Fenugreek

What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: Trigonella foenum-graecum, alholva, bockshornklee, bockshornsame, Greek clover, Greek hayseed, bird's foot, hu lu ba, methi, trigonella

What is fenugreek?

Fenugreek is an herb in the legume family. White flowers appear in early summer and develop into long slender green pods. Mature brown pods contain 20 small yellow seeds. The seeds are used to make medicine.

What is it used for?

Fenugreek has been used to treat:

• baldness
• boils
• constipation
• decreased appetite
• diabetes
• fever
• gout
• hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• high cholesterol
• kidney stones
• stomach upset
• swelling, when used as a poultice on the inflamed area.

Fenugreek has also been used to increase breast milk supply.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

The seeds of fenugreek are somewhat bitter. They may be taken in capsule form or made into tea. Do not take fenugreek at the same time as other medicines. Take fenugreek at least 2 hours apart from other medicines.

Fenugreek has also been used on the skin by mixing the powdered seeds with hot water.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take fenugreek if you are allergic to chickpeas, peanuts, soybeans, or green peas. Do not give this remedy to children. It can cause symptoms that may be mistaken for maple syrup urine disease.

Diabetics: This remedy may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Fenugreek might irritate the skin when used as a poultice.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this remedy. Before you have surgery, stop taking this remedy. It may cause you to bleed more.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this remedy if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, you may use fenugreek to spice foods.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or considering. If your provider does not give you specific instructions, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Other: diarrhea, gas, urine that smells like maple syrup.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way this remedy or any of the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• blood-thinning medicines such as aspirin, heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• herbal remedies such as angelica, anise, arnica, asafoetida, capsicum, celery, chamomile, devil's claw, ephedra, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, gotu kola, horse chestnut, horseradish, licorice, onion, papain, psyllium, red clover, turmeric, and willow
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, acarbose (Prandase, Precose), acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), repaglinide (Prandin), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide.

Fenugreek can interfere with the way your body absorbs many types of medicine taken by mouth. Take fenugreek at least 2 hours apart from other medicines.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.