Fennel today is cultivated in Asia, China, and North America though it is native to Europe, especially the Mediterranean region. The scientific name for fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. It is a tall perennial plant. The leaves, bulb, and stalk of fennel are all edible and look much like white celery. The seeds are used in cooking and in making herbal products. Fennel has a sweet licorice taste.
Fennel herbs have appeared in European history records for centuries. It grows wild in many parts of the world usually in dry soils upon river-banks or near the sea-coast, particularly on limestone soils. It is cultivated in the south of France, Galicia, Saxony, Russia, India and Persia. The odor of Fennel seed is pleasant and it has a warm, sweet and aromatic taste.
Fennel has a thick bright green root-stock and stout stems. The four to five feet tall plant has a certain beauty about it. The branched leaves bring forth bright golden flowers that blossom in July and early August each having thirteen to twenty rays.
The stems are used in soups or salads. Some even claim that eating the peeled stalks relaxes the body for sleep.
Fennel has been used to treat digestive ailments since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The presence of terpenoid anethole in fennel is given credit for its ability to calm the gastrointestinal tract and relieve cramps. Often it is mixed with peppermint, caraway, and wormwood to treat indigestion, heartburn, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Fennel has aided many woman with health issues. It will relax the uterus and promote natural breast enhancement. Fennel is also used to treat hormonal imbalance which causes PMS, menopause, and low libido, and to stimulate menstruation and milk production in nursing mothers.
Some have used fennel as a decongestant to loosen phlegm in the bronchial passages. Fennel seed tea is also effective in some to reduce a persistent cough. To make this tea, crush 1 to 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds into a cup of hot water.
Some believe that fennel has some diuretic effect, and may help reduce a problem with water retention. Fennel for some reduces the appetite and is therefore effective in weight loss.
Fennel can be purchased as seeds, an oil which was distilled, in a tincture, in capsules, or as a liquid seed extract. You can also grow it yourself easily but just don’t plant it near tomatoes or caraway for this will hinder their production. The normal dose is 2 to 12 drops of the oil, .5 teaspoons of the liquid daily, or 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of the seeds.
We’ve covered a few of the many advantages of Fennel Seed. If you’d like to experience them for yourself, we encourage you to buy Fennel from MoreThanAlive for best price and customer service.
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