Botanical Index No. 408

Fenugreek

trigonella foenum-graecum

Medicinal Actions

Colic, High Triglyceride, Analgesic, Anesthetic, Antiatherosclerotic, Antidiabetic, Antidiuretic, Antiinflammatory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Ecbolic, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Hydragogue, Hyperemic, Hypocholesterolemic, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic, Hypotensive, Hypotriglyceridemic, Lactagogue, Laxative, Lipolytic, Mastogenic, Myorelaxant, Oxytocic, Propecic, Protease Inhibitor, Secretolytic, Spermicide, Tonic, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Cancer stomach testes throat uterus uvula Carbuncle Catarrh Childbirth Chilblain Cholecystosis Constipation Colitis Cough Cramp Cystosis Debility Dermatosis Diarrhea Diabetes Dysentery Dusgeuzia Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Edema Enterosis Fatigue Fever Fistula Furunculosis Gas Gastrosis Gout Hay Fever Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hernia High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Hyperglycemia Hyperlipidemia Impotence Infection Inflammation Leukorrhea Lymphadenosis Mastosis Myalgia Nephrosis Neuralgia Neurasthenia NIDDM Obesity Ophthalmia Orchosis Osteomyelosis Oxaluria Pain Parotosis PMS Proctosis Rachosis Respirosis Rheumatism Sciatica Scrofula Smallpox Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Splenomegaly Stomatosis Swelling Syndrome-X Syphilis Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Ulcus cruris Uterosis Vaginosis VD Vomiting Water Retention Worm Wound Aperitif Aphrodisiac Demulcent Emollient Insectifuge Mucilaginous Parturient Steroid Precursor Vermifuge Vulnerary Abscess Adenopathy Alactea Allergy Alopecia Anemia Anorexia Aposteme Arthrosis Atherosclerosis Bacteria Boil Bronchosis Burn Calculus abdomen bladder breast colon eye gland groin intestine kidney liver parotid rectum spleen

General Dosage

Dosages — 1 tbsp mashed seed/8 oz water, up to 3 ×/day as gargle; 1–6 g seed 3 ×/day; 5–90 g seed/day; 0.25–0.5 cup seed; 6–12 g dry seed; 50 g powdered seed with 0.25 liter water; 6.3 g/day; 1 capsule 2–3 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects — Class 2b. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Contraindicated in pregnancy. Due to its oxytoxic and uterine stimulant actions, in vitro, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Commission E reports no contraindications or interactions for oral use of the seed. Adverse skin reactions to repeated external use. An idiosyncratic gastroenterosis was fingered on fenugreek in LRNP. One woman with micromazia complained of mastogenic activity following ingestion of fenugreek sprouts. May interfere with anticoagulant, blood sugar, hormonal, and/or MAOI therapies. High mucilaginous/fiber content may interfere with absorption of other drugs. Since all herbs, spices, and food plants, like drugs, contain pharmacologically active ingredients, it seems it could go without saying, “the presence of pharmacologically active constituents would suggest that excessive ingestion is inadvisable”. Alcoholic seed extract LD50 = 5000 mg/kg orl rat; 2000 der rabbit.

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