Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Fabaceae, or legume family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Fenugreek is an annual herb that is native to the Mediterranean region, Ukraine, India, China and Northern Africa. It grows well in open areas/semi-arid plains. Today, fenugreek is widely cultivated in many areas with most of the cultivated commercial products in the US sourced primarily from Morocco, Turkey, India and China. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Seeds ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Stimulant
• Nervine
• Expectorant
• Diuretic
• Secretolytic
• Hyperemic
• Antiseptic
• Demulcent
• Emmenagogue
• Hypoglycemic/Antidiabetic
• Galactagogue
• Carminative ^[2]
5. Indications:
• Loss of appetite/anorexia
• Indigestion
• Gastritis
• Boils
• Muscle pain
• Inflamed lymph nodes
• Gout
• Wounds
• Eczema
• Chronic cough
• Allergies
• Influenza
• Bronchitis
• Toothache
• Sciatica
• Arthritis ^[1]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, vitamins, and saponins; the most prevalent alkaloid is trigonelline and coumarins include cinnamic acid and scopoletin. ^[1]
7. System Affinities:
• Digestive
• Genitourinary
• Respiratory
• Reproductive ^[2]  
8. Energetics:
• Liquid, heavy, oily, warm ^[2]
9. Safety:
• Contraindicated during pregnancy (can cause vaginal bleeding). ^[1]
10. Interactions:
• None known. ^[1]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
•  The dried seeds are yellow-brown, and the smell reminds me of Greek food (rightfully so). It is sweet and rich. The seeds are extremely bitter when bitten into! They look like little fortune cookies.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: 1:5 (g/ml): 30 ml ^[1]
• Tonic: 1 tablespoon of powder in 1 cup of heated milk ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
•  I made a warm milk mixture, and added honey and cinnamon to the powdered fenugreek. It was very tasty, and I would do this again! It was incredibly soothing to my stomach and I could feel the carminative effects.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 9 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-18_MW5122-A Botanicals 2: Postpartum.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.