Fenugreek contains lots of interesting stuff - most studies have studied the
seeds but Jim Duke in his "folksy" book, Green Pharmacy, tells of a group of
women, experimenting with sprouts ( for culinary purposes) who told him that
their breasts enlarged after eating fenugreek sprouts for several days  (they
were surprised).  Jim can back up most of the info in his book but being a
popular press book, references were not included.

 In Jim's more scholarly book, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, he uses a source
that describes curiously - "Harem women are said to eat roasted fenugreek seed
to attain buxomness."  David Hoffman singles out fenugreek and goat's rue as
capable of increasing breast size (Holistic Herbal).

Fenugreek seed does contain diosgenin, but nobody knows/has demonstrated that
the body can do anything estrogenic with it. Industrially, fenugreek diosgenin
is used as a precursor in the synthesis of hormones.

Fenugreek does contain coumarin, for which there is considerable evidence that
it does have estrogenic effects on the body ( studies never include female
human lactating bodies, however).  Phytoestrogens  could conceivably be having
lots of unexpected effects that differ from estradiol, etc.  Other than being
relatively weak but persistent estrogenics, not all that much is really known
about phytoestrogens, but plenty is speculated.

Fenugreek also contains trigonelline, an alkaloid that along with coumarin has
been found to have hypoglycemic activity ( Duke's handbook again).
Trigonelline has a less pronounced but more persistent action however.
Significance to lactation?  Curious the number of lactogenic plants that
contain same or similar types of alkaloids, and have a hypoglycemic effect.

Fenugreek also contains about180 more phytoconsituents identified so far -
most work obviously on seed.  Lots of room for additive, and synergistic
effects beyond what this simple list would ever tell you.

In Green Pharmacy, Jim also lists common cumin and black cumin (Nigella
sativa) as capable of increasing the number of mammary cells in lab animals.
Also that saw palmetto (Seronoa repens) was best known a century ago as a
breast enlarger (folk medicine).  Check out his book for a recipe for Bustea
presented as a rational alternative for surgery (no kidding!) Will endeavour
to find his reference for cumin.

Sheila Humphrey  BSc(Botany)  RN  IBCLC
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