Fenugreek Seed (50% Saponins)

History:

Fenugreek is a tender, erect annual with three-part leaves and pea-like flowers that grows in fertile, well-drained, alkaline soil in full sun. It reaches a height of less than three feet and has a sweet hay scent when dried. A native of the Mediterranean area, the seeds have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. It is one of the oldest known medicinal plants and dates back to ancient Egypt, where archaeological evidence suggests that Egyptians used it as a food, as a medicine and in their embalming process. Likewise, the Greeks and Romans considered it a valuable food and medicine and used it to remedy sore throats and colds and also considered it an effective aphrodisiac. The Romans gave Fenugreek its botanical specific, foenum-graecum, which is Latin for "Greek hay," as it was a well-known fodder crop for animals. Fenugreek has been cultivated for medicinal use in China, India, Morocco and Turkey, where seeds have been used as a potent antioxidant with beneficial effects on the liver and pancreas. In India, the spicy seed is included in curry powder and the shoots curried as a vegetable. Fenugreek is also used as a bright yellow dye. Some of Fenugreek's chemical constituents include mucilage, diosgenin, coumarin, protein, lecithin, gum, beta-carotene, essential fatty acids, amino acids (4-hydroxyisoleucine, histidine, lysine, arginine) and other acids, high fiber, saponins (graecunins, fenugrin-B, fenugreekine, fenuside, trigofoenosides A-G), lipids, steroidal sapinogens (yamogenin, diosgenin, smilagenin, sarsasapogenine, tigogenin, neotigogenin, gitogenin, yuccagenin), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, orientin, vitexin, quercetin), folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C.

Fenugreek is said to have many beneficial effects on the respiratory system and can be an effective means to support the body's own healing resources to improve lung disorders. It is considered a fine herbal expectorant that may work with the body to relieve asthma and sinus problems by reducing mucus and can also be good for coughs and cold. Fenugreek is thought to dissolve hardened masses of accumulated mucus and is considered an old herbal therapy for tuberculosis. Regarded as a body cleanser and expectorant, Fenugreek assists the body to expel toxic waste and mucus through the elimination system. Used externally, Fenugreek's mucus-dissolving properties may also help to ease sore throat when used as a gargle.

Fenugreek is reputed to be an anti-inflammatory agent that complements the body's own resources to alleviate gastrointestinal disorders and digestive problems. Moreover, increased bile acid secretion also helps the digestive process, and the high mucilage content in the herb works to soothe mucous membranes and lubricate the intestines. Fenugreek is also thought to relieve intestinal gas and act as a mild laxative.

Used as a topical anti-inflammatory, Fenugreek may help relieve external inflammations of all kinds. When made into a poultice, it has been effective in relieving ulcers, swollen glands, gout, sciatica, neuralgic pains, skin irritations, wounds and bruises. When applied to the skin, Fenugreek may also decrease skin pain and reduce swelling.

Some reports by non-nursing women indicate that Fenugreek may enlarge the breasts. The effect was not due to any phyto-estrogen supplied by the herb, but to the potential changes in liver enzymes that can slow the rate in which a woman's body breaks down estrogen. Fenugreek has been used for centuries to promote lactation in nursing mothers and may support easing the symptoms of mastitis.

Fenugreek's properties as an aphrodisiac were considered valuable in ancient times, and some believe that use is still valid today.

Apropos of the above, a 2011 randomized, double-blind controlled study from Australia’s University of Queensland suggested that daily supplements of an extract from Fenugreek may enhance male libido and help with the maintenance of normal testosterone levels. The scientists found that Fenugreek was associated with an improvement in libido for 81 percent of the men in the study and a 63 percent improvement in the ‘quality of sexual performance,' compared with no such improvements in the placebo group. In addition to the reported improvements in libido and quality of sexual performance, the researchers noted that 66 percent of the men in active intervention group reported improvements in recovery time; 82 percent reported improvements in general energy; and 56 percent reported improvements in wellbeing. Commenting on the active ingredients in Fenugreek and the mechanism involved in these results, the researchers note that Fenugreek's saponin content (as a Standardized Extract) is probably responsible for these physiological effects, and the mechanisms involved were very complex.

The diosgenin content in Fenugreek is said to be important in the synthesis of oral contraceptives and sex hormone treatments.

Recent research has indicated that Fenugreek may have excellent positive results in managing diabetes. Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that Fenugreek supports the body's own efforts to improve blood sugar control in patients with insulin-dependent (Type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (Type 2) diabetes. The herb was shown to lower blood glucose levels for Type-2 diabetes sufferers; and some insulin-dependent diabetics in one study in India, who were on low doses of insulin, took Fenugreek, and it reduced blood sugar and other harmful fats. Furthermore, an amino acid in Fenugreek (hydroxyisoleucine) is said to assist the body to stimulate the pancreas to secrete insulin, another way the herb may help diabetics.

Fenugreek may also lower high cholesterol. In further studies, the herb decreased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) in the blood without affecting the good cholesterol. The seeds contain natural saponins (or "soaps") that work gently with the body to cleanse the bulkier forms of cholesterol from the bile, and the high fiber content in the seeds may be another reason for its potential cholesterol lowering qualities, because fiber frequently inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and facilitates its movement through the system.

Fenugreek is considered an oldtime herbal restorative tonic that is often given to people recovering from a variety of illnesses.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Because Fenugreek Seed Herbal Supplement may interfere with the absorption of iron, people with anemia should avoid its use. Pregnant women should not use this herb, as it may stimulate uterine contractions, and it is advisable for nursing mothers to consult their physicians before use. There may be a maple syrup smell in your sweat or urine, and in infants exposed to Fenugreek through breast milk, you may notice a maple syrup odor in their urine. Fenugreek may also alter the balance of various forms of thyroid hormones and should not be used by those taking thyroid hormone medication. Large doses (many times the recommended amounts) are not recommended, as it may cause nausea, diarrhea and gas. Diabetics should always consult a physician before using Fenugreek. Do not take Fenugreek without talking to your doctor first if you are taking blood thinning medicine (examples: warfarin, aspirin, enoxaparin, etc.) or medicine for diabetes (examples: metformin, glyburide, insulin, etc.). Do not take Fenugreek at the same time as other medications; separate administration by an hour or two. The FDA lists Fenugreek as "generally regarded as safe."

Capsule Information:
Our Fenugreek Seed (50% Saponins) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs."

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.