Apiaceae
Anise
Pimpinella anisum
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: Eastern Mediterranean, Southwest Asia
Also known as: Aniseed, Sweet Cumin, Anise Plant
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Seed
Therapeutic Uses
Flatulence, bloating, infantile colic, IBS, productive cough, bronchitis, insufficient breast milk, menstrual irregularities. Similar to fennel but stronger antimicrobial activity.
Herbal Actions
Carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, galactagogue, mild estrogenic, antimicrobial
Active Constituents
Volatile oil (trans-anethole 80–90%, estragole, pseudoisoeugenol), flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture⚗️ Essential Oil
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 1 tsp crushed seeds per 250ml, steep 10 min covered, 3x daily after meals |
| Tincture | 1–3 ml (1:5, 45% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | Crush seeds immediately before use for maximum volatile oil content. For infantile colic: weak anise tea 1 tsp in bottle. Essential oil: 1 drop in honey for adults only. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Avoid therapeutic doses in pregnancy (estrogenic, emmenagogue). Caution in hormone-sensitive cancers. Essential oil toxic if ingested in large amounts.
Side Effects: Rare allergic reactions (cross-react with carrot family). Anethole may cause dermatitis. GI upset at high doses.