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Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum

An annual legume; the seeds carry a maple-syrup-like aroma.

An annual herb with trifoliate leaflets and small yellowish flowers; the dried tan seeds have a sweet-spicy aroma and are used widely in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.

Family
Fabaceae
Plant type
Annual herb
Safety level (indicative)
Generally recognised as safe
What the safety levels mean (expand legend)
  • Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
  • Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
  • Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
  • Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
  • Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
  • High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
  • Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.

Safety — read before use

For this herb it is important to check warnings, mix-ups and cautions. Start with the Safety section.

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade
Generally recognised as safe·details
Scientific sources on the card
Yes — sources are listed with claims·Science section
When and what to harvest
  • Flower — April–June
Full harvest section
Processing methods
No processing links yet.All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms

Menstrual comfort, Metabolism - gentle support, Nausea & queasy stomach

Topics section · Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Add identification notes — no data yet.

Mix-up cautions are not filled in yet.

Similar herbs

No related herbs are linked yet.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Geographic occurrence

  • India

    Occasional (garden, cultivation, or fringe of the range)

    India top 20: South Asia — verify against floras and Ayurvedic / cultural context.

Harvest

  • FlowerApril–June

    jaro

    Region: India

    Notes: Ripe seeds from drying pods at the end of spring.

Storage

No storage records yet.

Processing methods on this herb card

No processing method links yet.

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

No specific records yet.

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified
The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature
Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence
Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings
First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence
Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence
Stronger design or consistency of results within the study’s stated limits.
Review article
A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text
Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study
Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study
Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study
Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial
Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial
Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study
A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review
Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis
Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)
Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations)
Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

  • The EMA HMPC monograph for fenugreek seed describes traditional use for the short-term relief of temporary loss of appetite.

    Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2011

    Preparation form in the study: decoction

    Active compound / focus: saponiny a slizovité polysacharidy

    Limitations: Long-term high-dose use is traditionally avoided in pregnancy; cross-reactivity possible in legume-allergic individuals.

    Dose note (from literature): See the PDF for preparations.

    EMA HMPC: Trigonellae foenugraeci semen

Images

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Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use
Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines
Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts
Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation
Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant
Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy
Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination
Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.
  • Legume allergyModerate severityAllergy

    Cross-reactivity may occur in people allergic to peanuts or chickpeas; traditionally avoided in high doses during pregnancy.