Fenugreek Profile

Fenugreek is the dried mature seed of the legume Trigonella foenum-graecum L. It is cultivated in all parts of the north and south of China and is semi-wild in the southwest and northwest. It has the effects of warming the kidney and assisting yang, dispelling cold and relieving pain. It is often used for deficiency of kidney yang, deficiency and coldness of Xia Yuan, cold pain in the lower abdomen, cold colic, abdominal pain, cold damp beriberi.

Fenugreek morphological characteristics

Fenugreek is an annual herb, 30-80 cm tall. The main root is 80 cm deep in the soil and the root system is well developed. The stem is erect, cylindrical, multi-branched, and slightly pilose. Pinnate three compound leaves; stipules entire, membranous, a base connected to the petiole, apex acuminate, hairy; petiole flat, 6-12 mm long. Fenugreek leaflets are obovate, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, nearly equal in size, 15-40 mm long, 4-15 mm wide, blunt tip, wedge-shaped at the base, and triangular tines on the upper part of the edge, no upper part Hair, sparsely pilose underneath, or bald, 5-6 pairs of lateral veins, not obvious. The terminal leaflet has a long petiole. The flowers are sessile, 1-2 with leaf axils, 13-18 mm long. The calyx of Fenugreek is tube-shaped, 7-8 mm long, pilose, and the calyx teeth are lanceolate, tapered, and as long as the calyx. Its corolla is yellowish-white or light yellow, the base is slightly violaceous, the flag petals are long and obovate, and the apex is deeply concave, which is obviously longer than the Ji petal and the keel petal. The ovary of Fenugreek is linear, slightly pilose, short style, stigma capitate, and many ovules. The pod is cylindrical, 7-12 cm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, straight or slightly curved, glabrous or slightly pilose, with a slender beak at the apex, about 2 cm long, with thickened dorsal seam and obvious surface The lengthwise reticulation, there are 10-20 seeds. The seeds of fenugreek are oblong ovoid, 3-5 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, brown, with an uneven surface. Fenugreek blooms from April to July, and fruit from July to September.

Fenugreek growth habit and growing environment and distribution

Fenugreek's characteristics are drought-tolerant, barren-tolerant, water-fearing, and adaptable. It is especially suitable for planting in barren hills, barren land and low-yield fields, open spaces in front of and behind houses, and can greatly improve soil fertility. Fenugreek can also be planted in pots, placed indoors or in the courtyard, or potted on the balcony of the room. It is not only ornamental but also can repel mosquitoes and purify the surrounding environment.

Fenugreek efficacy and role

Fenugreek increases testosterone levels

Testosterone, also known as testosterone, is a pleiotropic hormone that plays an important role in the human body, affecting male reproductive and metabolic functions
In men, the level of testicular hormones gradually increases from adolescence to adulthood, and then decreases by 1.6% per year over the age of 40, while the available level drops by 2% to 3% per year.
Symptoms of low testosterone levels are non-specific and include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased ejaculation volume, decreased body and facial hair, decreased bone density, decreased lean body mass, increased body fat, fatigue, weakness, increased anxiety, and large amounts of Sweating and anemia.

Fenugreek is good for blood sugar regulation

Diabetes is a popular metabolic disorder that affects 415 million people worldwide. Chronic hyperglycemia is related to long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of different organs, especially eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.
In addition, according to the International Diabetes Federation, by 2040, 1 in 10 adults will have diabetes
A comprehensive analysis of literature pointed out that fenugreek can significantly reduce fasting blood glucose, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and total cholesterol levels 2 hours after a meal.

Fenugreek cultivation

There are two sowing methods for fenugreek seeds, one is manual sowing and the other is machine sowing. When artificial sowing, there are three different sowing methods. You can choose live broadcast, drill sowing, or hole sowing. Note that the distance between the row spacing is controlled at 30 to 40 cm. When sowing in the hole, pay attention to put 4 to 5 seeds in each hole. After sowing, watering and fertilizing are needed in time, and weeding and prevention and treatment of pests and diseases are needed in the later stage. The height of mature fenugreek is about 80 cm. The flowering period of fenugreek is from April to July each year. The color of the flowers is mainly white and yellow-white. The fruit matures from September to October each year. The seeds are dark brown, and the shape is most irregular. The surface is not smooth and has an oblique groove.
The harvest season of fenugreek is generally around Xiaoman. Wait until the stems and leaves of the plant are withered before harvesting. When harvesting, mature fenugreek plants need to be harvested with a sickle and then dried to thresh the seeds and remove the seed coat. It can be used directly as medicine or sold.