Most people know anise as the small, hard, brown "seeds" that lend their flavor to to the Italian liqueur, anisette and the Greek drink, ouzo, as well as to breads, cakes and licorice candy. Anise seeds, which are actually the fruit of the anise plant, make their way into traditional holiday cookies from countries as far apart as Germany, Italy and Mexico. Anise seeds, sometimes called aniseed, also have a long tradition of use in folk medicine and aromatherapy.
Source
Anise grows in gardens throughout North America. The easily cultivated plant provides feathery leaves that garnish plates and add a hint of licorice flavor to salads. The brown fruit contains anise essential oil, which gives flavor to candy, cough syrups and liqueurs, and is used in aromatherapy. Bakers use anise seeds in cookies, especially holiday cookies, and anise tea is a common household remedy in European countries.
Constituents
The active compounds in anise seeds include creosol and alpha-pinene, two phytochemicals well-known for their ability to break up congestion and ease coughs. A third compound, anethole, is similar in chemical makeup to adrenaline and noradrenaline. Anethole composes about 90% of the aromatic oil of anise, according to Maud Grieve, the author of "A Modern Herbal," one of the classic books on herbs and herbal treatments.
Medicinal Uses
Creosol and pinene are well-regarded remedies for respiratory problems. Anise can help break up congestion and ease coughs, according to James Duke, a well-known botanist who wrote "The Green Pharmacy" books.
Anethole is a phytoestrogen. Pliny recommended anise to encourage milk production in the first century A.D. Anise may also help promote menstruation, increase libido and facilitate childbirth.
Sniffing anise can relieve stress and lift the mood, according to the authors of "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art." That may be in part because anethole is chemically similar to amphetamines. In the "Prague Medical Report," J.R. Idle suggests that the aromas of traditional holiday spices, including anise, are uplifting because, like pharmaceutical amphetamines, they promote the formation of adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body.
Methods of Use
A massage oil made with anise oil combined with other estrogenics such as clary sage, sage and fennel may ease symptoms associated with menopause.
Use anise oil alone or in combination with other fragrances in diffusers, inhalers or as a hydrosol spray to help lift your mood and promote calmness. Spritz it on your clothing or on curtains and draperies to scent the air whenever your spirits need a lift.
Warning
If you are pregnant, you should only use anise medicinally under the supervision of a health practitioner. It's safe for culinary use or to use in cosmetics, though, according to the authors of "Women's Herbs, Women's Health."
References
- "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook"; James A. Duke; 2000
- "The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries In Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases"; James A. Duke; 1997
- Prague Medical Report: Christmas Gingerbread (Lebkuchen) and Christmas Cheer
- "Women's Herbs, Women's Health"; Christopher Hobbs, Kathi Keville; 2007
- Botanical.com: A Modern Herbal--Anise
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