Fenugreek
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum)
Brief Background:
Fenugreek has a long history of medical uses in Indian and Chinese medicine and has been used for numerous indications including labor induction, aiding digestion, and as a general tonic to improve metabolism and health.
Expert Opinion and Historic Precedent:
In India, fenugreek is commonly consumed as a condiment. It is also used medicinally as a lactation stimulant (galactagogue) and during pregnancy. Fenugreek has been recommended for a variety of other ailments, ranging from diabetes to indigestion and baldness. Fenugreek is purported to contain an estrogenic constituent, and has been recommended for menstrual disorders and menopausal symptoms. In the United States, fenugreek has been used since the 19th Century for menstrual pain. In Ayurvedic medicine, fenugreek has been used to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, wounds, inflammation, and gastrointestinal ailments.
