Fenugreek

Species Name:  T. foenum-graecum.

Also known as: Methi or Classical Fenugreek.

If you are nursing and having trouble with milk production in spite of breast stimulation, you may want to ask your doctor about fenugreek.

The herb is not right for everyone, but in many women, it is beneficial in increasing the production of breast milk.

What is Fenugreek: Fenugreek is both an herb and a spice, with the yellow seed frequently being used to prepare pickles, curry powders, and pastes. The young leaves and their sprouts are eaten as one would eat greens, while the dried leaves are used as flavoring for other dishes.

Because of their bitter taste and strong smell, the dried leaves should be used sparingly. Dried fenugreek leaves are used in both Indian and Pakistani dishes, while the seeds are often used in the South Indian cuisine.

One of the world’s oldest medicinal herbs, fenugreek has a variety of uses including its ability to increase breast milk production. It grows to about two feet tall and blooms white flowers in the summer with seeds that are very aromatic.

Home Remedies Using Fenugreek:

Benefits of Fenugreek:

The seeds of the fenugreek plant contain hormone precursors that have the ability to increase milk supply for lactating women. Scientists are uncertain why this happens, but they suspect it is because the breasts are modified sweat glands, and one of fenugreeks abilities is to stimulate sweat production.

In most cases, fenugreek increases a nursing mother’s milk supply within 24 to 72 hours after taking the herb and can discontinue the herb after you reach an adequate level of milk production and still maintain the milk supply as long as adequate breast stimulation is continued.

Uses of Fenugreek:

• Seeds are used to flavor curry
• Seeds are soaked and powdered to make lip balm and tonic
• In tea form to reduce fever and menstrual pains
• Increase libido in men
• Flavor sweets and candies
• Flavoring for cattle food
• Bronchitis
• Coughs
• Respiratory problems
• Sinus conditions
• Increase milk production
• Treatment of diabetes
• Lower cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoprotein
• Use as a herb or spice in cooking
• In capsule or tea form in nutrition and health food stores
• In ointment for skin irritations

Side Effects of Fenugreek:

• Odor of maple syrup or curry in the sweat and urine
• Aggravated asthma symptoms occur in some women
• Lowered blood sugar levels in some diabetic women