Background

Buckwheat is a plant. People make flour from the outer shell of the seeds. This flour can be used either as food (usually in bread, pancakes, and noodles) or as medicine.

Buckwheat is used for diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, varicose veins, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Buckwheat is POSSIBLY SAFE for adults when taken by mouth as a medicine. Buckwheat can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if buckwheat is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Buckwheat allergy: Some people who are exposed to buckwheat on the job develop buckwheat allergy. Other people can also become allergic to buckwheat. Re-exposure to buckwheat can lead to serious allergic reactions including skin rash; runny nose; asthma; and a potentially fatal drop in blood pressure, itching, swelling, and difficulty in breathing (anaphylactic shock).

Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity: Some people used to think that including buckwheat in a gluten-free diet might not be safe. However, buckwheat is considered an acceptable food by the Celiac Disease Foundation and the Gluten Intolerance Group. Unless someone is allergic to buckwheat, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can eat buckwheat produced in a facility free of gluten safely.

Allergies to latex or other foods, including rice: Some people who are allergic to rice might also become allergic to buckwheat.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

The appropriate dose of buckwheat for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for buckwheat. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if Buckwheat interacts with any medicines. Before taking Buckwheat, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

Buckwheat might help people with diabetes by slowing the break-down of some foods into sugar and improving how well the body deals with blood sugar.