Anise

Products

The medicinal drug, essential oil and medicinal products are available in pharmacies and drugstores. Anise is included in tea blends, bronchial pastilles, candies, rheumatism ointments, nursing teas, drops and cough syrups, among other products. It is also needed for the preparation of absinthe, pastis, and aniseed ravioli and rolls.

Stem plant

Anise from the umbelliferae family (Apiaceae).

Medicinal drug

The medicinal raw material used is the anise fruit (Anisi fructus), the dry, intact, bipartite split fruit of . The pharmacopoeia requires a minimum essential oil content. Anise fruits are also included in various tea mixtures in the pharmacopoeia:

  • Diuretic tea PH
  • Laxative tea PH
  • Soothing tea PH
  • Breast tea PH

Ingredients

Anise essential oil (Anisi aetheroleum) is obtained from the fruits with the help of steam distillation. It is present as a clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid. The main component is -anethole (over 87%).

Effects

Preparations from the fruit have expectorant, flatulent (carminative), digestive, spasmolytic, and antimicrobial properties.

Indications for use

Indications for use include:

  • For the treatment of spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints and flatulence.
  • As an expectorant remedy for colds and coughs with phlegm formation.
  • To promote lactation in breastfeeding tea, as a lactagogue.
  • As a flavor corrigendum.

Dosage

The medicinal drug can be prepared as an infusion. The fruit should be nudged before use to allow the essential oil to escape.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity
  • Pregnancy and lactation (pure essential oil).

The full precautions can be found in the drug information leaflet.

Adverse effects

Possible adverse effects include allergic reactions. Pure anise oil is toxic in overdose even in the milliliter range. It should therefore be kept out of reach of children.