Today we use many different types of natural ingredients in everyday life, for over-the-counter medicines and much more. Among these we find fenugreek seeds, which are seeds from the fenugreek plant, which is also known under the Latin name of trigonella foenum-graecum. The plant has some very special properties in connection with for example, inflammatory conditions in or on the body, which is why it is also one of the ingredients in our products at QUR Medical.
Fenugreek seeds – Origin of the plant
Maybe you’ve heard of the little seeds before, but what size are fenugreek seeds? The fenugreek plant originates from Greece and is related to the pea flowers. The plant is annual and has fine, green leaves and small white flowers that smell faintly of curry. When the plant gets seeds, it forms a long fine shell, just like beans and inside these shells are the small seeds. The shells look like beans, but are longer, thinner and more pointed at the ends and look a bit like horn, which is why they got the name fenugreek. It is the small yellow seeds that are completely hard that are interesting in the health and pharmaceutical industry.
You will typically find fenugreek seeds in Southeast Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Therefore, the plant is also seen in Asian cuisine, where it is used in a wide range of different dishes. The plant has seeds with fantastic properties and does also function as a wonderful spice in both dried and fresh form. Fenugreek is also grown in southern Germany, and some warm years we have been able to grow them in Denmark as well.
There is plenty of opportunity to eat the small seeds, and they do really benefit the body. Typically, you will use a mortar to grind the small seeds into powder, so that they can be used in various dishes, in your morning juice or in breakfast. In addition, they can also be put in water, after which they become soft and thus edible. The well-known spice curry is a mixed spice, which consists of a fair amount of crushed fenugreek seeds. In the Caucasus, where the population grow very old, they eat a porridge consisting of crushed fenugreek seeds as often as we eat oatmeal in Scandinavian. The fenugreek porridge is very healthy, but according to our taste it does not taste good and therefore we recommend that you use the seeds in another way.
What are fenugreek seeds good for?
Fenugreek seeds contain many active substances which have a good effect on the body in different ways. They contain, among other things, trigonosides, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, galactomannan and trigonelline. The active substances greatly influence the body’s metabolic function, and therefore these substances have a good influence on your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
In addition, the small seeds also contain glycosides, which are a group of sugars found in almost all plants. These benefit the body by working with the body´s hormones and protect against fungi and toxins.
Fenugreek is an ancient and recognized medicinal plant that has been used for millennia. It is approved by both the EMA (European Medicines Agency) and the American FDA (Federal Drug Agency) and many recognized studies show that fenugreek seeds have a good effect on a wide range of ailments. The seeds can also help increase milk production in lactating women. There can be an increased volume of up to 100%. Therefore, the effect can be truly effective for women with a low milk production.
Fenugreek seeds also provides a better digestion due to a high level of dietary fiber and protein. The seeds do have an expectorant effect, which helps to increase appetite if you suffer from loss of appetite. The small seeds can also be effective against heartburn. Fenugreek seeds also stabilizes blood sugar and are recognized for their anti-inflammatory effect (acts against internal inflammation). A poultice of crushed fenugreek seed boiled in water placed in a cloth can be put on a shoulder or knee with problems with good effect. This old advice is known (and still used) in many countries because Fenugreek seeds are good to treat inflammation.
The special properties of fenugreek seed are many and especially against inflammation it is a fantastic and natural ingredient. Fenugreek seeds are used in particular in creams, gels and other agents to combat inflammatory conditions and wounds. The small seeds are a form of natural medicine and have been used like this for many years. At QUR Medical, we use fenugreek seeds in our products to benefit from the many active substances that have anti-inflammatory effect and both prevent and treat herpes effectively. In QUR Medical herpes Gel, fenugreek extract ensures that your herpes sore is limited in size and heals quickly. The small seeds’ active substances help with an inflammatory condition by treating the area effectively and relieve the pain.
In all our products, fenugreek seeds are an important ingredient that helps to soothe the skin and relieve pain in a variety of inflammatory conditions. QUR Medical Universal Gel is used for e.g. burns, insect bites, skin with itching or other problems. By using only fenugreek seeds and other natural ingredients we produce products that are free of chemicals. We have had all our gels dermatologically tested on people with normal skin and extra tested on people with sensitive skin.All the test-results were the very best. By using QUR gels you take good care of your skin without being exposed to perfume, parabens and other chemicals.