this stuff grows wild around my neighborhood in Portland, smells great when it rains
COMMON NAME: fennel
FAMILY: Apiaceae
GENERAL: Plants in this family are toxic until proven otherwise. ID by the ripe seed. Other medicinal schizocarps in family Apiaceae include cumin, caraway, anise, parsley, dill, and celery.
PARTS USED: fruit (seeds), root
HABITAT: native to the Mediteranean
CONSTITUENTS:
--EO: 1-6%: anethone, fenchone, terpenes, pinene, dipentene
--fixed oil: 12-28%
--sterols
--flavonoids: rutin, quercitin
--coumarins
--silica
--sugars
ACTIONS/USES:
--carminative
--aromatic
--antispasmodic: for gas, blaoting colic, coughs
--diuretic
--galactogogue: increases lactation, increases desire for baby to "latch on"
--expectorant
--anti-inflam
--estrogenic: useful at menopause
--warming
--interchangeable wtih anise or caraway as a carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant
--eyewash: decreases inflammation of blepharitis and conjuncitivitis, said to improve eyesight
DIFFERENTIATIG THE TOP CARMINATIVES IN APIEACEAE FAMILY (according to Weiss):
--caraway: strong carminative, mild expectorant
--fennel: moderate in both actions
--anise: mild carminative, strong expectorant
COMBINATIONS:
--Matricaria recutita, Foeniculum and Melissa officialis for colic in breastfed infants (Hippocrates is said to have used fennel for treaing colic, and this combo has been validated in a study published in Altern Ther Halth Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;9(4):58-61)
INDICATIONS:
--colic
--indigestion
--IBS
--gas
--eye inflammation
--increase mother's milk production
DOSAGE:
--whole seeds mb chewed, just a few after a meal to aid digestion
--tea: decoct 1/2 tsp crushed seeds in 1 cup water, 10-15 mins, drink three cups per day
--tincture: 2-4 ml three times per day