Limited evidenceWomen's health

Kacip Fatimah (Labisia Pumila)

A Malaysian women's tonic with a handful of small trials, none of which establishes benefit for menopausal symptoms. Most of the recent human work is on body composition, not menopause.

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What the science says

Menopausal symptoms Limited evidence
A randomized study of a Labisia pumila water extract in pre- and postmenopausal women focused mainly on safety and reported no convincing efficacy signal for menopausal complaints. It remains the only dedicated menopause trial.
Waist circumference in obesity Limited evidence
A randomized trial of a standardized extract (SKF7) in people with obesity reported reductions in waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio. One trial of one proprietary extract is not a general finding.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrials used 280-560 mg of standardized water extract daily. Traditional preparations are decoctions of the whole plant, at doses that have not been characterized.

SafetyTrial safety data over six months were unremarkable, but the total human exposure studied is small. Estrogenic activity has been reported in animals, so avoid with hormone-sensitive conditions. Avoid in pregnancy; traditional use around childbirth is not a safety endorsement.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.

With food?With food.

Worth knowingOnly the standardized water extract has human data behind it; whole-plant decoctions and generic capsules are not equivalent products.

Frequently asked questions

Does kacip fatimah help menopause symptoms?

The evidence is limited: the only dedicated menopause trial of kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila) focused mainly on safety and found no convincing benefit for menopausal complaints.

Does Labisia pumila help with weight loss?

One randomized trial of a standardised Labisia pumila extract (SKF7) in people with obesity reported reductions in waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio. One trial of one proprietary extract is limited evidence, not a general finding.

How much kacip fatimah should I take?

Trials used 280-560 mg of standardised kacip fatimah water extract daily, with food. Whole-plant decoctions and generic capsules are not equivalent and have no characterised dose.

Is kacip fatimah safe?

Kacip fatimah trial safety data over six months were unremarkable, but total human exposure studied is small. Estrogenic activity in animals is a reason to avoid it with hormone-sensitive conditions and in pregnancy.

Scientific references

Efficacy and safety of Labisia pumila var alata water extract among pre- and postmenopausal women
Norhayati MN, George A, Hazlina NH, Azidah AK, Idiana HI, Law KS — J Med Food, 2014
Labisia pumila standardized extract (SKF7®) reduces percentage of waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in individuals with obesity
Swarna Nantha Y, Vijayasingham S, Adam NL, Vengadasalam P, Ismail M, Ali N — Diabetes Obes Metab, 2023

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Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)