The use of fennel to ease digestive complaints dates back to antiquity, with the ancient Greeks nibbling the seeds after meals to ward off heartburn, bloating and gas. Fennel was also believed to suppress hunger, and was commonly taken during the Middle Ages to lessen appetite on fasting days. Present-day herbalists advise taking fennel seeds to treat a variety of conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, colic, asthma and colds. You can get the benefits of fennel seeds by brewing them into a fragrant, anise-flavored tea. Consult your doctor before using fennel tea.
Features
Fennel, a member of the carrot family botanically known as Foeniculum vulgare, is an aromatic perennial herb native to southern Europe and Asia and presently cultivated in the United States and Great Britain. The plant features feathery leaves and small yellow flowers that yield ridged, greenish-brown seeds; these are used in herbal preparations. Fennel, once reputed to grant immortality, has been used in both traditional Chinese medicine and ayurveda to treat heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety, respiratory infections and asthma. The fresh stalks, which also feature a delicate licoricelike flavor, may be eaten as a vegetable. Fennel seeds are also used commercially as flavoring agents in candies and cakes.
Constituents and Effects
According to Drugs.com, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, the major constituent of fennel is a terpenoid called anethole. Also present in fennel seeds are petroselinic, caffeic and oleic acids, limonene, camphor, alpha-pinene and tocopherols, a form of vitamin E. In addition, fennel contains quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid. Drugs.com credits fennel with anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies, along with possible diuretic, analgesic and antipyretic qualities, and reports that it can inhibit common pathogens, including E. coli. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health reports that fennel's antispasmodic effects can relax smooth muscles of the digestive tract, relieving flatulence and abdominal cramping. Fennel seed extracts have been reported to be effective in relieving colic in infants.
Research
Fennel tea could conceivably affect appetite by working against the H. pylori bacteria, a common pathogen often responsible for gastric and peptic ulcers. Ulcers may cause a gnawing, burning, hungerlike sensation that is briefly relieved by eating. Although human clinical evidence is lacking, a test tube study published in 2009 in "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" demonstrated that fennel extracts completely inhibited the growth of H. pylori at 500 micrograms per milliliter. Researchers called for further study.
Usage and Considerations
To make fennel tea, boil a 1/2 tsp. of crushed fennel seeds in 8 oz. of water for 15 minutes, keeping the pot covered. Cool and strain; you may drink three cups a day. No significant adverse effects have been recorded with fennel, although rare allergic reactions have been reported. An allergy to celery, carrot or mugwort makes a reaction to fennel more likely. Drugs.com warns that ingesting essential oil of fennel may induce serious reactions such as pulmonary edema and seizures. You should avoid large quantities of fennel seeds and fennel tea if you have any type of estrogen-dependent cancer, including breast cancer. If the taste of fennel tea is unpalatable to you, you can avail yourself of the benefits of fennel by taking 1 to 2 tsps. of fennel tincture three times a day between meals. Consult your doctor before using fennel.
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