Energetic quality: sweet, spicy, warm

Parts used: seeds, essential oil

Ethnobotanical/historical use: used since ancient Egyptian times; Romans used plant to flavor wedding cakes to help with indigestion; seed is used in smoking mixtures; seeds flavor candy, breads, many Old World cookie recipes; seeds flavor alcoholic drinks Anisette and Turkish raki; in Mexico, seeds burned, smoke blown into child’s face for delayed speaking

Actions, properties: plant is similar to Fennel in the digestive system and as galactagogue
aromatic carminative, digestive tonic and stimulant; expectorant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory; galactagogue, emmenagogue, estrogenic; diaphoretic; anodyne

Indications: indigestion, flatulence, colic, bad breath; breastfeeding; cough, bronchitis

Contraindications: pregnancy, acid reflux

Methods of preparation and dosage:
chew seeds after a meal for indigestion, sweetening the breath
Crush seeds and infuse, to 3 cups daily
Make weak infusion, use for baby colic
Extract – 1 – 2 droppers 1 – 3x daily
Make syrup for cough
Can use as facial in steams and masques for mature skin

Combines well with: sweet, licorice flavor improves the taste of unpleasant herbal mixtures
For indigestion, colic – Foeniculum vulgare, Anethum graveolens, Mentha piperita, Zingiber officinalis; for cough – Thymus vulgaris, Hyssopus officinalis

Essential Oil Information: anethole component may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals – use dilute and only in moderation
Dilute in carrier oil and rub on chest for bronchitis – combine with Eucalyptus for this purpose
Use for digestive and respiratory issues – massage, steam, room diffuser

Spiritual/magical/religious use: hang sprig on bedpost to restore lost youth; use for protection, to avert evil eye, drive away negativity; seeds used in purification baths, along with Bay leaves