Fenugreek and Constipation
Most people wouldn't think of fenugreek as a main remedy for constipation. Heck, even a book entitled "Fenugreek" only gives one sentence to mention its mucilage fiber which can help to relieve constipation. That's all. Try to read opinions of health professionals on fenugreek as a dietary supplement: you get lots of praises for fenugreek's virtues in reducing blood sugars, bad cholesterol, fight cancer, increasing breast milk supply and even making boobs larger but as a constipation relief? Not mentioned at all. F.Y.I., one of those health professionals books are written by writers with names that obviously belong to a culture that uses fenugreek a lot. When I came across a constipation remedy that prescribes flaxseed, fenugreek and psyllium husk either combining equal parts of all three or taking them each individually. Flax is considered the superior among the three, I bet psyllium is the second best and that implies fenugreek as inferior. Poor Fenugreek. Sniff. Being raised in a culture that adores the hottest curries and everything savoury, I never consume fenugreek as a single ingredient. My fenugreek is always cooked with other spices. Personally, I am not too keen about soaking fenugreek for the sole purpose of "flushing my pipes". But of course, it makes perfect sense for me to use it that way, if you always have fenugreek handy in your larder. If you are from a culture alien to fenugreek, you will see strange things like this: An American advertisement published in 2007, selling a sort of detox tablet made of seven types of herbs. The dominant ingredient is predictably fenugreek, said to detoxify the kidneys and "dissolves mucus in the intestinal tracts." Hello?!! I thought mucilage is supposed to make da pipes slimier. Ask the soldiers of General Vespasian who tried to climb up the wall of Jerusalem. These soldiers not only have to defend themselves against hot water and oil - it was hot water, oil plus fenugreek for extra slippery effect! It was as entertaining as a snake oil demonstration. Nursing mothers report "surprises" when they use fenugreek to increase milk supply. Here's what two mommies have to say: "My son used to poop every 2-4 days, now he is pooping 1-2 times every day and the consistency isn't what it used to be. I know ( fenugreek ) is a digestive. Is this anything I need to worry about?" " I found fenugreek had more of an effect on my GI tract than my daughter's and it lasted the first 1-2 days." Since we are touching on the topic of boobs here, I couldn't resist saying this. Maybe fenugreek is not the greatest constipation relief but its sprouts could make da boobs bigger. Not the seeds, it's da sprouts. Dr. James A. Duke observed that fenugreek sprouts contain much more diosgenin ( a compound that is similar to the female sex hormone estrogen ) than the unsprouted seeds and therefore, has recommended the sprouts to women interested in nonsurgical breast augmentation. Several satisfied users have written him thank you notes! Would you write me a pink thank you note too when your cup size goes up? 1.The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature's Best Medicines By Michael Castleman 2.Fenugreek: the genus Trigonella By Georgios A. Petropoulos
Return from Fenugreek to Constipation Remedies
|