Fenugreek is one of the most ancient herbs used medicinally by humans. There is a story I have come across that once when the Prophet was ill in Mecca, he asked for a doctor to be brought to treat him. The doctor declared that there was nothing more needed than for him to eat some cooked fenugreek with dates, which he did and was healed. 

Fenugreek has many beneficial properties. Long-term use can help to strengthen and rejuvenate the body, and it is said to be helpful for people recovering from chronic illness, anorexia and long term digestive problems. It is especiialy tonic when cooked as a decoction and made into a gruel or thick soup. It soothes and repairs the mucous membranes not only of the gut, but also the lungs. 

It is a good nerve tonic also. 

Yet, why is it especially beneficial to add to our cooking, and teas in the Spring?

Firstly, it is bitter, warming, and pungent. And all these qualities will reduce Kapha dosha. This is a Kapha season and when Kapha goes up in the environment, it is likely to go up in us too, especially if you have Kapha in your constitution. As a reminder, the attributes of Kapha are cold, wet, heavy, sticky, dense. Fenugreek has the opposite qualities: as well as being pungent and heating which will antidote the cold and wet aspects of Kapha dosha,  it is also light which will antidote the heavy qualities of Kapha. 

For those with Kapha dosha, it can help to stimulate a sluggish digestive system. And at this time of year, when the earth is wet and so heavy and sticky underfoot, we can get the same kind of heavy, congested conditions in our own inner environment (again, especially if there is Kapha dosha in our constitutional type). 

In addition, Spring is the ideal time to be flushing excess toxins out of the system,  and Fenugreek can help with this as it stimulates the liver function. Also, this is the time of year when we want to be losing those excess pounds gained through the heavier Winter diet. In fact, research has shown that drinking a glass of warm water with fenugreek seeds in on an empty stomach in the mornings, can aid in weight loss. The recommendation is to add one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to a glass of hot water and let steep for 10 mins before straining and enjoying with lemon and perhaps even a small pinch of honey (for Kapha types). Without the honey, this is a great drink for those with diabetes or prediabetes as fenugreek has also been shown to help with blood sugar.

The seeds are known to contain a fibre that can slow down digestion, leaving you feeling fuller longer, and so reducing appetite, This makes it an ideal support for weight loss. It also has been shown to slow down the rate at which your body absorbs sugar, and increase the amount of insulin that your body releases. 

Fenugreek is also known for it’s lymphatic cleansing properties, another Spring theme. The lymphatics can become congested when Kapha is high.  Fenugreek irrigates the cells with nutrients to help in the removal of wastes that might otherwise clog the system and overtax the lymphatics.  It also helps to remove dead cells and trapped proteins from the body.

This wonder-spice can also reduce cholestrol and inflammation. 

Last but by no means least, it is a rejuvenator and so is beneficial in cases of debility and convalescence. 

Enjoy this lovely spice in seed form or powder form, added to hot water as described above, add it to ginger tea infusions, and use it liberally in your cooking. It has the pungency of hot spices withouth being “hot”, and so can often be better tolerated by those who do not tolerate the more hot, pungent spices. 

Precautions: If you have high Pitta, avoid this spice. And do not use it during pregnancy.