Ø  Anise Star: 

§      Warning: Anise is on the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe.  In medicinal amounts, it is considered safe for otherwise healthy nonpregnant, non-nursing adults.  High doses of anise oil (several teaspoons) may cause nausea and vomiting.  Anise should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor.  If anise causes minor discomforts such as stomach upset or diarrhea use less or stop using.  Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Anise is traditional used for asthma, bloating, catarrh, colic, coughs, diarrhea, flatulence, halitosis, hiccups, indigestion, menstrual cramps, nausea, poor appetite, poor digestion, stomachache, whooping cough

---Botanical name--- Pimpinella anisum; star anise:  Illicium verum Wikipedia.org

---Botanical family--- Apiaceae (Parsley)

∞      Chinese Botanical name:

 ---Description--- The Licorice-Flavored Cough Remedy, Digestive Aid, Prostrate Health, Supplemental Estrogen, Intriguing Possibilities.

---Family--- Umbelliferae; other members include carrot, parsley; Star anise:  Magnoliaceae; other members include magnolia.

---Synonymous--- Aniseed, sweet cumin; star anise:  Chinese anise, illicium

---Physiological Character--- Antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, parturient and stimulant, stomachic, tonic

---Parts used--- Fruits (“seeds”)

---Cultivation--- This annual is native to Egypt but now can be found wherever the climate is amenable.  It grows easily in any well-drained soil that receives full sun, but it requires 120 frost-free days for its seeds to mature.  The plant grows to about two feet in height and has feathery leaves divided into many leaflets.  The umbrella like clusters of tiny white or yellow flowers bloom midsummer and produce small, downy, ribbed seeds in late summer.

The seeds can be planted directly in the soil.  The plant repels aphids, so it is a welcome addition to the garden.

---Constituents--- Volatile oils (anethole, methyl chavicol), furanocoumarins, Flavonoid glycosides, fatty acids, phytoestrogens, starch, protein, choline, mucilage

---Medicinal Action and Uses---

·         COUGH REMEDY - Science has supported anise’s traditional use as a treatment for coughs, bronchitis, and asthma.  According to several studies, the herb contains chemicals (creosol and alpha-pinene) that loosen bronchial secretions and make them easier to cough up.

·         DIGESTIVE AID – Another chemical (anethole) in anise acts as a digestive aid, which supports its traditional use after meals.

·         MEN’S HEALTH – Female sex hormones similar to estrogen are used to treat some cases of prostate cancer.  Of course, by itself anise cannot teat this disease, but men taking hormone therapy for prostate cancer should discuss anise’s mild-estrogenic action with their physician.  Taking the herb in addition to standard medication can’t hurt – and might help.

·         WOMEN’S HEALTH – Anise also contains chemicals (dianethole and photoanethole) similar to the female sex hormone estrogen.  Scientists suggest their presence probably accounts for the herbs traditional uses as a milk promoter in nursing mothers.  Anise has only mild estrogen activity, but it may help relieve menopausal discomforts.

·         INTRIGUING POSSIBILITY – One report shows that anise spurs the regeneration of liver cells in laboratory rats, suggesting a possible value in treating hepatitis and cirrhosis.  While there are no studies that support using anise to treat live disease in humans, anise looks promising in this area.

Used in tea, anise seed improves digestion, freshens the breath, relieves flatulence and nausea, and even improves coughs due to its expectorant properties.  It makes an excellent children’s teas for coughs, nausea, and stomachaches.  It helps curb appetite, as its natural sweetness satisfies.

---Nutrient Source---

---Flavor--- Anise has a sweet, warm character.  It imparts its sweetness to herbal tea with a lovely licorice like flavor.

---Side Effects or Negative Effects--- Many herbalists recommend anise during pregnancy to treat morning sickness.  The herb has never been associated with miscarriage or birth defects, but the medical consensus is that pregnant women should steer clear of all drugs, including medical doses of herbs.

Estrogen – and even herbs such as anise that have mild estrogenic activity – may conceivably cause harm.  Estrogen is an ingredient in birth control pills, so any women whose physician advises her not to use the PILL should consult her doctor about anise’s estrogenic activity before using medicinal quantities of the herbs.  Estrogen may contribute to migraine headaches an abnormal blood clotting and promote the development of certain types of breast tumors.

---Contraindications---  Avoid therapeutic doses during pregnancy unless under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional.          

---Deterrent---

  ---References--- “The Healing Herbs – The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature’s Medicine” by – Michael Castleman, Copyright 1991, ISBN: 0-87857-934-6; Pages  49-52

  ---References--- Wikipedia.org

  ---References--- “Nutritional Herbology” A Reference Guide to Herbs By – Mark Pedersen ISBN: 1-885653-07-7 Copyright 2008

  ---References--- “Healing Herbal Teas” A Complete Guide to Making Delicious, Healthful Beverages.  By – Brigitte Mars, A.H.G. ISBN - 13: 978-59120-110-6 and ISBN – 10: 1-59120-110-1 Copyright 2006

  ---References---  “Herbal Medicine” The Natural Way to Get Well and Stay Well; By Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D ISBN – 0-517-147647-x; Copyright 1996

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