Hu Lu Ba (胡芦巴) is the seed of fenugreek, a legume, recorded as Semen Trigonellae. It is bitter in flavour and warm in temperature, entering the Kidney channel alone. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Yang.

Pinyin

hu lu ba

Chinese

胡芦巴

Latin Name

Semen Trigonellae

English Name

Common Fenugreek Seed·Fenugreek Seed

Japanese

koroha

Korean

horopa

Actions and indications

Warms the Kidneys and strengthens Yang

Deficient Kidney Yang: cold hands and feet, with an aching, weak and cold lumbar region

Disperses Cold and Damp and relieves pain

Deficient Kidney Yang with Cold or stagnant Qi collecting, bringing distension and pain of the abdomen or flanks, or bulging disorders
Cold Shan Qi, in which Cold stagnates in the Liver channel and the testicles and lower abdomen hurt
Cold-Damp leg Qi, with legs that are sore, heavy, numb or swollen

Combinations

zhi fu zi + bu gu zhi

Cold and pain in the lower back, lower abdomen and legs

xiao hui xiang + wu zhu yu

Bulging disorders of the Cold and Deficiency type affecting the abdomen and testicles, in severe cases with a contracted scrotum and a local icy feeling; dysmenorrhea

mu gua + ji xue teng + bu gu zhi

Leg Qi of the Cold-Damp type: sore, swollen legs that feel heavy and cold, pain that worsens with Cold, a deep slow pulse and a greasy white tongue coat

fu pen zi + huang jing

Kidney Deficiency with spermatorrhea, back pain and reduced sexual function

xiao hui xiang

Bulging disorders of the Cold type and abdominal distention from Cold; dysmenorrhea from Cold with a painful, distended abdomen

zhi fu zi + wu zhu yu

Kidney Yang Deficiency with cold, marked by fullness and pain in the hypochondrium

wu zhu yu + zhi chuan wu + xiao hui xiang

Intestinal gas, colicky pain and a sensation of genital prolapse

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 3-10g; Tincture: 1-3ml

3-10 g

—

1-3 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Heat signs from Yin deficiency

contraindication Damp-Heat

pregnancy Contraindicated in pregnancy; it is described as stimulating the uterus and promoting menstruation

caution Fenugreek is a legume and cross-reacts with peanut allergy, so people allergic to peanuts or legumes should treat it as a possible allergen

Interactions

Drug interactions

Blood-sugar-lowering medicines such as metformin and sulfonylureas: in trials, adding fenugreek seed extract lowered glucose further than the drugs alone, so monitor blood sugar
Warfarin: INR rose in one patient taking a product that combined fenugreek with boldo, attributed to fenugreek's coumarins; no study of fenugreek alone exists

hu lu ba

About hu lu ba

Names

Classification