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- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
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Parts used and where grown: The fennel plant came originally from Europe, where it is still grown. Fennel is also cultivated in many parts of Asia and Egypt. Fennel seeds are utilized for medicinal purposes.
 | In what conditions might fennel be supportive? |
| colic | indigestion and heartburn | irritable bowel syndrome |
Historical or traditional use: One author reports that fennel may have bestowed immortality in the Greek legend of Prometheus.1 Fennel seeds are a common cooking spice, particularly for use with fish. After meals, they are used in several cultures to prevent gas and upset stomach.2 The seeds are also used in Latin America to increase the flow of breast milk. Fennel has also been used as a remedy for cough and colic in infants. Active constituents: The main active constituents, which includes the terpenoid anethole, are found in the volatile oil. Anethole and other terpenoids may have estrogen-like activity and inhibit spasms in smooth muscles, such as those in the intestinal tract. Recent studies have found fennel to possess diuretic, choleretic (increase in production of bile), pain-reducing, fever-reducing, and antimicrobial actions.3 |
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Are there any side effects or interactions? No significant adverse effects have been reported. Pregnant or lactating women, as well as anyone with an estrogen-dependent cancer, should avoid fennel in large quantities until the importance of its estrogen-like activity is clarified. |
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Usage Warnings
Excellent for infants with colic when given as a diluted tea.Fennel is perhaps the
safest of all carminative herbs and can be used frequently even by children and the
elderly without harmful or unpleasant side effects.
References:
1. Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985, 145-6.
2. Mills SY. Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Middlesex,
UK: Viking Arkana, 1991, 424-6.
3. Tanira MOM, Shah AH, Mohsin A, et al. Pharmacological and toxicological investigations
on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals. Phytother Res
1996;10:33-6.
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