Apiaceae
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: Mediterranean, Southern Europe
Also known as: Sweet Fennel, Common Fennel, Finocchio
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
SeedRootLeaf
Therapeutic Uses
Bloating, flatulence, infantile colic (safe for infants), IBS, respiratory catarrh, insufficient breast milk (galactagogue), menstrual irregularities, eye inflammation (external).
Herbal Actions
Carminative, antispasmodic, galactagogue, expectorant, mild estrogenic, diuretic, antimicrobial
Active Constituents
Volatile oils (trans-anethole 50–80%, fenchone, estragole), flavonoids (quercetin, rutin), coumarins, fixed oils
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 | 2–4 ml (1:5, 45% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | For infantile colic: 1 tsp fennel tea in bottle 3x daily. Essential oil: 1 drop in carrier oil for topical abdominal massage. Crush seeds fresh for maximum volatile oil content. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Avoid therapeutic doses in pregnancy (emmenagogue, estrogenic). Caution with hormone-sensitive cancers. Essential oil not for young children internally.
Side Effects: Rare allergic reactions (cross-react with carrot family). Phototoxicity with essential oil (topical). Anethole may cause rare seizures at very high doses.