OIive Oil
Fenugreek Seed is a versatile herb used both medicinally and in cuisine. It has a delicate maple-like flavor, making it ideal for baked goods, confectionaries, and imitation maple syrup. Traditionally, it supports digestion and lactation in nursing mothers and can also be applied topically as a soothing poultice.
- Botanical Name: Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
- Plant Family: Fabaceae
- Common Names: Greek hay, Greek clover, alholva, methi, hu lu ba
Ideal for use in culinary applications, herbal remedies, and dietary formulations.
Description
Fenugreek Seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a bioactive herb cultivated for its culinary and medicinal properties. Widely used in Indian, Egyptian, and Middle Eastern cuisine, its maple-like aroma and flavor make it perfect for baked goods, confectionaries, and imitation maple syrup. Medicinally, it supports digestion, promotes lactation in nursing mothers, and can be applied topically as a soothing poultice.
Fenugreek is an annual herb with yellow flowers and clover-like leaves. The seeds are rich in mucilaginous compounds and have been valued in traditional medicine systems including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Western herbalism for thousands of years.
Cultivation & Harvesting
- Native to the Mediterranean region, India, China, and Ukraine
- Commercially cultivated in Morocco, Turkey, India, China, and South America
- Seeds harvested for culinary and medicinal use
Botany
- Annual herb with light yellow flowers and three-lobed, clover-like leaves
- Belongs to Fabaceae (pea) family
- Generic name Trigonella means “three-angled”; specific name foenum-graecum means “Greek hay”
Flavor & Energetics
- Flavor: maple-like, pungent, bitter, slightly sweet
- Energetics: heating, digestive and galactagogue properties
Herbal Actions
- Nutritive, digestive, galactagogue, hypoglycaemic, demulcent
- Emollient, secretolytic, hyperemic, expectorant, emmenagogue
Uses & Preparations
- Dried seeds used whole or powdered as a culinary spice
- Encapsulated or made into tinctures for herbal supplementation
- Powdered seeds can be made into a poultice for topical applications
History & Folklore
Cultivated in ancient Assyria as early as the 7th century B.C.E., fenugreek seeds were valued for their culinary and medicinal properties, particularly in Egypt. In TCM, fenugreek has been used since at least the 11th century to warm the kidneys and dispel dampness and cold. Traditional Western herbalism also utilizes fenugreek for digestion and lactation. In India, fresh leaves are cooked as a vegetable, while seeds are toasted in oil or made into pastes for culinary or medicinal purposes. Folklore maintains that adding fenugreek seeds to mop water brings wealth into the home.
Scientific Research
The Commission E approved fenugreek for internal use as an appetite stimulant and externally as a poultice. Studies support its benefits for digestion, lactation, and glycemic control.
Precautions
- Not for use in pregnancy except under supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner
- Consult a healthcare practitioner if pregnant, nursing, or taking medications
