Botanical medicine

Daily supplementation of 1 g of this powdered mixture for a 1.5-month period and increased to 2 g for another 1.5 months significantly reduced the fasting as well as the postprandial glucose level of the diabetic patients. A significant decrease in oral hypoglycemic drug intake and decline in percentage of the subjects who were on hypoglycemic drugs were found after the three-month feeding trial. The authors concluded that 2 g of this powdered mixture of traditional medicinal plants in either raw or cooked form can be used successfully for lowering blood glucose in diabetics. The doses of fenugreek used in clinical studies have ranged from 2.5 g to 15 g daily of the crushed and defatted seeds. Crushing is important to release the viscous gel fiber, which presumably contributes to the efficacy of fenugreek. Typical doses of seeds are in the range of 1 to 3 g mixed with food and taken at mealtime. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal upset (diarrhea and flatulence), which often can be alleviated by dose titration. Since the fenugreek fiber might absorb other oral medications, fenugreek should be taken independently (e.g., one to two hours) of other medications. Because of the ability of fenugreek to lower blood glucose, individuals should monitor their glucose levels carefully when they use fenugreek in combination with insulin or other glucose-lowering agents. Fenugreek can exhibit anticoagulant activity; it should not be used with other anticoagulating…