FENUGREEK (Trigonella Foenum, Graecum), Methi)

It is a commonly and frequently used herb, used in fresh leaves and seeds for various kitchen vegetables and medicinal uses.

It is an erect, robust, annually grown herb, having strong scent. Its leaves are light green-coloured with yellow flowers and (thin) sharp (pointed) pods, but the seeds have a peculiar odour and yellow brownish appearance.

Fenugreek leaves contain 6% Carbohydrates, 4.4% Protein 0.9%, Fat 1.5%, Minerals, Fibre 1.1% and moisture 86.1% (per 100 gms of edible portion). The leaves also contain iron, calcium, phosphorus, carotene, vitamins C, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine. Its calorific value is 49 per 100 gms.

Fenugreek sees posses more mutritive properties and higher calories when compared to its leaves. The seeds contain Carbohydrates 44.1%, Protein 26.2%, Moisture 1.37%, Fat 5.8%, Minerals 3%, Fibre 7.2%, apart from minerals (3%) and vitamins, such as calcium, phosphorus, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and carotene. Its calorific value, per 100 gms of edible portion, is 333.

Fenugreek sees contain essential oil and saponin, choline and trigonelline (alkaloids). The latter exerting toxic effects on neuro-muscular medicinal preparations. Seeds, dried in air, contain some amount of nicotinic acid and trigonalline, apart from containing fixed and volatile oils, mucilage and bitter yellow colouring substances.

Healing Properties

- Serves as efficient cleansers within the body.

- Arrests excessive secretions and bleeding.

- Serves as an aphrodisiac agent.

- Increases quantity of urine and regulates secretions.

- Seeds exert soothing effect on mucus membranes, skin by relieving skin irritation, pain and swelling.

- Used to reduce percentage of sugar content in urine and blood –for which they serve as both curative and preventive of diabetes.

- They are mucus solvents and expectorants.

- Used for backache, pain in joints, hands, and feets, especially after child birth.

- Remove indigestion, flatulence, and improve liver (of slugghish liver) functioning.

- Dispel body odour and foul breath.

- Relieve sore throat, mouth ulcers and dandruff.

- Used as a douche for vaginal cleansing, in case of leucorrhoea, discharge.

- Used as beauty-aid to get rid to blackheads, pimples wrinkles and dryness of skin.

Diabetes

Take (whole) seeds or in powder form (2TSP) with water or soak them in a cup of water, at night and consume the water, after mashing the seeds in the same water. A Vaidya had suggested the following prescription.

Fenugreek Powder - 100 gms

Turmeric Powder - 25 gms]

White Pepper Powder - 5 gms

Take a TSP each in the morning in the morning and evening with a glass of milk (without sugar) as soon as sugar level reaches to normal levels, reduce the dose accordingly. In certain persons, fenugreek seeds and may cause high blood pressure or further cause its rise in established cases of hypertension, hence use with due caution.

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