Whether you want shiny, healthy hair or sauce for curry, fenugreek has got you covered! Fenugreek (Trigonalla foenum-graecum) has various benefits, used topically or internally, that have been used for centuries. A prescription for burns which includes fenugreek was discovered in the Egyptian Ebers papyrus and said to be from around 1500 BC! The seeds were also used to induce childbirth in ancient Egypt. As you can see, people have been using the benefits of this herb for quite some time. Let's get into some of the more modern uses!
1. Control Blood Sugar and Lower Cholesterol
Fenugreek has many constituents including mucilage, saponins, protein, vitamins A, B, and C, and minerals. Another active constituent of this plant is 4-hydroxyisoleucine which stimulates glucose-induced insulin release in the body. The seeds, preferably powdered, help in controlling insulin resistance and late-onset diabetes but the recommended dosage is still unclear.
The saponins mentioned above convert into saponogenins in the GI tract and may decrease cholesterol levels through activation of biliary cholesterol secretion which basically means this activation aids in the removal of cholesterol from the body. The seeds are high in water-soluble fiber binding to cholesterol making it harder to be taken in by the blood stream, thus lower blood cholesterol levels!
2. Stimulates Milk Production
Many mothers who struggle with milk flow turn to this herb in tea form for help. Fenugreek has been shown to increase milk production in nursing mothers. The explanation for this is increasing sweat production impacting the milk ducts or the phytoestrogens and disogenin found in fenugreek. For increasing milk supply, 580-610 mg three to four times daily is a dose that has been suggested. Fenugreek, however, is NOT to be used in pregnancy!!
3. Spice
Native to North America and India, this herb grows in open areas and is usually cultivated in India. Today, fenugreek is widely used in Indian cuisine in curry powder, spice blends, and teas. Both seeds and leaves are edible (fresh or dried) but fresh leaves should be used immediately as their shelf-life is short. It has a smell like maple syrup when heated which is caused by sotolone excretion. This can cause urine, sweat and breast milk to also have this smell. The bitter taste can come as a surprise due to the sweet smell.
4. Topical Remedies for Injury
This soothing plant is not only used internally, but topically as well! Can mix with water to create a paste to treat abscesses, boils, ulcers, and burns due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fenugreek contains mucilage which retains a significant amount of water and keeps an elevated temperature which readily penetrates tissues and this makes it useful in hot compresses. It also slows fermentation and bacterial growth while acting as a local demulcent or emollient when it comes into direct contact with mucous membrane surfaces or skin. This creates a protective "coating" on the skin!
5. HAIR
Many women in India have used fenugreek paste on their hair for health and length (bundles, ladies!) for many years. Beneficial for hair growth indirectly, fenugreek helps to create a stable scalp environment due to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, fighting the same bacteria that causes dandruff! The proteins in this plant help with shedding as well as nourish the hair, the lecithin h acts as an emollient that helps to strengthen and moisturize the follicles, vitamins A, B1, & C improve shine, strength, and thickness, and protect hair from free radicals, or pollution, and the mucilaginous fiber mentioned before absorbs the water to form a paste which creates good conditioning and softening effects!
It is easiest to create a mask for your hair by grinding the seeds into a powder which is what I did using my mortar and pestle. Another way to utilize the seeds is to soak them overnight in yogurt, oil, or water where they will swell and soften. This is more tricky, however, because if you use too much fenugreek the water will not gel and if you use too little water, it can then dehydrate your hair making it more dry than it was before you used the mask. If you soak the seeds too long at room temperature, any longer than 12 hours, the paste can go bad before you use it but if you don't soak them long enough, the mask won't be as effective. It's a lot of experimentation.
I added aloe vera leaf and avocado oil to my mask as my hair loves these products and sat under the steamer with the mask on after shampooing. It definitely improves shedding as well as makes my hair softer and much easier to manage after washing! See my picture tutorial below and let me know if you try it!
Always, peace and love. Thank you for stopping by!
References:
“How Can Ayurvedic Fenugreek Repair Your Hair Damage?” SAVE ME FROM, 12 Sept. 2019, savemefrom.com/blogs/in-the-lab/fenugreek-for-hair.
Gupta A, Malviya R, Singh PT, Sharma KP. Indian Medicinal Plants Used in Hair Care Cosmetics: A Short Review. Pharmacognosy Magazine. 2010;2(10):361-364.
“Natural Products.” Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: an Interactive Approach to Self-Care, by Daniel L. Krinsky et al., American Pharmacists Association, 2018, pp. 979–980.
“Fenugreek - Health Benefits, Cooking and Harvesting.” The Epicentre, 29 July 2020, theepicentre.com/spice/fenugreek/.