Login or Register

Alternatives to Fennel

Apr 18, 2011 | By Carol Sarao
Alternatives to Fennel
Photo Credit Blue Jean Images/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Fennel, an aromatic herb with fine-textured leaves, has a long history of both culinary and medicinal use. The seeds have carminative -- or gas-relieving -- properties; herbal healers often advise them for indigestion. If the taste of fennel is not to your liking, or if you are allergic to it, you may want to try an alternative herbal treatment. According to Mothernature.com, herbs that contain camphor, carvone, eugenol, menthol or thymol are the most likely to provide the same stomach-soothing effects as fennel. Consult your doctor before trying herbal remedies for indigestion.

Indigestion Features

Indigestion -- medically known as dyspepsia and also called an upset stomach -- is a collection of symptoms that include nausea, fullness, bloating and belching. You may also also experience pain or burning sensations behind your breastbone. Minor indigestion is a common complaint of little medical consequence. If you experience severe pain, vomiting, tarry stools, weight loss or yellow coloring of your skin or eyes, consult your doctor right away. If you experience shortness of breath, sweating or chest pain radiating to your jaw, neck or arm, seek emergency medical treatment.

Peppermint

Peppermint -- botanically known as Mentha piperita -- has traditionally been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, nausea and gas, and can be used as a fennel alternative. The leaves of the plant contain volatile oils which may be composed of up to 48 percent menthol; other constituents include beneficial flavonoids, tannins, and quercetin, a natural antioxidant.

Peppermint's antispasmodic qualities -- which relax muscles of the large intestine -- may be responsible for its ability to soothe indigestion. In a clinical study published in 2000 in "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics," researchers found that taking a combination of 90 mg of peppermint oil and 50 mg of caraway oil for 28 days caused significant improvement in patients with dyspepsia. Consult your doctor before taking peppermint for dyspepsia; don't take it if you have an ulcer.

Ginger

Ginger -- botanically known as Zingiber officinale -- may be the gold standard of herbal treatment for stomach complaints. Herbal healers, naturopaths and physicians alike advise ginger for nausea and vomiting, especially when symptoms are caused by motion sickness and chemotherapy. Ginger's active ingredients include volatile oils and phenol compounds, primarily gingerols and shogaols.

The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that several clinical studies support ginger's effectiveness in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. Ginger is available fresh or dried, and is featured in a variety of foods and drinks; you can also take it in the form of extracts, tinctures and capsules. The standard dose for indigestion is 2 to 4 g of the fresh rhizome. Check with a health professional before using ginger for indigestion.

Roman Chamomile

Roman chamomile -- botanically known as Chamaemelum nobile -- has similar properties to the more commonly-used German chamomile, Matricaria recutita, and also can serve as a fennel alternative. It has traditionally been used to treat digestive disorders, specifically nausea, vomiting, heartburn and excess gas.

Roman chamomile owes its antispasmotic qualities to its content of bisabolol and flavonoids and can be consumed in the form of a tea made from the dried flowerheads; liquid extracts are also available. Don't use Roman chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, asters or other members of the chrysanthemum family. Ask your doctor before using Roman chamomile for indigestion.

References

Article reviewed by Bryn Bellamy Last updated on: Apr 18, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments