Foeniculum vulgare, Mill. German: Fenchel. French: Fenouil. Spanish: Hinojo. Italian: Finocchio. Chinese: Shih-lo. Seeds, roots and leaves. Seeds contain an important essential oil (anethol). Constituents: coumarins, volatile oil, flavonoids (rutin), sterols.
Action: a gentle warming agent for delicate stomachs; carminative, aromatic, antispasmodic (children), digestive, orexigenic, rubefacient, diuretic (soothing), galactagogue, stimulant (mild), anti-inflammatory in polyarthritis, anticoagulant (Vitamin K antagonist). Antimicrobial. Expectorant. Oestrogen-effect – Aberdeen University.
Uses: To disperse windy colic in infants; griping; to arouse appetite, sweeten a sour stomach, soothe an irritable bowel. To increase milk in nursing mothers. Obesity (traditional tea). Wrinkle smoother (tea). Old Chinese remedy for cholera. Externally, an eyewash for red-eye and blepharitis.
Preparations: As necessary.
Tea. Fresh or dried leaves: 3-4 teaspoons to teapot; add boiling water. Dose: adult; half-1 cup; infants, 2- 3 teaspoons.
Tea. Crushed seeds: quarter to half a teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Quarter to half a cup (infants, 2-3 teaspoons).
Liquid Extract BMP (1983) 1:1 in 70 per cent alcohol. Dose: 0.8 to 2ml.
Fennel water (distilled). 5-15 drops.
Powder. 300mg capsules; 2 capsules before meals thrice daily.
Lotion. Half a teaspoon crushed seeds in cold water. Infuse 1 hour. Half fill eyebath and use as a douche. Diet. Young shoots and root as a cooked vegetable. Seeds sprinkled on salads.
Note: Fennel seeds were discovered among personal chattels of Egyptian rulers salvaged from among the tombs.
Side-effects: slight return of periods in menopausal women. ... fennel
Health Encyclopedia