The name Fenugreek (Methi) comes from the Latin term Foenum-graecum, or Greek hay.  Fenugreek is an erect annual herb native to Asia and southern Europe. Fenugreek is a tender, erect annual with three-part leaves and pea-like flowers that grows in fertile, well-drained, alkaline soil in full sun. It reaches a height of less than three feet and has a sweet hay scent when dried. A native of the Mediterranean area, the seeds have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Undoubtedly one of the oldest cultivated medicinal plants, fenugreek is widely grown today in the Mediterranean countries, Pakistan, Argentina, France, India, North Africa, and the United States etc as a food, condiment, medicinal, dye, and forage plant (11.1-128). The plant reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.8 meters and has trifoliate leaves.

White flowers appear in early summer and develop into long, slender, yellow-brown pods containing the brown seeds of fenugreek commerce. The reported life zone of fenugreek is 8 to 27 degrees centigrade with an annual precipitation of 0.4 to 1.5 meters and a soil pH of 5.3 to 8.2 (4.1-31). The plant thrives in full sun on rich, well-drained soils. Growth is slow and weak in cold temperatures and wet soils. 

As a leguminous plant, fenugreek needs little if any nitrogen fertilizer, and the plant can enrich soils with nitrogen. There is considerable commercial interest in breeding and growing fenugreek cultivars high in sapogenins. Diosgenin, a steroid sapogenin found in fenugreek but currently isolated from Dioscorea species, is the starting compound for over 60% of the total steroid production by the pharmaceutical industry (11.1-74). Other sapogenins found in fenugreek seed include yamogenin, gitogenin, tigogenin, and neotigogens (7.2-79, 7.3-52, 7.3-54, 7.3-80). 

Other constituents of fenugreek include mucilage, bitter fixed oil, volatile oil, and the alkaloids choline and trigonelline (11.1-50, 11.1-136). Extract of fenugreek is obtained by alcoholic extraction.

Methi (Fenugreek) is used as vegetable in various eatables. Fresh Methi herb does not contain any smell but after drying, it becomes fragrant and possesses a specific type low grade smell. Methi from Kasur / Qasoor in Punjab (Pakistan) is very famous in its fragrance throughout the country and known as Kasurii Methi

Kasuri Methi leaves are also used as a condiment for flavoring and giving special delicious taste. Steaming is considered the best method of cooking leaves; in this the vitamins are retained and the vegetable become palatable. The dried leaves can be composed to pulses for their protein content. They supplement the lysine-deficient cereal diets. They have an aromatic odor and agreeable spicy taste. Kasuri Methi leaves is an important ingredient of curry powder and juicy and fry vegetables .
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Historically, fenugreek was used for a variety of health conditions, including menopausal symptoms and digestive problems. It was also used for inducing childbirth.

Today, it is used for diabetes and loss of appetite, and to stimulate milk production in breastfeeding women. It is also applied to the skin to treat inflammation.

A few small studies have found that fenugreek may help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of fenugreek for any other health condition.

There are several alleged benefits of fenugreek. When taken by mouth, the supplement is claimed to be useful for appetite loss, diabetes, and high cholesterol. When applied to the skin, fenugreek may be beneficial for treating eczema, inflammation, and muscle pain. However, it is important to know that there is not enough scientific evidence to show that fenugreek is indeed effective for these uses. Fenugreek is an amazing magic herb that can cure number of ailments. 

Pakistani Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine recommend fenugreek to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils), treat sore throat, and cure acid reflux. Fenugreek also has a long history of use for the treatment of reproductive disorders, to induce labor, to treat hormonal disorders, to help with breast enlargement, and to reduce menstrual pain. Recent studies have shown that Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholestrol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Fenugreek is also being studied for its cardiovascular benefits. >> more

Rich in vitamins and minerals, and because it is a seed and a legume, it is  high in protein. (Which makes it very useful in vegetarian diets)

Formerly used as a yellow dye. The leaves are dried and used as an insect repellent in grain storage. In various areas of Pakistan North Africa the seeds (ground into a paste) were traditionally eaten by women to gain weight, in combination  with sugar and olive oil. The seeds are still used for weight gain in Libya and other areas. They are also an important source of diosgenin, which is widely used in the production of steroids (which probably accounts for the weight  gain), sex hormones, oral contraceptives and veterinary medicines.