Fig Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Arbre à Cariques, Caricae Fructus, Feigen, Figs, Figue, Figuier, Figuier de Carie, Figuier Comestible, Figuier Commun, Figuier Domestique, Higuera
Scientific Name
Ficus Carica
Why Do People Use Fig?
Oral preparations of Ficus carica (Fig), like fig powder, are used as laxative, for hyperlipidemia, diabetes, psoriasis, eczema and for vitiligo as well.
Topically - Latex obtained from the fruit is applied to the skin to treat warts and skin tumors.
Is It Safe To Use?
Likely Safe - Fresh or dried fruit is apparently safe to use when ingested orally in amounts commonly used in foods.
Likely Safe for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers - According to a clinical research, dried or fresh fruit part of fig is apparently safe when consumed orally in amounts generally found in food items.
How Effective Is Fig?
There in ineffective and scarce information to rate the effectiveness in following condition.
Diabetes - Initial experiments suggest that a tea made from fig leaves may be effective in order to reduce insulin requirements in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes as well as to lower postprandial hyperglycemia. More confirmations are required to rate the effectiveness of figs for this particular purpose.
How Fig Works?
Most effective parts of Ficus carica are the leaves and fruit. Its leaves consist of beta-sitosterol, psoralen, taraxasterol and bergapten. Ficin exists in latex parts of the leaves. This content has proteolytic enzyme, which may leads to itching in some individuals. Water extract of fig leaves can also result in hypoglycemic effects in animals as well as humans suffering from type 1 diabetes. Leaves of fig may also increase glucose uptake into the skeletal muscle. Some other clinical experiments propose that it may also lower the levels of triglyceride by affecting lipid metabolism.
Latex obtained from fruit may inhibits proliferation of some cancer cells and is thought to have cytoxic activity.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Fig?
Eating fig fruit can lead to allergy and in rare cases patient can also suffer from anaphylaxis. By using excessive dosage, fig latex can lead to hemorrhagic enteritis. Fig leaves also consist of psoralens and may cause photodermatitis.
Topically - Excessive ultraviolet light or sunlight exposure after using fig leaves containing products can result in contact dermatitis.
How Fig Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Supplements & Herbs With Hypoglycemic Potential - Fig leaves may result in additive effects with herbs that reduce the levels of blood glucose. Herbs with hypoglycemic potential include fenugreek, devil's claw, gymnema, guar gum, Siberian ginseng, Panax ginseng and other herbs as well.
How Fig Interacts With Drugs?
Antidiabetes Drugs - Interaction rating between Ficus carica and anti-diabates drugs is moderate, so be careful about this mixture. Fig leaves may also enhance the blood glucose lowering activities of hypoglycemic drugs.
Insulin - Interaction rating between fig and drugs containing insulin is moderate so be careful about this combination. Fig leaves can increase the the blood glucose lowering activities of insulin. Therefore physician’s advice to monitor blood glucose levels of such patient very closely.
How Fig Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Fig Interacts With Lab Tests?
Blood Glucose - Fig leaves can help to decrease the blood glucose levels and associated lab tests.
How Fig Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Surgery - Fig may interact with blood glucose levels. There are some reports that fig powder may interact with blood glucose control after and during surgical procedures. So patients are advised to stop using fig powder at minimum two weeks before their suggested surgical procedures.
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Fig?
There is no typical oral or topical dosage for fig.
Comments
None..
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
