Shivlingi Seeds (beej) Benefits, Uses and Side effects

If you are a follower of ayurvedic medicine, you might have already heard about the anti-infertility miracles of shivlingi seeds. Traditional and folk medicine put a high value on the fertility boosting properties of shivlingi seeds. Studies suggest that a mixture of shivlingi seeds, jaggery and tulsi is used for alleviating the problem of infertility in females. This might point to the tonic like effects of shivlingi seeds on the uterine tissues.

According to doctors, diminished ovarian reserves (DOR) have become one of the leading causes of female infertility in today’s life. It is usually linked to the presence of lower number or poor quality of ovarian follicles and is generally a problem faced by women in their early or late 30s. However, some factors like lifestyle or physiology may cause this problem in younger women too. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplements are widely used for improving fertility-related problems in both males and females. It is a body hormone that mediates a strong stimulatory effect on ovarian follicles (cells that make female ova). Studies suggest that shivlingi improves fertility by an unknown impact on DHEA.

A review article published in IOSR's International Journal of Applied Chemistry suggests that shivlingi seeds help normalize the menstrual cycle in females with less blood flow. However, it was further added that if you have heavy blood flow during periods, it is best that you avoid consuming shivlingi.

Shivlingi seeds along with ashwagandha and milk have also been used as an abortifacient by some famous tribes of India. So, it is always advisable that you talk to your ayurvedic doctor to know the right way of taking shivlingi seeds.

Read more: Can I still get pregnant if I have PCOS

The fertility boosting benefits of shivlingi seeds aren’t just restricted to females but it is known to be equally effective for men. Ethnobotanical (based on people) studies suggest that shivlingi seeds are believed to improve testosterone levels in men along with improving libido.

Read more: Natural remedies to boost testosterone

Scientific studies on shivlingi plant are scarce but its effects on fertility and sexual performance have been studied more extensively. Pre-clinical studies confirm the aphrodisiac effects of shivlingi seeds. Studies also suggest that ethanolic extracts of shivlingi seeds have a stimulatory effect on sperm count and testosterone levels. This might in part confirm the fertility-boosting benefits of shivlingi seeds.

Read more: How to increase sperm count

However, in the absence of human-based studies, it is better that you check in with your ayurveda doctor to know more about this benefit of shivlingi seeds.

Read more: Testosterone deficiency symptoms

The laxative effects of shivlingi are known and revered by most of the traditional medicine systems. Shivlingi leaf paste has been in use as an ayurvedic remedy for constipation. Siddha medicine uses the whole shivlingi plant as a constipation remedy.

However, scientific studies are still pending to test the efficiency of shivlingi seeds in reducing constipation. But, shivlingi seeds have been found to be rich in a naturally occurring chemical compound known as glucomannan. Clinical trials suggest that glucomannans are water-soluble fibers. This means that they can accumulate inside your intestines to provide bulk to your food and soften the stools thus acting as an efficient laxative.

Due to the absence of confirmatory evidence, you are strongly recommended to talk to a doctor before taking shivlingi seeds as a constipation remedy.

The leaves and seeds of shivlingi plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever. An animal-based study suggests that methanolic extracts of shivlingi seeds have an excellent antipyretic (reduces fever) action. It has also been in use as a health building tonic in some traditional therapies. But, no clinical trials have yet been done to confirm the exact mechanism of action or the right dosage of shivlingi for fever treatment. So, it is highly advisable to ask your ayurvedic doctor before taking shivlingi as an anti-pyretic.

Read more: Home remedies for fever

It has been a traditional belief that consumption of shivlingi seeds alone or in the form of a herbal formulation can be useful in conceiving a male child. However, scientifically, the sex of a baby is determined by the set of sex chromosomes they receive. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Every chromosome in these pairs has an equal chance of combining with any of the other two chromosomes in the opposite pair. A baby boy is only conceived if the X chromosome from the female pairs with the Y chromosome of the male. It is a natural process that happens at the cellular level and at the time of fusion of the male and female gametes (fertilization).

Thus, it is impossible to gain a boy child with any kind of supplement, herbal or otherwise.

Read more: How to get pregnant

An in vivo (animal based) study suggests that ethanolic extracts of shivlingi seeds are very useful in reducing blood sugar levels. However, no clinical studies have been done so far to confirm the antidiabetic potential of shivlingi seeds in humans. So, diabetic people are suggested that they refer to an ayurvedic doctor before taking shivlingi in any form.

Read more: Diabetes causes

According to a research article published in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, shivlingi seeds have been reported to exhibit some hypolipidemic (reduces fats cholesterol) potential. However, no clinical studies have been done so far to confirm these effects on humans.

Read more: High cholesterol treatment

In vitro studies indicate that the ethanolic extracts of shivlingi plant have potent antimicrobial action against a wide range of microbes. As per a study shivlingi plant extract is very efficient in killing common infectious bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhimurium.

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Recent in vitro (lab-based) studies suggest the potential anticancer effects of shivlingi leaves on human cancer cells. It was reported that the methanolic, water-based and chloroform extracts of shivlingi leaves exhibit strong cytotoxic effect (killing human cells) on cancer cells without harming the normal body cells. Additionally, it was claimed that shivlingi leaf extracts are more potent anticancer agents than a well known anticancer drug.

Shivlingi has been in use as a traditional remedy for various inflammatory conditions. Generally, a paste of shivlingi leaves is applied to the skin to reduce the severity of inflammation. With the growing focus of the mainstream allopathy towards herb-based medicines, more and more herbal supplements and medicines are being introduced every day. In this trend, the anti-inflammatory activity of shivlingi has also been tested in laboratories. Animal-based studies suggest that the chloroform extracts of shivlingi leaves have significant anti-inflammatory potential.

Both in vitro and in vivo studies have been done to test the anti-asthmatic potential of shivlingi plant. It has been found that a 70% ethanolic extract of these seeds is very useful in reducing the risk of allergy-related asthma.

It was further added that the same extracts can act as an analgesic (pain reliever) and an anticonvulsant (reduces the risk of fits and epilepsy). Additionally, it was claimed that shivlingi extracts showed no toxicity at a dose of 3g per kg when given orally.

According to a review article published in Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine, the antiasthmatic properties of shivlingi may be due to the inflammation-reducing flavonoids (a naturally occurring chemical compound) present in this plant. More studies are still needed to understand the exact mechanism of action and toxicity, if any, in human asthma cases.