Fenugreek
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum -graecum )
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum -graecum ) belongs to the family Fabaceae ( Faboideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). It is closely related to the Schabzigerklee ( Trigonella caerulea ).
- 5.1 Medicine
Description
Fenugreek grows as annual herbaceous plant that reaches heights of growth from 30 to 80 centimeters. It forms a long taproot and fibrous side roots. The upright, rounded stems are branched.
The clover -like leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade divided. The petioles are 6-15 mm long. Three same oblong- obovate, ovate to oblong- elliptical leaflets have a length of 1.5 to 4 cm and a width of 0.4 to 1.5 cm. The edges of the leaflets are cut from the half up to the ends. The simple, membranous stipules are fused with the base of the petiole.
The flowering period extends from April to July. The flowers appear singly or in pairs on short stalks in the leaf axils. The zygomorphe flowers are small with double perianth. The hairy calyx is 7-8 mm long. The 13 to 18 mm long petals are are cream to light yellowish- white and light purple at the base. The hairy carpel contains many ovules.
Fenugreek is long, narrow, horn-shaped pulses, which have a length of 7 to 12 cm and a width of 0.4 to 0.5 cm. They gave the plant its name. There are 10 to 20 seeds in them. The hard, oblong- ovoid seeds are surrounded by a tough skin and in the color of ocher- yellow to light brown, sometimes with a slight reddish or greenish shades and have a length of 3 to 5 mm and a diameter of 2 to 3 mm. When crushing the seeds they give off a strong smell. The fruits ripen from July to September.
The whole plant has a strong odor. Fenugreek preferred locations with plenty of sunlight and more loamy soil.
Name
The specific epithet foenum -graecum means " Greek hay ". More German Trivial names are Kuhhornklee, goat horn, deer wound herb Rehkörner, fine Grete, Filigrazie, Beautiful Margreth, seven times, hours herb Methika and philosophers clover. In the bodybuilding scene of Fenugreek is mostly known under its English common name Fenugreek.
The Arabic name hulbah / حلبه and his Hebrew Pendent hilbeh [ חילבה ] are probably native Semitic and probably derived from the root ḤLB " milk " from which is also the name of the Mahaleb cherry basis. , The motive would be the folk medicine often used milk driving ( galactagogue ) effect. Spanish is alholva how many names of plants of the Iberian peninsula (see also Kaper ), a borrowing from Arabic: al- hulbah / الحلبه /, fenugreek '. Its name in Persian is Shanbalile شنبلیله, in Hindi it is called Methi and Amharic (Ethiopia ), his name Abish አብሸ ·
Occurrence
Fenugreek is spread over southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, China and Australia. Today, fenugreek comes to southern and middle Germany before wild. The main growing areas are Morocco and India. Smaller amounts are for Stilltees and other purposes in Germany (100 ha ) and France grown (500 ha).
History
Prehistoric & Ancient time
Fenugreek has been domesticated already in the Chalcolithic period, charred seeds come about from Tell Halaf. After genetic testing be Domestikationsgebiet located in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. An Iron Age succeeded in detecting Tell Deir Alla in the Jordan Valley. It was also used in ancient Egypt, where he played a role in both herbal medicine and obstetrics as well as in religious ceremonies. He will ( reigned from 721 BC), also listed on the endangered species list of the herb garden of the Babylonian king Marduk - apla - iddina II. Fenugreek also found at an early stage in the garden art in Imperial China using.
Middle Ages
North of the Alps Benedictine monks tried to acclimate him to the monastery gardens. In Capitulare de villis ( written about 795) will be arranged cultivation of Karl the Great. Hildegard of Bingen calls him as a remedy for skin diseases. By Pastor Kneipp the use of fenugreek in folk medicine was revived. The strong demand sparked renewed cultivation.
Modern Times
Fenugreek seed, which was imported from Egypt to Europe where it is processed to sprout vegetables, has triggered the epidemic HUS - 2011 with high probability.
Use
In dry countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain Fenugreek is grown for food or forage crop and roasted, cooked or eaten fresh. He also tolerates high soil salinity. In addition, it is used as a spice and is for example essential ingredient of curry powder. Also, the seeds - as well Schabzigerklee - for example in South Tyrol as bread or cheese seasoning used. Fenugreek is part of Turkish dried meat specialty Pastirma. The seedlings will be added as a seasoning ingredient salads.
Medicine
The Prophet Muhammad said: "If my people knew how much healing power contained in fenugreek, then they would buy him and his weight in gold outweigh ". In another narration the Prophet he says literally " mix fenugreek in your medicines ." In Muslim culture can be found in addition to the above medical applications, many more, including as fenugreek sprouts for hair loss in men, the seeds for the treatment of diabetes mellitus or menstrual pain, Arab doctors taught that lower after an application of boiled fenugreek seeds dandruff and hair loss and the hair is curly.
In India, fenugreek seeds are used as an aromatic, carminative, tonic and aphrodisiac and an infusion with smallpox for cooling.
Kneipp commended this medicinal plant for every occasion and stood up for their cultivation. Kneipp " foenum graecum is the best of all known to me remedies for dissolving tumors and ulcers. "
From the seeds of fenugreek a fatty oil can be obtained with triglycerides of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acid. They contain lecithin and phytosterols, mucilage, saponins and sapogenins, vitamins A and D, phosphorus, and choline, which supposedly counteracts fatty degeneration of the liver, positively influence the metabolism and prevent arteriosclerosis should.
In addition, fenugreek contains the amino acid histidine, which is supposed to counteract liver damage. As a tea, he is best known in China, India and Tibet. There being used as a cough suppressant and for cleaning of the airways. Furthermore, it contains diosgenin (see a Dioscorea villosa ), a compound that can potentially be used against colon cancer.
Fenugreek seeds are used in herbal medicine for low end or as concomitant therapy also in more severe diabetes mellitus. Fenugreek seeds are available as a tea, as a powder or as ready-made editions. Furthermore, dietary supplements containing fenugreek seed powder or fenugreek seed concentrate on the market.