You may be most familiar with fenugreek as a seasoning found in curry powders and pickled foods, but this Middle Eastern and Asian herb also has a long history of use in treating some female conditions. Fenugreek, or Trigonella foenum-graecum, is commonly found in herbal products intended to stimulate breast milk production in nursing mothers. While it may also be found in some herbal PMS remedies, there is no evidence that it is effective for this use. Talk to your doctor before using any herbal remedy to treat a medical condition.
PMS Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome may begin a few days before the onset of your menstrual period and continue for a few more days after your period starts. Symptoms include moodiness, food cravings, anxiety, insomnia, achiness, bloating and water retention, breast soreness, headache, acne and fatigue. You may experience only a few of these symptoms.
Fenugreek: Properties
Fenugreek contains mucliages, protein, proteinase inhibitors and steroid saponins, including diosgenin, which may be responsible for the herb's ability to promote lactation in new mothers. Additional components include volatile oils and flavonoids, according to the "PDR for Herbal Medicines."
Fenugreek for PMS
Although fenugreek is sometimes an ingredients in herbal PMS remedies, neither the herbal center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering nor the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine lists fenugreek as a potential remedy for PMS.
In addition, Kathy Abascal, B.C., and author of "Botanical Medicine for Women's Health," lists fenugreek for numerous female health issues, including inadequate milk flow, general breast health, and low libido during menopause. But, Abascal does not list it as a remedy for PMS.
Considerations
Fenugreek is generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, for use as a food seasoning, but in larger amounts it may cause uterine contractions, so pregnant women should not take the herb. Side effects are usually mild and include a rash and skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea and intestinal gas.
In high doses, fenugreek can cause a drop in blood sugar, numbness and wheezing. See your doctor before taking fenugreek.
References
- "PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2nd Edition"; Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D., 2000
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 2"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- Mayo Clinic: PMS
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Fenugreek
- NCCAM: Fenugreek
- 3) "Botanical Medicine for Women's Health"; Kathy Abascal, B.C, J.D, Herbalist R.H, et al., 2010
