern
India, where they’re eaten as a very tasty
vegetable that can be prepared
like spinach, added to salads,
or dried and used as a spice,
which has a maple-like
smell and taste.
Fenugreek for
Whatever Ails
You (Literally!)
Fenugreek has been used for
more than 2,000 years to stimulate
fl agging appetites, as well as for an
assortment of digestive complaints,
including heartburn and gas. Recent
animal evidence indicates that it
increases the production of pancreas
enzymes, and scientifi c evidence also
supports its use for ulcers.
Gargle with fenugreek seed tea to
relieve sore throats and soothe coughs.
Traditional uses for this herb include
arthritis, bronchitis, and fevers, and
as a general male reproductive tonic.
With its anti-infl ammatory
properties, fenugreek has
been used topically for
abscesses, boils, wounds,
burns, eczema, gout, and
skin ulceration.
In 2018, a meta-analysis
published in the journal
Phytotherapy Research
reported that consumption
of fenugreek can signifi cantly
increase the amount of produced breast
milk versus a placebo. A 2019 double-
blind, randomized trial that tested an
herbal tea containing fenugreek found
no adverse events during the 30-day
study or for the fi rst year of an infant’s
life. Certain plant compounds found
naturally in fenugreek (sapogenins)
can mimic or regulate human steroid
hormones or hormone precursors. This
may account for the herb’s traditional
use for increasing breast milk production.
D i d You
Know?
Fenugreek seeds
are popular in Indian
cuisine for pickling
and curries.
A NATURAL &
NON-HABIT-FORMING
LAXATIVE
Fenugreek seeds are a a bulk laxative—
they contain fibers and mucilage that
swell up in contact with water, expanding
bowel contents and stimulating peristaltic
activity. For laxative use, take .
– tsp.
of the freshly powdered herb, followed
by additional oz. of water, one to three
times daily.
BN0719_D_UncommonHerbs_JS.indd 24 5/30/19 2:11 PM
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