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Daily life experience of ayurvedic medicines, complementary therapies.

Fenugreek Health Benets and

Medicinal uses
8. October 2014 Anupama (http://www.bimbima.com/health/author
/admin.aspx)

Fenugreek is a very well-known food item. It is native of South Eastern Europe

and West Asia. In India it is cultivated in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat,
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Karnataka. Its leaves are eaten as
vegetable. The green leaves are rich in bre and relieves constipation. A
poultice prepared from leaves is also applied externally on burns and
inflammation. The seeds are used in kitchen as condiment. Fenugreek is known
as Methi (Hindi), Venthayam (Siddha) and Hulba (Unani). There are several
health benets of fenugreek. The fresh leaves are good for digestive system
and useful in treating indigestion and liver problems. The leaves in form of
paste are applied on scalp for promoting hair growth and curing dandruff.

Credit of Image:Fenugreek seeds CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa

/3.0/)By Sanjay Acharya - Own Work

Botanical name of fenugreek plant is Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. and

belongs to Fabaceae/Papilionaceae family.
Kingdom:Plantae Division:Magnoliophyta Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Fabales Family:Fabaceae Genus:Trigonella
Species:T. foenum-graecum Botanical name:-Trigonella foenum-graecum
There are two species of the genus Trigonella viz. Trigonella foenum graecum
(common methi) and Trigonella corniculata (Kasuri methi).
Fenugreek plant is an annual herb, 30-60 cm in height. The leaves are light
green, pinnately trifoliate. Flowers are white or yellowish white and axillary.
Fruits are legumes, 5-7.5cm long, narrow, curved, tapering with a slender point
and containing 10-20 deeply furrowed seeds per pod.

Vernacular names
Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Urdu:Methi;Tamil:Mentiyam;Kannada:Mente,
Menthe;Malayalam:Uluva;Telugu:Mentulu;

Fenugreek Seeds or Methi daana

constituents
Fenugreek seeds are bitter, mucilaginous, aromatic, carminative, tonic, diuretic,
thermogenic (warming), galactagogue (stimulates breast milk), astringent

(constricts tissues), emollient, anti-rheumatic, CNS depressant and

anti-implantation. When dry seeds are soaked in water they become
mucilaginous. The seeds contains several Alkaloid, Saponins and Mucilage.
Alkaloids: Trimethylamine, Neurin, Trigonelline, Choline, Gentianine, Carpaine
and Betain.
Amino acids: Isoleucine, 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, Histidine, Leucine, lysine,
L-tryptophan, Argenine.
Saponins: Graecunins, fenugrin B, fenugreekine, trigofoenosides A-G.
Steroidal sapinogens: Yamogenin, diosgenin, smilagenin, sarsasapogenin,
tigogenin, neotigogenin, gitogenin, neogitogenin, yuccagenin, saponaretin.
Flavonoids: Quercetin, rutin, vetixin isovetixin.
Fibers: Gum, neutral detergent. ber
Other: Coumarin, lipids, vitamins, minerals;Mucilage 28%;proteins 22%;xed oil
5%.

Ayurvedic Properties and Action on body

As per Ayurveda, fenugreek seeds have following properties.
Rasa:Tikta
Guna:snigdha (unctuous)
Veerya:Ushna (hot)
Vipaka:Katu
Action on body: Fenugreek seeds are dipana. Deepan means digestive stimulant
that improves digestive re and helps in better digestion.
Seeds are useful in reducing vitiated Kapha dosha and Vata dosha. Kapha can
be understood as mucous with qualities such as heavy, cold, moist, static,
smooth and soft.

Scientically proven activities of Fenugreek

seeds

Antidiabetic and hypoglycaemic effect: Fenugreek seeds have blood sugar

lowering effect. This may be due to presence of various phytochemicals
(galactomannan-rich soluble ber, amino acid 4-hydroxyisoleucine) in seeds.
The amino acid present in seeds causes direct pancreatic ?-cell stimulation. A
study of alloxan-induced diabetic mice has shown that the hypoglycaemic
activity of dialysed fenugreek seed extract was comparable to that of insulin.
Demulcent: The aqueous extract of fenugreek seeds has demulcent (relieving
inflammation or irritation) properties. In an experiment done on rats, it
promoted healing of gastric ulcers. It also exhibited a smooth muscle relaxing
effect in rabbits without affecting either the heart or blood pressure.
Blood cholesterol lowering: The oral intake of fenugreek seeds reduces
cholesterol level. This may be due to interaction of saponins and bile acids,
resulting in formation of large micelles which are not absorbed in digestive
tract, this further results in increased faecal bile acid and cholesterol excretion.
Blood lipids lowering: The brous fraction of seeds causes a reduction in blood
lipids.
Seeds also possess Anticancer, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiseptic, Aphrodisiac,
Astringent, Emollient, Expectorant, Anthelmintic, Wound healing, Gastro
protective and Antioxidant properties. World Health Organisation WHO
recommends use of fenugreek seeds in adjuvant therapy for diabetes
mellitus, anorexia, also in hypercholesterolemia (excess of cholesterol in the
bloodstream).

Medicinal uses of Fenugreek seeds(Methi

Daana)
Fenugreek seeds are used in diabetes, high cholesterol, loss of appetite,
flatulence, dyspepsia, colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, enlargement of liver and
spleen. The seeds have galactagogue effect and used for increasing breast
milk. These are also given puerperal tonic.

Home remedies of Methi for treatment of

diseases
Diabetes:Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes rise in blood sugar level

and lipid level (hyperlipidemia). Fenugreek has both hypoglycemic and

hypolipidemic effects. Scientic study has observed signicant decrease in
serum triglyceride and cholesterol in hyperlipidaemic patients when treated
with fenugreek seed powder.
Fenugreek is very effective in controlling diabetes (http://www.bimbima.com
/health/post/2013/09/21/fenugreek-seeds-to-control-type-2-diabetes.aspx) as
it seeds works in diabetes by stimulating synthesis or secretion of insulin from
pancreatic cells. Hypocholesterolaemic (Cholesterol reducing effect) activity of
fenugreek seeds may be due to its insulin mimetic activity.
For reducing cholesterol:For reducing serum cholesterol level, take methi seeds
and soak in water at night. Eat these soaked seeds two times a day.
Controlling high blood pressure:For high blood pressure management take
fenugreek seeds and Anethum sowa (dill seeds) in equal amount. Grind them
and make a ne powder. Take this powder in dose of two teaspoonful twice a
day with fresh water.
Allergic rhinitis: Fenugreek seeds are dry in nature and hot in potency. These
are helpful in reducing mucous. In cold, cough, hay fever and other similar
conditions, soak fenugreek seeds in water for few hours. Then boil in water and
drink hot, two times a day.
Diarrhoea, loose motion, dysentery: For diarrhoea treatment, fry dried seeds and
make powder. Take 1 teaspoonful of this powder with honey, 2-3 times a day.
Asthma:For asthma, rst boil the seeds. Then grind them to make paste. Add
honey and take twice a day. Take for one month.
Arthritis, joint pain, keeping joints t: The seeds have anti-rheumatic properties.
Methi seed powder when taken in dose of 6 grams twice a day, with water, gives
relief in joint pain.
Hair growth, preventing hair fall, dandruff: Prepare paste of methi leaves and
apply on scalp.

How to eat fenugreek

Fenugreek or methi can be consumed in many ways. The leaves can be cooked
as vegetable. Paratha can be made by kneading methi leaves in atta. The seeds

can be powdered and taken in dose of 6 grams. The seeds can be sprouted and
chewed as salad. Fenugreek tea can be prepared with seeds.
Tea prepared from fenugreek seeds (http://www.bimbima.com/health/recipe
/post/fenugreek-tea-recipe-and-health-benets.aspx) is good for stomach
related problems and respiratory tract infections. In early stage of respiratory
infections (bronchitis, flu, sinusitis, catarrh, pneumonia), fenugreek tea causes
sweating, helps body to ght better against infection and shortens duration of
illness.
You can also make paratha from fenugreek fresh leaves as children refuse to
eat it in form of vegetable. So try this methi paratha recipe
(http://www.bimbima.com/health/recipe/post/recipe-methi-fenugreekparatha.aspx). You and your kids will sure like it.

Side effects and Caution for Oral intake of

fenugreek
Fenugreek is safe to use and exhibits no side effects when taken in proper
therapeutic dosages. But in some individuals, it increase the risk of bleeding. It
is contraindicated in pregnancy due to its oxytocic and uterine stimulant
actions. Oxytocic means a drug that induces labour by stimulating contractions
of the muscles of the uterus. Traditionally, seeds are used for easy delivery.
Fenugreek should be avoided by individuals with peanut allergies. Since
fenugreek seeds contain several pharmacologically active constituents, so
eat it in recommended doses and avoid excessive intake.

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