Uses for Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a herb that was used by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, according to foodreference.com. It has been used for various purposes throughout history, some of the most common being as a spice in food, to increase breast milk supply, to flavor maple syrup, as a yellow dye and as a skin conditioner. Health-care-tips.org notes that fenugreek is currently grown in abundance in North America, Europe and the Far East.

Spice

• Fenugreek is technically a legume, in the same category as beans, but is typically dried up and ground into a powder. Most people have had fenugreek and don't even know it. It is a very common spice found in most curry concoctions, and is used in flavoring various meats. Most African and Asian foods call for fenugreek in their recipes, so if you eat these types of foods often, you've had your share of fenugreek.

Breast Milk Supply

• Women have been using this herb to help increase and sustain their breast milk supply for over 2,000 years. Kellymom.com notes that a woman should take around 3,500 mg a day and will notice an increase in milk supply with one to three days' time. The herb works slowly and will not increase milk immediately, so women are encouraged to take the herb consistently for one week. The increase of milk supply is due to fenugreek's chemical resemblance to estrogen.

Maple Syrup

• Fenugreek is commonly used in artificial maple syrup for its color and taste. It surprisingly has a very similar taste to that of maple syrup. Many major artificial maple syrup manufactures use fenugreek because it is very affordable and tasty when mixed with the appropriate amount of sugar. The color it creates is yellowish-brown, so it is perfect for making imitation maple syrup.

Yellow Dye

• Fenugreek has been crushed and used as a yellow dye for centuries. In the ancient times it was widely used throughout the Middle East as a clothing dye. Some Far East traditions have continued this tradition and still use it in clothes manufacturing today. Some companies use fenugreek as a food coloring dye because it is considered natural, so a food product can market itself as "all natural."

Skin Conditioning

• Fenugreek has also been used for centuries as a skin conditioner. It is able to smooth and moister the skin. It has been said to alleviate various skin conditions such as eczema, rashes and burns, according to health-care-tips.org. Its antibiotic properties make it a great medical alternative for skin infections.