FENUGREEK Latin name: Trigonella foenum-graecum, Dr.Pati Abhay Kumar

June 7, 2010 - PRLog -- FENUGREEK

Latin name:            Trigonella foenum-graecum
English name:         Fenugreek
Sanskrit/ name:         Methika
Indian name:            Methi, Kasuri methi, Sag methi

Medicinal parts used:      Seeds, Leaves

Fenugreek seeds is used as a spice and fenugreek leaves are eaten as vegetable in India, China and the Middle East for centuries. The practitioners of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine have used and documented Methi seeds for its many medicinal uses. The spice is exported in its whole and powdered forms as well as in the form of extracted oil which is extensively used as herbal supplements, therapeutic applications, culinary, tea, perfumery and dye.

Fenugreek plant is a quick growing annual leguminous herb about 2 feet in height. Leaves are light green in color. Plant stems are long and slender. Fenugreek leaves are tripartite, toothed, grey-green obovate leaves, 20-25 mm long. Fenugreek seed pods contain ten to twenty small, flat, yellow-brown, pungent, aromatic seeds. Fenugreek seeds are small and stony; about 1/8 inch long, oblong, rhomboidal, with a deep furrow dividing them into two unequal lobes. Fenugreek seeds have a strong aroma and bitter in taste.

Major fenugreek producing countries are India, Argentina, Egypt, France, Spain, Turkey, Morocco and China. India is the largest producer in the World.

Therapeutic use:
•   Fenugreek seeds are rich in vitamin E and is one of the earliest spices known to man.
•   Fresh leaves are beneficial in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence and a sluggish liver.
•   An infusion of the leaves is used as a gargle for recurrent mouth ulcers. A gargle made from the seeds is best for ordinary sore throat.
•   Fresh Fenugreek leaves paste applied over the scalp regularly before bath helps hair grow, preserves natural color, keeps hair silky and also cures dandruff.
•   Fenugreek seeds made in gruel, given to nursing mothers increase the flow of milk.
•   Topically, the gelatinous texture of fenugreek seed may have some benefit for soothing skin that is irritated by eczema or other conditions.
•   It has also been applied as a warm poultice to relieve muscle aches and gout pain.
•   Fenugreek seeds reduce the amounts of calcium oxalate in the kidneys which often contributes to kidney stones. In animal studies, fenugreek appeared to lessen the chance of developing colon cancer by blocking the action of certain enzymes.

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Biotechayur manufactures botanical standardized nutritional herbal extracts. Biotechayur also manufactures aminoacids, protein, and aromatic essences
The plant is located in Orissa, India