Fenugreek essential oil comes from the plant of the pea family, known as Fabaceae. The oil is commonly extracted from the bitter-tasting, rhomboid-shaped seeds of the plant in a process called steam distillation. As such, the oil is yellowish in colour with a hint of brown and contains many volatile compounds which is great for aromatherapy uses!

Besides that, fenugreek essential oil contains a variety of health uses and benefits too.

Fenugreek seeds and the oil have been widely in use since ancient times, with historical records stating that it was found in the Egyptian tombs of the Pharaoh “Tutankhamun”. This dates back to around 1500 B.C., where it was first used! They used it as a cure for various health problems, thus attesting to its health benefits.

Even though fenugreek essential oil is not as widely popular as other essential oils out there, but with its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, it is a must-have and worth every penny!

Health Benefits of Fenugreek Essential Oil:

1. For Treating Skin Problems

Fenugreek essential oil can help in managing skin problems such as acne and blackheads, boils, irritated skin and ageing problems. This is because it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help combat these problems.

With its anti-inflammatory properties, the oil helps to reduce redness and inflamed skin when you experience acne on your skin, thus preventing the pimples from getting worse. Furthermore, it can help to manage boils too since its anti-inflammatory nature will be able to reduce swelling and offer pain relief. Moreover, it offers a natural remedy for irritated skin that is becoming increasingly common nowadays due to the prevalence of pollution and unhealthy diet.

Not only can it help to combat acne, fenugreek essential oil can also help to prevent blackheads from forming due to its antioxidant nature. As such, pimples formed because of the presence of blackheads will be stopped and prevented, leaving you with much better complexion than before!

Additionally, with its anti-ageing properties, it is able to fight off free radicals and thus, it can help to combat wrinkle formation and delay the onset of premature ageing. It also helps in the growth and repairing of cells, maintaining your skin’s youthful glow!

As such, fenugreek essential oil is a must-have as it is able to treat a variety of skin problems that you might experience.

How to Use it: To treat acne and prevent ageing, you can mix 5 drops of the oil in 5ml of jojoba oil and massage onto your skin. To treat irritated skin, you can apply a few drops of fenugreek essential oil that is mixed with olive oil and apply onto the affected areas.

2. For Treating Respiratory Problems

Fenugreek essential oil is able to cure respiratory problems such as bronchitis, sinusitis or the common cough/cold too! With its expectorant properties, the oil can help to clear the nasal passageways which are blocked by mucus and phlegm by inducing the expulsion of these substances that obstruct airflow. As such, it offers much relief to the individual who can now have smoother airflow.

How to Use it: You can add 10 drops of fenugreek essential oil to boiling water and inhale the steam vapors emanating out to clear your nasal passageways.

3. Aids in Digestion

Fenugreek essential oil can also help in promoting smoother and regular digestion, thus curbing any sort of digestive problems such as constipation, indigestion or inflammation of the stomach.

For example, a 2014 research study published in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition found that fenugreek contains a water-soluble fiber which greatly helps in preventing and relieving constipation problems.

Also, a 2012 study published in the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology found that fenugreek can possibly be incorporated into treatment plans to cure ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease in the rectum and colon, due to fenugreek’s anti-inflammatory nature.

How to Use it: You can add 1 drop of fenugreek essential oil into your tea or water once a day and ensure there is enough dilution before ingesting them. However, be sure to consult your medical practitioner and seek his/her guidance first before proceeding to ingest essential oils.

4. Helps to Manage Diabetic Levels

It can also be helpful in managing diabetes, especially type 2 diabetic levels. A 2011 study, published in the Journal of Pharmacy and BioAllied Sciences, researched on the efficacy of alternative therapies and treatments which can are useful for the management of diabetes. They found that the seeds of the fenugreek plant contain fibre, glucose and lipid-lowering attributes which benefits diabetic patients greatly in reducing glucose levels in their bloodstream. This is because it helps to slow down the rate of sugar absorption into the bloodstream.

Besides that, the oil can help to stimulate the pancreas and insulin, thus helping to manage diabetes in the process.

How to Use it: You can consume 2-3 drops of fenugreek essential oil that is mixed with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and ensure there is enough dilution before ingesting the mixture. However, be sure to seek the advice of your medical practitioner first before ingesting essential oils as a form of treatment to manage your diabetes.

5. For Treating Hair Problems

Fenugreek essential oil and its seeds can greatly help in curbing hair loss, dandruff, dry hair and premature greying of the hair because it effectively strengthens the hair roots and hair follicles. In this way, it increases the strength of the hair and prevents it from getting too brittle. Furthermore, it is an efficient moisturizer and it can help to moisturize the scalp and hair. This hence reduces the onset of dandruff and prevents dry hair.

How to Use it: You can add 1-2 drops of fenugreek essential oil with coconut oil and apply onto your hair and scalp for a few minutes before washing it off.

6. For Aromatherapy Uses

Besides all these aforementioned benefits, the oil is an excellent aromatherapy as it seeks to help you destress and unwind after an exhausting day. It helps to promote peace, relaxation and soothes any stress, tension and anxiety away. Its aroma can help to reduce high blood pressure levels, exerts a calming effect on the nervous system and if the environment is hot enough, can even induce sweating. This greatly helps to alleviate a fever.

How to Use it: You can add about 4-5 drops of it into a vaporizer, distiller or diffuser and let the aroma spread across the room.

Other health benefits of fenugreek essential oil include promoting weight loss by increasing and regulating metabolic levels, prevents kidney stone formation as it greatly helps to remove out harmful toxins from your body and can possibly inhibit the formation of cancer cells. Furthermore, it can help in breast enlargement and with massage, it can result in firmer and healthier breasts.

Safety Precautions:

Fenugreek essential oil is usually mild and should be safe for use when consumed in small doses. However, do take note of the safety precautions.

• Ensure that you always dilute the oil with a carrier oil before using it topically onto the skin.

• In any case, always perform a skin patch test first to ensure no sensitive or allergic reaction crops up.

• Before ingesting the oil as a form of treatment, be sure to always consult your medical practitioner and seek his/her professional advice.

• If you are taking any prescribed drugs, always consult your doctor first too as fenugreek oil can interfere and interact with these prescribed drugs to produce serious, negative reactions.

• The oil is not safe to be used on children and pregnant women.

References:

Fei Ke, Praveen Kumar Yadav, Liu Zhan Ju, “Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis”, The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology (2012); 18(1)

Sun Hwan Bae, “Diets for Constipation”, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2014); 17(4)

Awanish Pandey, et al., “Alternative therapies useful in the management of diabetes: A systematic review”, Journal of Pharmacy and BioAllied Sciences (2011); 3(4)