What is fennel and how is it taken?

The fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial plant very aromaticup to 120 cm high, very branched, with feathery leaves and yellowish flowers, grouped in umbels. It is very common in ditches, edges of fields and margins of lowland forests.

They are harvested seedstowards the end of summer, and more occasionally as well the root and the leaves.

Fennel is sold in the form of essential oildry plant for drink as an infusion (the famous fennel tea) or decoction, syrup, powder and extract dry or fluid.

What are the properties of fennel?

The fennel seeds contain a essential oilrich in anethole and with proportions of other substances such as estragole and alfapinene. The fennel leaves They contain flavonoids and rootcoumarins. All this makes fennel a plant with multiple uses in natural medicine.

Fennel is a powerful medicinal plant that stands out for its strength in balance the functions of the digestive systemalthough it is also expectorant and anti-inflammatory.

Below we highlight the main medicinal properties of fennelas well as a series of instructions so that you know when and how to take it:

• Fennel successfully combats stomach disorders and ailments after poor digestion, reduces bloating and prevents gas.
• Due to its effective action and mild flavor, it is especially indicated to administer to children and babies suffering from colic, intestinal discomfortcramps, flatulence or to stimulate their appetite. To do this, simply add a few drops of a simple fennel infusion to the bottle.
• It is a good natural resource to facilitate evacuation and combat constipation.
• Promotes urine emission and therefore it is advised to people with a tendency to obesity fluid retention.
• Purifies the urinary tractpromoting the elimination of toxins and preventing the appearance of infectionsas cystitis, urethritis or oliguria.
• It is an ally of the pregnant woman for its effectiveness in dissipating nausea and the dizziness during pregnancy, and from the nursing mother, to increase milk production.
• Due to its expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect, fennel is very effective in cases of eye and mouth inflammations, especially of the gums.

Natural remedies with fennel

Fennel tea for bloated belly

To take advantage of the carminative virtues of fennel when you have it gas problems and heavy belly, herbalists advise a mixed formula that is prepared by combining fennel seeds with other carminative plants such as green anise, caraway and corianderwith the reinforcement of star anise.
How to prepare it: Boil one level tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for 3 minutes, expandable to two tablespoons per half a liter of water in acute cases of gas.
How to take it: It should be drunk in sips, hot, throughout the day.

Infusion of fennel and star anise to purify the urinary tract

Herbalists propose a new formula in which 25 g of fennel and star anisewith amounts of 15 g of horsetail, birch, dandelion, lemon balm and walnut leaves.

How to prepare it: Two tablespoons of the mixture should be boiled for 2 minutes per half a liter of water.

How to take it: Let it rest for 10 minutes, strain it and drink it whenever you are thirsty.

How to use fennel to relieve tired eyes

​We can topically apply an infusion of fennel with salt.

How to prepare it: once you have the fennel infusion, add salt.

How to apply it: Soaking a piece of cotton in the infusion. Give yourself a few gentle touches on your closed eyelids.

Advisor: Josep Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”