ANISE SEED
Botanical: Pimpinella anisum Family: Umbelliferae (carrot) - Apiaceae (parsley) Other common names: Pimpinel Seed, Sweet Cumin

Try Anise Seed to relieve the pain of indigestion, colic, flatulence and bloating. Since ancient times Anise has been used to loosen phlegm and eases the discomforts of bronchitis, asthma and coughs. Boost your immune system – and try it for bad breath too!

History:
Anise is a highly aromatic, low-growing plant that produces feathery leaves and flowers on stalks that grow from one to two feet.  Native to the Mediterranean coasts of west Asia, Anise is widely cultivated in Egypt, Spain and Turkey. It grows wild but has been cultivated for centuries (the cultivated plants grow larger) and is an important addition to many herb gardens. About 1500 B.C., Egyptians grew their native Anise in great quantity to supply food, drink and medicine from its leaves and seeds; and the fields of Tuscany were planted with Anise by the Romans, who developed a special spiced cake, mustaceum, for great feasts, where it was eaten not only as a delicacy but also to prevent indigestion. The cake is said to be the precursor to modern spiced wedding cakes. Ancient Romans also hung Anise plants near their pillows to prevent bad dreams and also used the herb to aid digestion and ward off epileptic attacks. In the ninth century, Charlemagne proclaimed an edict, stating that every herb growing in St. Gall's Monastery be planted on all his royal estates, which helped spread Anise throughout Europe. By the fourteenth century, it was popular in English gardens and became so valued that its import was taxed, providing funds to repair London Bridge.  Early colonists carried it to North America, where Shakers grew Anise as a medicinal herb, and it was an important cash crop for them.  It was said to enhance milk production and was even added to cattle fodder to increase milk.  Anise Seed is a gray-brown oval seed, and included among its chemical constituents are essential oil (dianethole and photoanethole), furano-coumarins, alpha-pinene, apigenin, bergapten, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, eugenol, limonene, linalool, myristicin, rutin, scopoletin, squalene, stigmasterol, umbelliferone, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, choline, mucilage and vitamins A, C, E, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5 and B-6.

Beneficial Uses:
Anise Seed has long been used as a popular remedy to relieve digestive disorders. It is a tonic for the stomach that relieves nausea, abdominal pain, and spasmodic flatulence.  Anise helps prevent the fermentation and production of gas in the stomach and bowel and aids in expelling it.  Aromatic Anise promotes good digestion, improves appetite and helps alleviate cramps and “griping” (sharp pains and grumbling in the bowels). Herbalists recommend Anise to soothe colicky infants.

Anise is an effective expectorant that loosens phlegm in the respiratory tract; it stimulates secretions from linings of the throat and lungs and is particularly appropriate in cases of unproductive cough.  It is especially comforting for colds and is used as a cough suppressant.  It is also the ingredient in many cough medicines and lozenges. Anise is considered a “secretagogue,” an herb that stimulates the body to secrete fluids and clear out congestion. The alpha-pinene in Anise helps clear mucus from air passages and loosens bronchial secretions.  Modern Greeks widely use Anise Seed for asthma and respiratory ailments.

Two chemicals in Anise (dianethole and photoanethole) are chemically similar to the female hormone estrogen, and the mild estrogenic activity of this herb has been said to relieve menopausal symptoms. It is used to promote the onset of menstruation, ease cramps and facilitate childbirth. Anise has a reputation for increasing the libido in both men and women. Since the Middle Ages, nursing mothers have used Anise to increase the production of their breast milk.

Anise Seed is a fine antiseptic; it helps combat sinusitis and infection.

Used externally, its antiseptic qualities have been used to treat scabies and lice.

Anise has been beneficial in reducing bad breath, and it is even used in toothpastes, soaps, and mouthwashes.

Sweet-tasting Anise is characterized by its licorice-like flavor and aroma. It has long been used as a spice to flavor food (especially fruit salads, soups and stews), and is also an important ingredient in the manufacture of cordials, liqueurs and perfumes. The delicate licorice taste is often added to improve the flavor of medicines.

Anise has been used to treat insomnia, particularly when taken with warm milk.

**Provided itself beneficial in research that involved people. Therapeutic use endorsed by Germany’s Commission E for Bronchitis, Colds, Coughing, Fever, Gallbladder, Liver, Appetite, Sore Throat.

*Provided itself beneficial in research that did not involve people. Shed some positive therapeutic health effect, the study could have been done in a test tube, petri dish or animals for Anemia, Bad Breath, Breast Milk Deficiency, Colic, Gas, Indigestion, Psoriasis.

Infusion: (Seeds should be crushed slightly just before use to release oils) 1 C boiling water over 1 -2 tsp seeds, steep 5-10 mins. 1 C 3 x’s daily) (for flatulence should be taken slowly before meals)  mix with honey or lemon for head colds, 1 -2 C tea daily for Ulcers)
Combine: with equal amounts of Anise, Fennel and Caraway for colic, intestinal purifier, flatulence.
                 Anise and Peppermint for adult colic (peppermint  NOT to be used on young children)
                 Anise, Thyme or hyssop for infections
Infants: colds  2 oz covered with 2 C boiling water, steeped 15 mins; cool, then strained; given to infant in teaspoon doses up to 1 year of age and up to 3 tsps for children 4 years and older
Digestive Problems: 1 Tbsp ground seed boiled in 1/2 pint milk and taken 2 x’s daily
Tincture: crush a handful of seeds and steep in 1 pint of brandy for 2 wks; strain 1 tsp in 1 C of hot water for hacking bronchial cough, asthma attack
Capsules: 4 -5 size 00 capsules per day filled with powdered seeds for low blood pressure, ulcers
Wine: Infuse 1 oz  in 1 pint of boiling water and skim off the oil which rises to the top, mix with 1-4 parts of wine and take 6 drops in a wineglassful of hot water, for bronchitis; will also help to encourage sleep
Eyewash: in a weak tisane of 1/2 tsp ground seed steeped in 1 pint water
Oil: 1 drop in 1/2 tsp honey or 10 drops in 6 oz. warm water for asthma, bronchitis and lung congestion. Oil has been used for destroying lice, scabies and itching insects
Lice: Combine 1 part anise oil with 3 parts of olive oil; rub into hair; wrap hair in plastic wrap and leave for 2 hours; shampoo thoroughly and use fine comb to remove any remaining eggs; repeat 1 or 2 times during the next 10 days.
Gargle/Chew seeds: for hiccups, coughs, bad breath
Toothache: Cotton soaked with anise oil fill decayed tooth cavities to alleviate pain.
Chest rub: Horehound oil mixed with oil of Eucalyptus for respiratory problems
Paste: Trikatu: 1 part black pepper 1 part powdered ginger root, 2 parts powdered anise seed; combine, add a little honey to form a paste; dose is 1/2 tsp 3 x’s daily before meals for a natural antihistamine
Smoked: for respiratory complaints.

Veterinary
Used for cows to increase milk production.
Powdered seeds once used in condition" pills for horses.
Used for colic and digestive problems in animals.
Used in health-formula puppy foods for weaning pups.

Contraindications:
Not recommended while pregnant or nursing.


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Disclaimer:The information presented herein by Organic Herbs Medicine Cabinet is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider