Latin name: Foeniculum vulgareGenera: Umbelliferous plantsPopular names: Bread anise, bread seeds, fennicelPlant description: Large, yellow-green flowering and typically smelling perennial which can grow 1 to 2 meters high. Leaves are finely divided. Flowering time: July to SeptemberOrigin: Mediterranean area, cultivated there. Often overgrown in our gardens.
Medicinally used plant parts
The ripe fruit, very rarely the root. Medicinally used fennel always comes from cultures. The best quality is the so called “comb fennel”, which is obtained by cutting out only the ripe umbels. Otherwise the whole plant is often used.
Ingredients
Essential oil up to 6 %, main components anethole and fenchon. Very similar to anise oil. Fatty oil, protein and sugar as accompanying substances.
Medicinal effects and use of fennel
Very frequently used drug. Used for flatulence, as an expectorant cough remedy, sedative for children for digestive disorders and diarrhea. Fennel oil has a good disinfecting effect. Inflammations of the outer eye can be alleviated.
Preparation of fennel
Fennel tea: 1 heaped teaspoon of fennel fruit is strained with 1⁄4 l of boiling water after 10 minutes. When coughing, drink this tea sweetened with honey and as warm as possible. In case of digestive problems the effect is better unsweetened. You can drink 1 cup 2 to 3 times a day. This tea can also be used as a compress for inflammation of the outer eye.
Combination with other medicinal plants
Fennel is often a component of tea mixtures for coughs, stomach and intestinal complaints. The essential oil is used to make cough syrups and fennel honey. Stomach and digestive tea: lemon balm leaves 20.0 g/antichoke root 20.0 g/thyme herb 20.0 g/peppermint leaves 10.0 g/fennel fruits 20.0 g/mixed. Pour 1⁄4 l boiling water over 2 teaspoons of this mixture, let it stand for 5 minutes and strain. Drink unsweetened before or after meals.
Application in homeopathy
Foeniculum is considered a good remedy for loss of appetite, cough and asthma. It is also used to promote milk production during the lactation period. The most common potencies are D1 or D2.
