 What
is fenugreek? - Fenugreek is one of the world's oldest medicinal
herbs. It has a variety of uses, including increasing breastmilk
production.
Fenugreek is the small stony seeds from the pod of a
bean-like plant. The seeds are hard, yellowish brown and
angular. Some are oblong, some rhombic, other virtually cubic,
with a side of about 3mm (1/8"). A deep furrow all but
splits them in two. They are available whole and dried ,
or as a dull yellow powder, ground from the roasted seeds.
Bouquet: Warm and penetrating, becoming more pronounced
when the seeds are roasted. Ground, they give off a
'spicy' smell, pungent, like an inferior curry powder which
would probably contain too much fenugreek.
Flavor: Powerful, aromatic and bittersweet, like burnt
sugar. There is a bitter aftertaste, similar to celery or
lovage.
Where does it grow? - Fenugreek is indigenous to the eastern
shores of the Mediterranean Sea, but it is grown in India, Morocco,
Egypt and England. The herb can grow to be about two feet tall. It
blooms white flowers in the summer and has very aromatic seeds.
What is it used for ? - Fenugreek seeds are ground and roasted and
used to flavor to curry. The seeds are also soaked and then powdered
and used to make lip balm and tonic. The seeds can be used to make
tea, which can reduce fever and menstrual pains, or they can be used
in an ointment to treat skin infections. The seeds have also been used
to increase libido in men and serve as an aphrodisiac. Ground seeds
are often used to give a maple flavor to sweets and candies. Ground
seeds are also used to flavor cattle food, including different
vegetable meals and hays. Fenugreek's leaves, which are high in iron,
are used in salads. Taken internally, fenugreek is used to treat
bronchitis, coughs, respiratory problems, sinus conditions and to
increase milk supply (see more below).
Fenugreek in history - The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used
Fenugreek for medicinal and culinary purposes. According to Kathleen
E. Huggins, RN, MS, director of the Breastfeeding Clinic at San Luis
Obispo General Hospital, fenugreek was one of the major ingredients of
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, a popular 19th
century cure-all for "female complaints."
Fenugreek and breastfeeding - Fenugreek seeds contain hormone
precursors that increase milk supply. Scientists do not know for sure
how this happens. Some believe it is possible because breasts are
modified sweat glands, and fenugreek stimulates sweat production.
It
has been found that fenugreek can increase a nursing mother's milk
supply within 24 to 72 hours after first taking the herb. Once an
adequate level of milk production is reached, most women can
discontinue the fenugreek and maintain the milk supply with adequate
breast stimulation. Many women today take fenugreek in a pill form
(ground seeds placed in capsules). The pills can be found at most
vitamin and nutrition stores and at many supermarkets and natural
foods stores. Fenugreek can also be taken in tea form, although tea is
believed to be less potent than the pills and the tea comes with a
bitter taste that can be hard to stomach.
Fenugreek is not right for
everyone. The herb has caused aggravated asthma symptoms in some women
and has lowered blood glucose levels in some women with diabetes.
Please read
Fenugreek Precautions and
Dr. Ruth Lawrence's article
Herbs
and Breastfeeding for more information on fenugreek.
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