Fenugreek is an annual herb which has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. It has many benefits, and can be considered a “multi-purpose” remedy.
The health benefits of fenugreek include:
- Reduces inflammation both inside and outside the body to fight:
- Digestive problems and heartburn (source)
- Arthritis (source)
- Coronary artery disease (source)
- Muscle aches and pains
- Cough and congestion (source)
- Cancer (source). Find more cancer-fighting foods here.
- Elevated cholesterol (source and source)
- Reduce fever (source)
- Eczema, acne, or skin infections (source): consume the tea, or blend the seeds with yogurt or water and apply to your skin twice a day. Leave on for about 20-30 minutes, then rinse off.
- Gout
- Dandruff: rinse your hair with fenugreek tea
- Mouth ulcers
- Menstrual cramps
- Lowers blood sugar in diabetic patients (source, source, and source)
- Consume powdered fenugreek seeds soaked in hot water
- Stimulates and increases milk supply in breastfeeding mamas (source and source)
- This can occur in as quickly as 23 hours!
- Improves sexual health and libido in men (source) and women (source)
- Boosts brain function
- Prevents age-related memory loss, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. (source)
How to Use Fenugreek:
- consume as a tea (see recipe below)
- consume in pill form (where to buy)
- make into a paste to help heal inflammation: blend the seeds with yogurt or water and apply to your skin twice a day. Leave on for about 20-30 minutes, then rinse off.
- use as a spice in cooking (also known as methi seeds), and as a thickening agent in foods. The seeds are mildly bitter, but have a nice taste when cooked. The leaves are often used in cooking as well.
How to Make Fenugreek Tea
Lightly crush 1 teaspoon of seeds for each cup of water. Add the seeds to boiling water and steep for about 3 minutes. Strain and sweetened with honey or stevia, if desired. Drink 1-3 cups per day, hot or cold.
Precautions When Using Fenugreek
- Fenugreek may cause uterine contractions and is therefore not recommended during pregnancy. (It is safe to take while breastfeeding)
- When taken by mouth, fenugreek may cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
- People allergic to peanuts, soybeans, chickpeas, and green peas may also be allergic to fenugreek.
- People with bleeding disorders or who take blood-thinning medications should not consume fenugreek.
- Since fenugreek may lower your blood sugar, use caution if you are taking diabetic medications.
- If using on the skin, always test a small area first.
Where to Buy Fenugreek
Here in Saudi, you can easily find Fenugreek at your local herbal shop. You can do a quick Google Maps search to find the store nearest you:
- Bin Menqash (بن منقاش)
- Spirit of Nature (عطارة روح)
- عطارة الكيف المميز
- عطارة الفايز