Fennel.Fructus Foeniculi.Foeniculum vulgare Mill.Xiao Hui Xiang.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Fennel.Fructus Foeniculi.
- .What Is It?General Description of Fennel.
- .Description of Fennel Plant(s) and Culture.
- .History,Region of Fennel Origin.
- .Fennel History and Modern Use.
- .Traditional Ethnic Uses of Fennel.
- .Fennel Legends, Myths and Stories.
- .Chemistry and Pharmacology of Fennel.
- .Fennel Medicinal Properties.
- .Common Uses Of Fennel.
- .Healing with Fennel.
- .Fennel Formulas or Dosages,safety.
- .Research Update:Fennel.Fructus Foeniculi.Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
Fennel History and Modern Use.
Its modern therapeutic uses in Germany and the United States stem from traditional Greek medicine as practiced by Hippocrates and later by Dioscorides. It is still widely used in traditional Arabian medicine as a diuretic, appetizer, and digestive.
Fennel's therapeutic uses have been introduced and integrated into many other systems of traditional medicine, including Chinese TCM. For example, the present Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia recommends it in dried fruit or fluidextract form, for flatulent dyspepsia, anorexia, and flatulent colic in children. Its indications for use in the present Chinese pharmacopoeia include for distending pain in the epigastrium with anorexia, dysmenorrhea with lower abdominal pain and cold sensation, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The modern therapeutic applications for fennel seed and oil are supportable based on their history of use in well-established systems of traditional medicine, phytochemical investigations, and in vitro and in vivo studies in animals.
In Germany, fennel seed is licensed as a standard medicinal tea for dyspepsia. It is also used in cough syrups and honeys (antitussives and expectorants), and stomach and bowel remedies, especially in pediatrics, as aqueous infusion, water (Aqua Foeniculi), drag (lozenge), juice, and syrup. It is often used in combination with aniseed (Leung and Foster, 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994). In the United States, it is also used as a component of galactagogue preparations. Indications for use of fennel oil are similar to those for fennel seed. In Germany and the United States, fennel oil is used as an expectorant component of cough remedies, and also as a carminative component of stomach and bowel remedies in dosage forms including honey and syrup. Traditionally, it is combined with laxative or purgative herbs to counteract or modify their harsh griping effects in the bowels. The Commission E limits the use of fennel seed and fennel oil for up to two weeks and then recommends consulting a physician.
Fennel historically as a galactogogue:
Fennel has been used historically as a galactogogue (to stimulate milk production). It has also been used for gastrointestinal disorders and as an expectorant. The dose of the oil is 0.1-0.6 mL which is equivalent to 100-600 mg of herb. Side effects include allergic reactions and dermatitis. There are no known contraindications for fennel oil.
Fennel and Witch Battle:
Fennel:Known for its healing properties, stalks of fennel were wielded by the benandanti in their battles against evil witches (Guiley 1989 24).
Reference:
1.Fennel.Fructus Foeniculi.Foeniculum vulgare Mill.Xiao Hui Xiang.




