• Forskolin and weight loss
• Properties of Forskolin
• Is Indian nettle safe and are there any side effects?

Indian nettle extract, also known as Forskolin, originates from Ayurvedic and Indian medicine. It has been used for centuries to treat many ailments. In the Far East, nettle extract is used to treat digestive problems, obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and psoriasis.

Forskolin and weight loss

Indian nettle clearly influences the distribution of fat in adipose tissue. This stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, resulting in weight loss. Researchers at the University of Kansas in the USA have closely examined the effects of forskolin on body weight. A study was conducted on 30 overweight and obese men. They were divided into two groups. One group received 250 mg of an extract standardized to 10% forskolin twice daily for 12 weeks, while the other group received a placebo. A reduction in body fat was observed in the men who took the extract. However, it should be remembered that forskolin currently has potential for use in the fight against obesity. The sample size is small, and further research is needed.

Properties of Forskolin

Although the potential of forskolin in the fight against obesity is still debated, its other health-promoting properties are certain. In the 1980s, German scientists conducted a series of studies that they shared with the public in 1987. They showed that after intravenous administration of forskolin at a dose of μg/kg/minute, a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of up to several dozen percent was observed, without increased oxygen consumption. Subsequent studies conducted elsewhere in the world confirmed the effectiveness of Indian nettle in combating hypertension.

It may turn out that people suffering from increasingly frequent asthma can support the fight against the disease with forskolin. Scientists at the University of Vienna Medical School inhaled 10 mg of forskolin and 0.4 mg of fenoterol, an asthma medication. The subjects were divided into two groups. In both those given forskolin and fenoterol, a significant expansion of the gills was observed. However, those treated with fenoterol developed hand tremors and reduced plasma potassium levels. Patients treated with forskolin did not experience such side effects.

Many studies have shown that forskolin can help people suffering from glaucoma, a disease characterized by an excessive increase in intraocular pressure. Some sources claim that Indian nettle supports the fight against psoriasis. While studies by German scientists at the University of Tübingen have shown that nettle supplementation alleviates symptoms of the disease, the sample size is too small to say with certainty that the supplement is always effective.

Is Indian nettle safe and are there any side effects?

The vast majority of studies conducted on this plant show no dangers associated with the use of forskolin. Consuming forskolin is not associated with any side effects. However, studies on Indian nettle are still ongoing, and due to the safety of forskolin supplements, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children should not take them. Due to the fact that forskolin can interact with medications such as clopidogrel or warfarin, the use of forskolin supplements is not recommended for people with blood clotting disorders. People with low blood pressure should also avoid such supplements, as they lower blood pressure even further.