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 Fennel is a tall perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. It has a sweet
licorice taste, and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. The leaves, bulb,
and stalk of fennel are edible (it looks like white celery); its seeds are used
as both a spice in cooking and to make herbal medicines.
Fennel has been used to treat digestive ailments since the time of the ancient
Egyptians. Recent studies support the traditional use of fennel as a digestive
aid. It has been shown to relieve intestinal spasms and cramping in the smooth
muscle lining of the digestive tract, which helps relieve uncomfortable
gastrointestinal symptoms.
Commission E, an expert panel in Germany that
evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbs,
endorses fennel for the treatment of digestive upsets, including indigestion,
gas pains, irritable bowel syndrome, and infant colic. Some studies have shown
the effectiveness of fennel to be comparable to that of Mylanta and Gaviscon,
and simethicone-containing medications such as Maalox.
The antispasmodic effect of fennel may help to relax other smooth muscles
in the body, including the uterus. One study showed that fennel acts as a
phytoestrogen in the body, simulating the effects of estrogen in the system. It
has traditionally been used to stimulate menstruation and milk production in
nursing mothers, and one study suggests that the herb does indeed have a mild
estrogenic effect. Perhaps this is why the herb has also traditionally been used
to treat conditions associated hormonal imbalance in women, including
premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause, low milk production, and low libido.
Today, fennel is an active ingredient in many combination herbal formulas used
to balance hormones in menopausal and premenstrual women. It is also included in
some herbal formulas that claim to promote natural breast enhancement.
Fennel has also been used as a decongestant, and is said to help loosen phlegm
in the bronchial passages. People suffering from bronchitis or unproductive
coughs may want to try to ease their symptoms by drinking hot fennel tea. You
can make your own by crushing 1 to 2 teaspoons of mashed fennel seeds (you can
get them in the spice section of the grocery store) into a cup of hot water. Or,
go to the health food store and get some fennel seed extract—1/2 teaspoon of
this in a cup of hot water may do the trick.
Fennel has a reputation as an appetite suppressant and promoter of weight-loss.
Some studies have shown that fennel does indeed have some diuretic effect, and
may help reduce water retention.
Isolated cases of allergic and asthmatic
reactions to fennel have been reported.
FENNEL - IN STOCK
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