Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Apiaceae, or Umbelliferae family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Fennel originates from the shores of the Mediterranean but also grows through parts of temperate Europe. Since Italians have colonized, Fennel grows throughout the world particularly in dry soil and near the coast or river banks. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Seeds ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Carminative
• Aromatic
• Antispasmodic
• Nervine
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antidepressant
• Galactagogue
• Hepatic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Abdominal pains
• Anti-emetic
• Aperitif
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Colic in children
• Conjunctivitis
• Constipation
• Depurative
• Diarrhea
• Dieresis
• Emmenagogue
• Fever
• Flatulence
• Gastralgia
• Gastritis
• Insomnia
• Irritable colon
• Kidney ailments
• Laxative
• Leukorrhea
• Liver pains ^[1,2]
6. Plant Constituents:
• The major constituent of fennel oil is anethole. Other constituents include alpha pinene, beta myrcene, beta pinene, bitter fenchone, camphene, estragole (methyl-chavicol), fenchone, limonene, p-cymen, and safrole. ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Urinary, digestive, hepatic, respiratory, integumentary, lymphatic. ^[2]  
8. Energetics:
• Amphoteric – stable/moving, liquid/dense, uplifting ^[3]
9. Safety:
• Contraindicated for those with Apiaceae sensitivities. ^[2]
10. Interactions:
• None known. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
•  The dried fennel seeds are oblong and striped with green and yellow. The smell is sweet and sour at the same time, and reminds me of a kitchen full of good food cooking on the stove. When crushed, the licorice smell is amazing! It is so strong.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tea: 1-2 teaspoon of crushed seeds to 1 cup of boiling water infused for more than 10 minutes taken 3x day.
• Tincture: 1:5, dose can vary from 1-2 ml 3x/day to 7-14 ml/day
3. Usage Notes:
•  The tincture I made has a very strong taste of fennel! So much so that the taste of alcohol is almost diminished to nothing. I've been taking it in the evenings after my last meal of the day, before bed, and I think it has been helping with some of the morning bloat I've been experiencing lately.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 9 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-18_MW5122-A Botanicals 2: Postpartum.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.