Fenugreek is a medicinal plant with positive effects on various medical conditions. In Germany, it is primarily used against loss of appetite or for skin complaints. The folk medicine as well as the international research know further fields of application.
Occurrence and cultivation of fenugreek.
From the flowers develop the 7 to 12 centimeters long legumes, whose shape reminiscent of the horn of a buck, the plant owes its German name. Fenugreek is an annual plant and belongs to the butterfly family. Originally it comes from the Middle East. Already the ancient Egyptians used it as a medicinal plant. In Europe, it was widely used in the medieval monastery gardens. Already Hildegard von Bingen describes its effect on skin diseases. Today, the main areas of cultivation are in Morocco in India. However, the plant is also widespread in the Mediterranean region as a cultivated plant. Wild forms grow in North Africa, the Mediterranean region, but also in southern Germany. The plant prefers clayey soils and sunny location. While the wild forms reach a height of 30 to 60 centimeters, the cultivated forms grow to about 60 centimeters. The stem grows upright and is branched. The clover-like leaves are found on the branches. The middle of the three leaves is slightly longer than the outer two. The flowers are light yellow to white and are located in the leaf axils. They are often visited by bees and bumblebees. From the flowers develop the 7 to 12 centimeters long legumes, whose shape reminiscent of the horn of a buck, the plant owes its German name. The pods contain 10 to 20 seeds each, which are used in medicine. In addition to medicinal use, the seeds are also used in cooking as a seasoning. Among other things, they are the main ingredient of curry powder.
Effect and application
Like many other medicinal plants, fenugreek lost its importance due to the development of modern medicine. Primarily, it is used today in folk medicine, although many of the traditional applications have fallen into oblivion. The seeds are versatile due to their ingredients, such as mucilage, saponin or iron, and can be used both internally and externally. Medicinally recognized today is the internal use for loss of appetite. These are usually only a symptom of underlying diseases, on which the seeds, however, show a positive effect. Thus, positive effects have been described for underlying gastrointestinal or psychological complaints as well as for age-related loss of appetite. The traditional application knows still further areas. For example, a cough tea made from fenugreek was and still is often used in China. The reason for this effect is probably the mucilages it contains, which have a soothing effect on inflamed mucous membranes. This effect can also be used for other mucous membrane irritations, such as irritations of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to its blood sugar lowering effect, fenugreek can be used as a supplementary treatment for type II diabetes. Likewise, a cholesterol-lowering effect has been reported, justifying its use in cases of slightly elevated cholesterol levels. These results are not based on observation alone, but are supported by scientific trials. Because fenugreek promotes milk production by the mammary glands, it is often included in breastfeeding teas. 10 grams of the seeds are said to reduce blood alcohol levels by 50 percent. However, one should not rely on these claims, especially since the dosage is far above the maximum recommended daily dose of 6 grams. On the other hand, a positive influence on liver activity has been proven, which in turn also leads to an increased breakdown of alcohol in the body. A study published in 2014 also shows positive effects in Parkinson’s patients. The researchers suspect that the ingredients delay nerve damage. Positive effects in certain types of cancer have also been observed in animal studies. In addition to the described internal applications, fenugreek can also be used externally for skin diseases. The first thing to mention here is its medicinally recognized effect on inflammatory skin diseases. Also in eczema, treatment with poultices has been reported to improve the appearance of the skin. For hemorrhoids, the seeds have already been successfully used as a sitz bath.Due to the germicidal effect of the seeds, blood poisoning can be prevented by treating purulent wounds with poultices. Also, boils are said to ripen faster through treatment with fenugreek. An often described, but not scientifically proven effect is the prevention of hair loss by a poultice with fenugreek powder dissolved in olive oil. A little known form of application are the germinated seeds. These can be used to prevent infectious diseases, especially in the cold season, due to their blood purifying and invigorating effect. Various preparations are available for the different areas of application. In addition to the dried whole, crushed or ground seeds, capsules or ready-made preparations for poultices are also available.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
As already described, due to the development of modern medicine, the importance of medicinal plants and thus also that of fenugreek declined. The modes of action fell into oblivion in this country. Yet complaints can be combated with this medicinal herb relatively without side effects. Due to the low side effects, such as stomach upset with internal or skin irritations with external applications, a self-experiment is worthwhile. If the symptoms do not improve after some time or if a more severe disease is present, a doctor should be consulted. Seeds offered as seasonings sometimes contain fewer medicinally active ingredients than those offered as medicines. Nevertheless, as a flavorful enhancement to food, these may have additional preventive health benefits. Because of the increased efficacy against various ailments demonstrated in studies, fenugreek is expected to increase in importance as a remedy.
