Fennel's effects have a warming, respiring and loosening nature. It warms and stimulates the digestive organs, especially when they become sluggish. This relieves gas and headaches that are related to improper digestion. An excellent stomach and intestinal remedy for treating flatulence and colic conditions, while also stimulating healthy appetite and digestion. Fennel frees the respiratory system, rendering a calming antispasmodic effect on coughs and bronchitis. It gives a delicious flavor and aromatic lift to herbal blends and cough syrups. Helpful for cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. To help with indigestion and gas, pour boiling water over crushed fennel seeds (1 tsp seed to a pt of water). The seeds are simmered in syrups for coughs, shortness of breath, and wheezing. The leaves and seeds when boiled with barley increase breast milk. The seeds and root help clean the liver, spleen, gallbladder, and blood. The tea and broth of this herb are said to help in weight loss programs. Fennel oil mixed with honey can be taken for coughs, and the tea is used as a gargle. The oil is eaten with honey to allay gas and it is applied externally to rheumatic swellings. The seeds are boiled to make an eye wash for inflamed and swollen eyes. Use an infusion of the seeds as a gargle for gum disorders, loose teeth, laryngitis or sore throats.

Properties:

carminative, diuretic, stimulant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, aromatic, expectorant, aperitif, antiseptic, depurative, emmenagogue, laxative, orexigenic, splenic, vermifuge, anti-microbial, tonic, calmative, stomachic, bechyic, digestive, vaso-motorial, cardiac, galactagogue and diuretic.

Remedies:

Nursing Tea: 1 quart boiling water, 1 teaspoon each vitex berries and blessed thistle leaves; ½ teaspoon each nettle leaves and vervain leaf (optional); ¼ teaspoon each fenugreek seed and anise seed Pour boiling water over herbs and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. Drink 1-3 cups daily.

Diuretic Tea: 1 quart boiling water; 2 teaspoons dandelion root; 1/ 2 teaspoon each nettle leaf, oat straw, fennel seed and corn silk Pour boiling water over herbs, then steep in a covered container for 20 minutes. Strain herbs. Drink 1or 2 cups as needed.

TCM: Ailments of cold excess; hernias and pains in groin, drooping testicle, pain and cold in abdomen; nausea and vomiting due to cold excess in stomach. The drug sometimes causes flatulence and burping. Dosage 2-5 g

A decoction of the seeds is used in Chinese medicine for abdominal pain, colic and stomach chills. Enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach channels. Spreads the Liver qi, warms the Kidneys, expels cold and alleviates pain: used to warm and encourage movement in the Liver channel or the lower burner as in cold hernial disorders or any kind of lower abdominal pain due to cold. Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with heat signs.

Cautions:

Ingestion of the essential oil may induce nausea, vomiting, seizures and pulmonary edema. The principal hazards with fennel itself are photodermatitis and contact dermatitis. Some individuals exhibit crossreactivity to several species of Apiaceae. Rare allergic reactions have been reported following the ingestion of fennel.