A Famous Folk Remedy – Fenugreek! But Does it Work?

Fenugreek is a Mediterranean herb that was historically used by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. The seeds have been used in cooking for culinary purposes but were also used to treat problems such as an upset stomach, constipation, or stomach inflammation. Research into this herb is ongoing with encouraging findings, including several potential health benefits.

One of the most significant health benefits from fenugreek is that it helps promote balance in female hormones and may help manage symptoms of menopause. Menopause can be a difficult time for many women with painful symptoms such as cramps, hot flashes, mood swings, and changes in the sleep cycle. These symptoms can majorly interfere with a woman’s normal daily routine and hormonal balance. The good news is that fenugreek has been studied for its ability to help balance hormones and alleviate many of these menopause symptoms.

One study investigated menopause symptoms based on the Green Climacteric Scale (GCS), a tool used to measure the severity of menopause symptoms. This study found that the GCS total score was decreased in the fenugreek-treated group by significant margins and across all subsections. Researchers specifically tested anxiety, depression, mood swings, and insomnia, all of which improved in the treatment group, who received 250 mg of fenugreek seeds per day. This research indicates that fenugreek may be an effective supplement to support the alleviation of painful and maddening symptoms of menopause.

Other advantages of this herb include support for weight loss, due to fenugreek’s ability to help increase feelings of fullness and help reduce overeating. Fenugreek seeds naturally contain dietary fiber, healing alkaloids, and beneficial antioxidants that help reduce inflammation as well as reduce the risk of heart and blood pressure issues.

Fenugreek seeds may have wonderful health impacts, but many nutritional formulas on the market can contain unwanted additives such as magnesium stearate, which research shows can act to suppress the immune system. If you choose to add a fenugreek supplement to your nutritional regimen, make sure you are purchasing a product without desirable excipients from a trusted source. Quality matters! 

Resources

1. Johnson, Jennifer, and AuthorJennifer Johnson. “Fenugreek Standardized Extract for Menopausal Symptoms.” Natural Medicine Journal, www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2017-04/fenugreek-standardized-extract-menopausal-symptoms.