fenugreek seedsIf you haven't heard of fenugreek, listen up -- this herb is more than just a spicy addition to curry, it's basically the wonder drug for women. This humble seed, which can be bought in a variety of forms -- tea, capsules, powder, paste -- has estrogen-like properties that combat pretty much every lady-ailment you can imagine: It magically pumps up milk production and makes menstrual cramps go away; plus, it helps to ease the symptoms of a bunch of gender-neutral maladies from high cholesterol to diabetes to eczema to low libido.

Right about now, you're probably halfway out the door to go to Whole Foods and pick up a bottle. Before you go, here are some tips on how to take fenugreek:

  • To boost milk production, take one 500mg capsule of fenugreek three times a day. After 24 to 72 hours, you could be pumping out 500 times as much milk! Seriously.
  • Maybe you're not breastfeeding but need help in other "women's health" areas: PMS, lack of sex drive ... even breast enlargement (it's true!). Knock back up to 3g of the seeds in whichever form you prefer. You can even mix it up: Tea, tincture, capsules, or chew on the raw seeds, which taste kind of maple syrup-y.
  • For burns, eczema, mosquito bites, or other skin problems, dump out the contents of a capsule and mix it with warm water to form a paste, then apply it to the affected area. Or, make a cup of fenugreek tea and put the teabag (after it cools) directly on your skin. Works on kids, too!

Have you ever tried fenugreek?

 

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