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Aniseed
Pimpinella anisum
Umbelliferae
Citations
Names : Anise
Habitat : Originally from Egypt and Asia Minor but now widely cultivated
in warmer climates.
Collection : The ripe dry fruits should be gathered between July and
September.
Part Used : Dried fruit.
Constituents : o Volatile oil, l-4%, consisting of largely trans-anethole
(70-90%), with estragole (methylchavicol), anisic acid, b-caryophylline,
anisaldehyde, linalool, anise ketone (methoxyphenylacetone); the
polymers of anethole, dianethole and photoanethole; an Egyptian variety
carvene, carvone, and alpha-zingiberene.
o Coumarins, such as bergapten, umbelliferone, scopoletin
o Flavonoid glycosides including rutin, isovitexin, quercetin, luteolin,
and apigenin glycosides
o Phenylpropanoids, including l-propenyl-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzene-2-
(2- methyl-butyrate)!
o Misc. lipids, fatty acids, sterols, proteins and carbohydrates.
Actions : Expectorant, anti-spasmodic, carminative, anti-microbial,
aromatic, galactogogue.
Indications : The volatile oil in Aniseed provides the basis for its
internal use to ease griping, intestinal colic and flatulence. It also
has an expectorant and anti-spasmodic action and may be used in
bronchitis, in tracheitis where there is persistent irritable coughing,
and in whooping cough. Externally, the oil may be used in an ointment
base for the treatment of scabies. The oil by itself will help in the
control of lice. Aniseed has been demonstrated to increase mucociliary
transport and so supporting its use as an expectorant. It has mild
estrogenic effects, thought to be due to the presence of dianethole and
photoanethole, which explains the use of this plant in folk medicine to
increase milk secretion, facilitate birth and increase libido.
Felter & LLoyd considered it a stimulant and carminative; used in
cases of flatulence, flatulent colic of infants, and to remove nausea.
Sometimes added to other medicines to improve their flavour, correct
griping and other disagreeable effects..
Combinations : For flatulent colic mix Aniseed with equal amounts of
Fennel and Caraway. For bronchitis it combines well with Coltsfoot ,
Horehound and Lobelia
Preparations & Dosage : Infusion: the seeds should be gently crushed
just before use to release the volatile oils. Pour one cup of boiling
water over l-2 teaspoonfuls of the seeds and let it stand covered for 5
to l0 minutes. Take one cup three times daily. To treat flatulence, the
tea should be drunk slowly before meals. Oil: one drop of the oil may be
taken internally by mixing it into half a teaspoonful of honey.
The herbalist by David Hoffman, (c)1993 David Hoffman, Hopkins
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