Fennel seeds. Benefits, harm, how to take a decoction

Benefit that can bring fennel seeds to the body, never underestimated. This is a well-known medicinal plant and folk medicine has found applications for all its parts. Fennel is so in demand that it is even sometimes called pharmaceutical dill.

Product features

Fennel seeds, the benefits of which are recognized not only by traditional medicine, do not look like ordinary dill seeds. This applies to both appearance and composition. Smell and taste also vary greatly. Nevertheless, the plant itself, especially a young one, is very similar to ordinary dill in appearance. But this is where all the similarities end.

Description

Externally, fennel seeds look similar to anise seeds. These are brown, oblong grains, up to 8 mm long and up to 3 mm wide. They have a dense texture and have longitudinal stripes on each of them. A distinctive feature of the grains is a spicy smell and sweetish aftertaste. They are a bit like anise, but fennel has a richer and sweeter aroma and flavor.

To get the seeds at home, you need to let the plant finish blooming, wait until the ovaries appear and wrap the flower stalk with gauze so that the grains do not crumble after ripening. When they mature, the peduncle is cut off and the gauze is removed already indoors, above the bowl where the ripe seeds are removed.

Compound

There are no unique substances in fennel grains, but despite this, the composition of the seeds is quite rich.

They have:

• phosphorus;
• B vitamins;
• zinc;
• vitamin C;
• iron;
• vitamin A;
• calcium;
• vitamin PP;
• copper;
• glycosides;
• sodium;
• flavonoids;
• magnesium;
• coumarins;
• potassium;
• essential oils.

Grains also contain dietary fiber and fatty acids. There are only 31 kcal per 100 g, but the dried spice weighs very little and it is impossible to eat such a volume at a time, or even in a day. Moreover, consuming so much fennel is extremely harmful.

Medicinal and useful properties

Fennel seeds, which can be useful for solving a variety of problems, are a popular culinary spice. But besides this, they have enough useful properties to call it a remedy.

Fennel seeds can:

• relieve inflammation;
• positively influence the work of the intestines and stomach;
• prevent premature aging of the body;
• improve immunity;
• positively influence the work of the heart and the state of blood vessels;
• relieve spasms;
• have an antioxidant effect;
• relieve nervous tension;
• prevent iron deficiency anemia;
• increase libido;
• protect against the development of cancer.

Therefore, fennel seeds can be used not only to diversify the taste of familiar dishes. They are good for making medicinal infusions, decoctions, tinctures or teas. The advantage of these home remedies is that they cause almost no side effects when used as directed. Also, there are very few contraindications for admission. Fennel can even be given to children. Therefore, it is an almost universal medicinal herb.

For women

The seeds of the plant are useful for women to normalize their menstrual cycle and relieve pain during menstruation or to alleviate PMS symptoms. In addition, fennel can be added to mainstream therapy in the treatment of gynecological diseases.

In the 1st trimester of pregnancy, seeds help fight toxicosis, but at a later date, it is better to refrain from eating any parts of the plant. During breastfeeding, fennel increases the amount of breast milk. Therefore, if the baby does not have allergies, tea with it can and should be drunk during the entire lactation period, especially if there are problems with feeding.

For men

Fennel seed tincture is beneficial for the male reproductive system. They are taken internally. The funds have a positive effect on hormonal levels, restore potency and are beneficial for the health of the prostate gland. The plant has no other specific properties for men.

For children

It is permissible to give a child products with fennel in moderation from infancy. This is a popular option for treating colic and gas in children. For this, tea or infusion is best suited and the smaller the child, the lower the dose should be. If in doubt, you should consult your pediatrician.

Potential harm

The benefits that fennel seeds can provide far outweigh the potential harm. Fennel can cause allergies. The most common symptoms are itchy skin, rashes and watery eyes. The problem is solved by excluding the product from the diet and taking an allergy remedy. An overdose of plant seeds provokes diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms disappear in 1-3 days without the intervention of a doctor. It is enough to exclude the product from the diet.

Contraindications

Fennel seeds, the benefits of which are beyond doubt, have some contraindications for use. They can be divided into 2 groups - cases when use is prohibited, and situations when drugs can be used, but with caution.

It is forbidden	It is possible, in limited quantities
Individual intolerance	Diarrhea tendency
2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy	Chronic diseases of the digestive system
Epilepsy	While taking certain medications (may decrease or increase the effect)
Disruption of the heart

If you are in doubt about whether it is possible to consume the grains of the plant, you should consult with a herbalist or attending physician.

Traditional medicine recipes

Fennel seeds, the benefits of which are in demand in traditional medicine, are used to make homemade medicines. These products are easy to prepare, and some can be made in less than 20 minutes. Most can be used both internally and externally.

Most often, fennel is used in cooking, it is added to fish and meat dishes, stewed vegetables, savory pies or bread. This is not enough for it to have a therapeutic effect and it cannot replace an infusion or decoction. But if you regularly season food with fennel, it can be a good prevention of certain diseases and strengthen the immune system.

Tea

The drink will be useful, first of all, as a cough suppressant. It not only relieves symptoms, but also has a pronounced expectorant effect, relieves inflammation and helps restore lung function. When coughing, tea is taken 0.5 cups three times a day, until complete recovery.

You can prepare the product in 4 simple steps:

1. Pour 3 tsp into a thermos. l. seeds.
2. Add 2.5 cups boiling water (625 ml).
3. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
4. Strain and pour back into a thermos to keep the drink warm longer.

There is a second tea recipe that is good for women to relieve PMS and painful periods:

1. Put 1.5 tsp in the kettle. l. fennel seeds and 1.5 tsp. l. dried chamomile flowers.
2. Pour 200 ml of boiling water.
3. Insist 10-15 minutes, you can extend the period up to 20 minutes.

This tea is drunk three times a day, like regular tea. You can add honey, sugar, stevia, or milk to enhance the taste. You can drink no more than 3 cups of the product per day. It is better to start taking it 2-3 days before the onset of menstruation. It is permissible to do this in a week, at the first manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.

Infusion

The main difference between tea and infusion is the infusion time. The first remedy is never left on for more than 30 minutes, and the second is never left on for less than 1 hour.

The seed infusion effectively fights pancreatitis and helps with joint pain. It should be used differently in each case. In the first case, it is used internally, in the second only externally, in the form of compresses.

Disease	Application
Pancreatitis	The infusion helps to reduce pain in the right hypochondrium, stimulates the outflow of bile and prevents stones in the biliary tract. The remedy should be taken 2-3 times a day, in a tablespoon. You can dilute this amount of the drug in ½ glass of warm water.
Joint pain	Compresses are made from the infusion. In a still warm product, you need to wet a thick bandage or soft cloth and apply it for 2 hours. You can wrap the top with cling film and a warm scarf, or fix the compress with an elastic bandage. In any case, during the procedure, it is advisable to avoid vigorous activity. These compresses help restore joint mobility and reduce pain.

Making an infusion is simple. To prepare it, you will need to act according to the following scheme.

1. Take 1 tbsp. l. fennel seeds. It is advisable not to grind them, but if there are no grains, you can take 1 tsp. l. powder.
2. Place them in a thermos or a thick-walled ceramic teapot.
3. Pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse for 1 hour.

It is advisable not to store the infusion for more than 2 days. It should be kept in the refrigerator and covered with a lid. For compresses for joints, do not use a cold product; if it is cold, it must be preheated.

Decoction

To prepare this medication, you can use the following recipe:

1. Take 2-3 tsp. l. fennel grains. They can be replaced with the same amount of crushed plant roots.
2. Pour 250-300 ml of hot, but not boiling water.
3. Put on low heat, bring to a boil and cook for another 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, add the required amount of liquid to the original volume.
5. Strain before use.

The broth is often used to treat colds, adding honey to it to improve the taste. It is best to start taking it at the first sign of illness. The drug will strengthen the immune system, relieve inflammation and relieve sore throat. You need to take the remedy 3 times a day, ¼ glass until all symptoms disappear.

The drug is also in demand in the treatment of cystitis. Fennel decoction relieves inflammation and has a diuretic effect. Sometimes St. John's wort and lingonberry are added to the main component, this increases the effectiveness of the product. Cooking a decoction with additional ingredients is no different from the basic recipe. You will need to take the same amount of herbs as fennel. With cystitis, the broth is drunk ¼ glass 3 times a day. You can add ¾ glass of warm water to this amount to dilute it.

You can use a decoction of seeds to improve vision. This treatment is also suitable for the elderly, as it helps to fight age-related changes in this area, and for the treatment of eye inflammation. This effect is explained by the presence of ascorbic acid and arginine in fennel seeds. In this case, fennel broth is drunk 4 times a day for ½ hour. l. The remedy is good for constipation. For this, fennel decoction is consumed 3 times a day for ½ cup.

Tincture

The remedy is effective against diseases of the male reproductive system, against sore throat and for the treatment of joint diseases.

Treatment looks different in each case:

• for male problems, the tincture is taken orally, diluting 10 drops in a tablespoon of water, twice a day;
• with a sore throat, 40 drops of the product are diluted in ½ glass of warm water and gargled three times a day;
• for joints, lotions are made from undiluted tincture for 10 minutes.

To prepare a tincture, you must follow 4 steps:

1. Grind the fennel seeds. They can be ground in a coffee grinder.
2. 1 tbsp. l. place the powder in a glass bottle or jar.
3. Pour raw materials with 500 ml of vodka.
4. Let the mixture brew for 30 days. Shake the product every day.

The finished tincture must be carefully poured into a container for permanent storage, so as not to shake the sediment. You can take a paper filter and filter the product through it. It takes longer, but so the sediment will definitely not get into the finished product.

Herbal preparations

There are 2 popular health benefits for women. The first option is effective for restoring the menstrual cycle with amenorrhea. An infusion from this collection is taken in courses until recovery - first, they drink the medicine every day for a week, then take a break for 14 days and repeat again.

For cooking, you need to take ½ tsp. l .:

• fennel seeds;
• wormwood;
• chopped parsley root;
• rues;
• ground juniper berries;
• Potentilla;
• chopped rose hips.

Mix the ingredients, measure out 20 g of the mixture and pour it with 300 ml of warm (60 ° C) water and leave for 4 hours. Strain the mixture before use.

The second option is a good way to increase the amount of milk during breastfeeding. Cooking takes place according to the following scheme.

1. Take 0.5 tsp. l. dill, fennel and fenugreek seeds.
2. Pour raw materials with 250 ml of boiling water.
3. Insist for 3 hours and strain before use.

The remedy is taken in 3 tbsp. l. before meals, three times a day. You can continue taking it for an unlimited amount of time, but only if the baby is not allergic to breast milk.

Cosmetical tools

Fennel seeds are used not only for the treatment of diseases, but also for the beauty of the skin and health of the hair. There are 2 main recipes.

The first is a face mask.

You will need:

• 1 tbsp. l. honey;
• 2 h l. ground fennel grains;
• ½ hour l. wheat germ oils;
• essential oils as desired (rose, rosewood, patchouli or tea tree).

The preparation of the mask is standard:

1. Fennel and honey are mixed.
2. Add oil, mix the ingredients again.
3. Essential oil is dripped, to taste, but no more than 3 drops.

The mask is applied, massaging in circular movements, on a previously cleansed face and left for 10 minutes. Then wash off with warm water. This product makes the skin more elastic, can smooth out fine wrinkles and improve the complexion. For the hair and scalp, I make another mask.

You will need:

• 3 hours l. ground fennel grains;
• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil, for oily hair it is better to take grape seed oil;
• ½ tbsp. l. shea butter or cocoa.

It is permissible to replace shea butter or cocoa butter with any suitable type of hair with hard butter. For a scent, add 5-6 drops of tea tree, rose, or vetiver essential oil.

The preparation of such a mask is also standard:

1. The solid oil is melted in a water bath.
2. Cool slightly, but do not allow to harden to hardness.
3. Fennel and olive oil are added.
4. Mix the components until smooth.

The product, still slightly warm, is applied to the hair and scalp, wrapped in cling film and wrapped on top with a warm scarf. After 1 hour, the mask is washed off with warm water and shampoo. It is advisable not to dry your hair with a hairdryer. Such a preparation improves hair growth, makes them softer, more manageable, reduces hair loss and eliminates scalp flaking.

Fennel seeds, no matter how you prepare them, have health benefits. However, if consumed in reasonable amounts, they are not harmful. This combination has become the main reason for the popularity of medicines based on this plant.

Fennel Seed Videos

This is why you need to drink fennel tea regularly: