Loofah

Luffa is a genus of the pumpkin family. When the ripe fruit is dried, a fibrous, sponge-like structure remains. The fibers can be boiled in water, which is then used as a medicine. Loofah is used orally to treat and prevent colds. Loofah is also used for swelling of the nasal mucous membranes and sinus problems. Some people use loofah for arthritis pain, muscle pain and chest pain. Women use loofah to induce a missed menstrual period. Nursing mothers use loofah to increase milk flow. Sometimes the whole loofah "sponge" is rubbed against the skin to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the skin. Loofah charcoal is made by heating loofah fibers in a closed container and applied to the skin for herpes infections around the face and eyes. The loofah fruit is also eaten as a vegetable. In cosmetics, powdered loofah is used in skin care products to reduce swelling and detoxify the skin.

How does loofah work?

There is not enough information available to say how loofah might work as a medicine.

How effective is loofah?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective loofah is for treating or preventing colds, swollen nasal mucous membranes, sinus problems, pain and menstrual problems, as well as promoting milk production and treating herpes infections of the face and eyes.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of loofah in these applications.

Safety and side effects

When taken orally, loofah appears to be safe and harmless in normal food quantities. However, not enough is known about the safety of using loofah as a medicine. The possible side effects of loofah are not known. When used as a sponge on the skin, loofah is safe and harmless for most people. The safety of using loofah charcoal for herpes infections is not known.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Loofah appears to be safe and safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women in normal dietary amounts. However, larger amounts should be avoided until more is known.

Interactions

At this time, there is no information on interactions of Luffa with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of loofah depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for loofah. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.