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Indian nettle (forskolin) is a herb which, thanks to its healing properties, has been used in Indian and Ayurvedic medicine for many years. It gained the greatest popularity as a slimming agent. However, according to scientists, Indian nettle (forskolin) is not a remedy for overweight and obesity. Check what the real healing effects of Indian nettle (forskolin) have and how to dose it.

Indian nettle( forskolina ) is a plant that has been used for hundreds of yearsusein Hindu and Ayurvedic medicine. Indian nettle itshealing propertiesowes its active ingredient called forskolin. In Far East medicine, Indian nettle is used in cardiovascular ailments, problems with the digestive system, obesity, respiratory diseases (asthma), as well as hypertension, glaucoma and psoriasis. In African countries, the leaves of the plant are used as a diuretic, expectorant and to induce menstruation in women. The roots are the most desirable part of the plant, as they contain the highest concentration of forskolin.

Indian nettle (forskolin) and slimming

Some studies suggest that forskolin increases the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue (lipolysis), so it may be helpful in the fight against overweight and obesity. However, other scientists argue that Indian nettle does not help to get lean.

In one of the studies on the slimming properties of Indian nettle, 6 overweight women were administered 250 mg of Indian nettle preparation twice a day for 8 weeks, standardized at 10 percent. forskolin. The study participants lost weight and reduced body fat by 8%. Administration of the extract also reduced blood pressure. There were no significant adverse effects during the course of the experiment. His results indicate that Indian nettle may play a role in reducing body weight at the expense of reducing body fat. However, the authors of the study suggest further research in this direction in order to clarify the potential mechanisms of actionthis complicated process .¹

Indian nettle is common in Nepal, Burma, Thailand and India. It is also grown in many East African countries. Its other names areforskolina,shrivary, Indian sage, Makandi or Mayani.

American scientists from Baylor University in Texas have a different opinion. They conducted a double-blind study of 23 obese women. 11 women were fed 250 mg of Indian nettle extract, standardized to 10%, twice a day in the diet. forskolin. 12 women received a placebo. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. The authors of the study observed no significant effect of the extract on weight loss, and no clinically significant adverse effects were noted .²

Researchers from the University of Kansas (USA) came to a different conclusion, who assessed the effect of forskolin on the body weight of 30 overweight and obese men. Some of them received 250 mg of 10% standardized extract twice a day for 12 weeks. forskolin and part of a placebo. They also had testosterone levels and blood pressure tested. A reduction in body fat percentage has been observed in men taking forskolin. The authors of this study concluded that forskolin is a potential therapeutic agent that could be tested in the treatment of obesity. At the same time, they emphasize that, however, further detailed research in this direction is advisable .³

In conclusion, there are no studies that clearly indicatethe slimming properties of Indian nettle (forskolin) . The effects described above apply to small groups of people. More detailed research is needed to elucidate the effects of Indian nettle in overweight and obese people.

Worth knowing

Indian nettle (forskolin) - where to buy? What's the price?

In Poland, you can buy Indian nettle in the form of powder and tablets. The price of the latter depends on the content of the active substance - forskolin - in one tablet, the number of tablets in the package and the company ,and ranges from 30 to even 60-70 PLN per package. In turn, for 100 g of Indian nettle powder you have to pay about PLN 30.

Indian nettle (forskolin) and arterial hypertension

Animal and human studies have shown that forskolin lowers blood pressure. Such conclusions were reached by German scientists already in the 1980s. In 1987, the results of a study in which 7 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy participated were published in the journal "Arzneimittelforschung". They were given intravenous forskolin ina dose of 3 μg / kg / minute. A decrease in diastolic pressure by several dozen percent was observed, without increasing oxygen consumption.4

Forskolin also has the ability to inhibit the clumping of platelets and the expansion of blood vessels.

In another study, patients were administered intravenous forskolin at a dose of 4 μg / kg / min. In patients, a decrease in vascular resistance and an improvement in contractility of the left ventricle by 19% were noted. The study concluded that the reduction in blood pressure was also accompanied by the disappearance of erythema.5

In another study by scientists from India, involving 49 geriatric patients with arterial hypertension (aged 50-80 years), the effect of Indian nettle on blood pressure parameters was assessed. The patients were divided into two groups. The first one received the root of the plant (27 people in this group took 500 mg of the root three times a day). The second group received tablets containing the root powder of the herb in question (this group included 22 people who took 700 mg, two tablets three times a day). The duration of the study was 2 months. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured in patients. Indian nettle has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure in both groups, with the first group having much better results than the second group.6

Important

Indian nettle (forskolin) - dosage

A therapeutic dose has not been established for the Forskolin extract9 . In the described clinical trials, 250 mg of Indian nettle extract containing 10 percent. forskolin, administered twice daily. This amount of extract contains 25 mg of forskolin.

Indian nettle (forskolina) and asthma

Indian nettle can also help people suffering from asthma, argue Austrian scientists from the University of Vienna Medical School. In their double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 16 patients with asthma were administered a single inhalation of 10 mg forskolin (as an aerosol) and the usual asthma medication (0.4 mg fenoterol). Both compounds caused significant bronchodilation. However, in patients treated with fenoterol, a marked tremor of the fingers and a decrease in the concentration of potassium in the blood plasma have been observed. Similar side effects were not observed in patients given Forskolin.7

Similar studies were conducted by German scientists from the Free University of Berlin. Six asthma patients (18-64 years of age) were given doses of 1 and 5 mg forskolin in the form ofinhalation. The authors documented an increase in increased expiratory volume in the first second in patients. Two patients reported immediate relief and disappearance of breathlessness, in the remaining four patients improvement was observed after 10-15 minutes. No serious adverse events were reported.8

Important

Indian nettle (forskolin) - contraindications. Who shouldn't reach for Indian nettle?9

  • pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children (due to the lack of sufficient research conducted with the participation of this group of people)
  • people with blood clotting disorders because it may interact with warfarin, acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel
  • people with low blood pressure because Indian nettle lowers blood pressure
  • people suffering from gastric ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Indian nettle (forskolina) and glaucoma

Indian nettle can also help people with glaucoma. It is a disease characterized by an excessive increase in intraocular pressure. Treating the disease is to lower this pressure. Forskolin reduces pressure in the eyeball, which has been shown in several studies. One of them involved 6 men whose eyes were instilled with a 1% suspension. forskolin and a local anesthetic. A 25% reduction in intraocular pressure was observed.

Indian nettle (forskolin) and psoriasis

Studies on the beneficial effects of forskolin in the treatment of psoriasis have not been conclusively confirmed. German scientists from the University of Tuebingen10showed that supplementation with forskolin reduced the symptoms of the disease. However, more clinical trials are needed in this direction.

Important

Indian nettle (forskolin) - side effects9

The safety of Indian nettle has not been sufficiently researched and described. According to most data, Indian nettle and forskolin extracts are safe. In human studies, no toxic effects or significant side effects caused by the use of forskolin at the recommended doses were observed.

Bibliography:

1. Badmaev V., Majeed M., Conte A., Diterpene forskolin: a possible new compound for reduction of body weight by increasing lean body mass. Townsend Lett 2001; June

2. Henderson S, Magu B, Rasmussen C et al. Effects of Coleus forskohlii supplementation on body composition and hematological profiles in mildly overweight women. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2005

3. Godard MP, Johnson BA, Richmond SR. Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obes Res 2005; 13 (8)

4. Kramer W, Thormann J, Kindler M, Effects of forskolin on left ventricular function in dilated cardiomyopathy. Arzneim-Forsch 1987

5. Cardiovascular effects of forskolin and phosphodiesterase-III inhibitors, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2530974

6. Jagtap M, Chandola HM, Ravishankar B. Clinical efficacy of Coleus forskohlii (Willd) Briq. (Makandi) in hypertension of geriatric population. Ayu 2011; 32 (1) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22131759

7. Bauer K, Dietersdorfer F, Sertl K et al. Pharmacodynamic effects of inhaled dry powder formulations of fenoterol and colforsin in asthma. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1993; 53 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8422745

8. Lichey I, Friedrich T, Priesnitz M et al. Effect of forskolin on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in extrinsic asthmatics. Lancet 1984

9. Baraniak J., Indian nettle (Coleus forskohlii Briq) - biological properties and therapeutic activity, "Postępy Phytoterapii" 2016, No. 3

10. Ammon HPT, Muller AB. Forskolin: from an ayurvedic remedy to a modern agent. Planta Med 1985

Category:

Alternative medicine