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AYURVEDIC FOODS

FENUGREEK

Health Benefits & Uses

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Fenugreek: Curried Chickpea with Carrots

While most bitters are cold and depleting, Fenugreek is a hot, nourishing bitter. Fenugreek stokes the fire, driving out cold and damp. It targets the lower half of the body, including the kidney, lower back, pelvic area, and legs. Chinese medicine describes fenugreek as a phlegm mover and kidney yang tonic that drives out cold and damp from lower burner. It breaks up stuck energies and cools inflammation. It is useful in dysmennorhea and all gynacological problems sulting from pelvic blood stagnation. Fenugreek is used with salt to target and warm the kidneys.

As a penetrating anti-inflammatory, it alleviates pain.

Fenugreek reduces the secretion of gastric acid, useful in hyperacidic type acid reflux. Meanwhile it stimulates pancreatic enzymes. Its antiinflammatory and emulcent quality protects the gastric mucosa.

Fenugreek increases bile acid concentration up to 4 times by removing cholesterol out of bile. This is good news for those with gallstones, and also for kapha individuals with weak bile production. It is an ideal spice for any spring cleanse. As a spring cleanse aid, take 1/4tsp brewed in hot water before meals.

Fenugreek is used worldwide as a galactagogue and postpartum tonic. As an estrogenic herb, it increases milk production. As a diaphoretic, it increases milk secretion.

Its estrogenic nature is useful in menopause.

Fenugreek penetrating qualities can be augmented by black cumin (nigella sativa), turmeric, and guggulu.

About Fenugreek

Fenugreek is one of the oldest medicinal plants. It has been used since 4000BC. It's name means "ram's horn clover". It was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Buying & Preparation

Fenugreek is known as methi in Indian grocery stores, where the leaves are sold as well.

Recipes with Fenugreek: Corn & Mung Bean Fritters with Parsley, Onion, Pepper & Salt

Cooking Fenugreek

Fenugreek comes as a powder, or in hard, cube-like chips. They are often roasted to reduce bitterness and enhance taste. It is slimy when soaked in water (demulcent). It combines well with fennel, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and ginger. Fenugreek is used in dals, sambar, and in the famous spice combination panchpuran.Browse Recipes

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Is Fenugreek Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Fenugreek' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

SERVING SIZE: 1/8 tsp

SPECIES: Trigonella foenum-graecum

FAMILY: Fabaceae

EAT IN: SPRING

Biocharacteristics of Fenugreek

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter is disagreeable and stimulates rejection. It is a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES	AGGRAVATES

HAS THE FOLLOWING

Affinity:

Anti Aging

ANTI-AGING

Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-AGING' FOODS / HERBS

Family:
Fabaceae

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Fenugreek
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestion:

Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Antilithic

ANTILITHIC

An herb that dissolves / breaks up stones (gallstones or kidney stones) so that it can be passed.

SEE ALL 'ANTILITHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Vulnerary

MILD VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Respiratory-Health:

Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

SEE ALL 'EXPECTORANT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Antipyretic

ANTIPYRETIC

Reduces a fever / febrifuge.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPYRETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Lowers Blood Sugar

STRONG LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Oxytocic

STRONG OXYTOCIC

Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, and prepares the uterus for labor. It has a vasoconstricting effect. Emotionally, it is tribal.

SEE ALL 'OXYTOCIC' FOODS / HERBS

Testosteronic

STRONG TESTOSTERONIC

Androgenic. Stimulates testosterone.

SEE ALL 'TESTOSTERONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

SEE ALL 'APHRODISIAC' FOODS / HERBS

Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

SEE ALL 'ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Uterine Stimulant

UTERINE-STIMULANT

Causes contractions in the uterus often by stimulating production of oxytocin. These herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:

Hair Growth Tonic

HAIR-GROWTH-TONIC

An herb or formula that encourages healthy hair growth.

SEE ALL 'HAIR-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Other:

Aromatic, Detoxicant

Constituents:

Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS

Phytosterols

PHYTOSTEROLS

The plant version of cholesterol. Often precursors to stress and sex hormones.

SEE ALL 'PHYTOSTEROLS' FOODS / HERBS

Saponin

SAPONIN

Used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONIN' FOODS / HERBS

Steroidal Saponins

STEROIDAL-SAPONINS

Steroidal saponins closely resemble human hormones such as estrogen and cortisol, and have a hormonal activity in the body.

SEE ALL 'STEROIDAL-SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Fenugreek

Saffron

Saffron has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Carminative, Digestive, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic, Aphrodisiac, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Nutritive, Stomachic

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Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent, Digestive, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common

Stimulates-energy, Antipyretic, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Nervine, Stomachic, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Digestive, Galactagogue

LEARN MORE

Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Vulnerary, Carminative, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Stimulates-energy, Detoxicant, Estrogenic, Nervine, Stomachic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Sage

Sage has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Digestive, Expectorant, Stimulates-energy, Detoxicant, Emmenagogue, Nervine, Uterine-stimulant, Antipyretic, Diaphoretic, Estrogenic, Spleen-tonic, Vulnerary

LEARN MORE

Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Hypolipidemic, Stomachic, Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antipyretic, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Hair-growth-tonic, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Digestive, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary

LEARN MORE

Cardamom

Cardamom has these Actions in Common

Antilithic, Detoxicant, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Digestive, Nervine

LEARN MORE

Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Detoxicant, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Nervine, Stomachic, Carminative, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Emmenagogue, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Detoxicant, Hypolipidemic, Vulnerary, Carminative, Digestive, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Fenugreek

Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Carminative, Oxytocic, Cholagogue, Stomachic, Detoxicant, Uterine-stimulant

LEARN MORE

Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Stomachic, Carminative, Uterine-stimulant, Cholagogue, Vulnerary, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Anti-inflammatory, Oxytocic

LEARN MORE

Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Testosteronic, Diuretic, Uterine-stimulant, Expectorant, Galactagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Oxytocic

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Burns-toxins, Stimulates-energy, Detoxicant, Stomachic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue

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Jasmine Flower

Jasmine Flower has these Actions in Common

Expectorant, Galactagogue, Nervine, Oxytocic, Antilithic, Uterine-stimulant, Aphrodisiac, Vulnerary, Digestive, Emmenagogue

LEARN MORE

Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Nervine, Carminative, Oxytocic, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant

LEARN MORE

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Spleen-tonic, Aphrodisiac, Testosteronic, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Galactagogue, Nervine, Nutritive

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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Uterine-stimulant, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Hypolipidemic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Detoxicant, Digestive, Hair-growth-tonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Antipyretic

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Hops

Hops has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Kushta

Kushta has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Uterine-stimulant, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary

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Impact of Fenugreek

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.