Aniseed: What are the Health Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects of Aniseed?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Aniseed botanical name is Pimpinella Anisum, some other common names are vilayti sauf, anise, sweet fennel, anisoon, and saurif. It is native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, and Odisha.

Aniseed is an annual culinary herb belonging to ajwain or celery family, its fruits are called aniseed, and it is one of the oldest spices. The seeds are ground-grey to greyish-brown in color, oval, and 3.2 to 4.8 mm in length.

It has a pleasant odor and nice taste; the aniseed plant requires sunshine and warmth and does not grow satisfactorily in the tropical lowlands.

2. Cultivation

Aniseed is a native of the Middle East, it was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians who valued both its medicinal properties and culinary uses. It was also known to the early Greeks and Romans, it is now cultivated in Europe, Asia Minor, India, and Mexico.

3. Characteristics and Chief Constituent

The aniseed contains moisture, a substantial amount of protein, fatty oil, and crude fiber besides essential oil, sugars, starch, ash, and choline.

Its oil is a colorless or pale-yellow liquid with a characteristic odor and taste of the fruit. Its oil has now replaced the fruits for medicinal and flavoring purposes.

The chief constituent of aniseed oil is anethole which is present in large quantities and is responsible for giving characteristic flavor to the oil.

The oil contains methyl chavicol, p-methoxyphenyl, acetone, and a small number of terpenes and sulfur compounds of a disagreeable odor.

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4. Ayurvedic Properties of Aniseed

1. Rasa (Taste): It is sweet (Madhura) and pungent (Katu) tastes.

2. Virya (Potency): It is hot in nature (Ushna Virya).

3. Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is pungent (Katu Vipaka).

5. Health Benefits and Uses 

Aniseed is valued for its medicinal properties to relieve flatulence, catarrhal matter, and phlegm, these properties are due to the presence of its essential oil. Its oil is beneficial in digestion, and carminative, and gives relief to gastrointestinal disorders, it is also beneficial for upset stomach, intestinal gas, and runny nose. It helps to start mensuration and treat menstrual discomfort or pain, ease childbirth, and increase sex drive. Some people apply anise directly to the skin to treat lice, scabies, and psoriasis.

Here are some Health Benefits and Uses of Aniseed

For Asthma

Due to its expectorant properties, aniseed is beneficial in treating asthma, one cup of tea of aniseed with chamomile, saffron, fennel, caraway, licorice, cardamom, and black seed is beneficial in allergic asthma.

For Cataract

Aniseed is useful in treating cataracts, taking six grams of aniseed daily in the morning and evening is advised.

 The other way of taking is to powder an equal weight of aniseed and coriander seeds and mix it with an equal weight of unrefined sugar. About 12-gram doses of this mixture are to be taken in the morning and evening.

For Digestive Disorders

Aniseed is an ideal medicine for expelling wind from the stomach, it can be taken as an infusion with other digestive like ginger, cumin, and pepper. Gripe water for infants contains aniseed extract.

An easy way to prepare the infusion is to mix a tsp. of aniseed in a cup of boiling water and leave it covered overnight. The clear fluid is then decanted and taken with honey.

This is an ideal treatment for indigestion, especially for a gurgling tummy, it is also useful in preventing gas and fermentation in the stomach and the bowels.

For Insomnia

A tea made from aniseed is considered beneficial in treating sleeplessness, it is prepared by boiling 375ml of water and adding a tsp. of aniseed. The water should be covered with a lid and allowed to simmer for 15 minutes, strained, and taken hot or warm.

Honey and hot milk may be added to taste, it should be sipped either after meals or before going to bed. Aniseed should not be boiled too long; it loses digestive properties and essential oil during the process.

Menstrual Discomfort

Anise works wonderfully in menstrual discomfort, it helps to reduce pain severity and duration during the menstrual cycle.

Other Uses

Head Lice: Due to its fungal properties, aniseed is used externally as an insecticide against small insects such as lice, mites, and vermin.

Cooking: The seeds are used to flavor curries, cakes sweet, cookies, and biscuits, aniseed oil is employed in medicine as an aromatic carminative to relieve flatulence.

Being a mild expectorant, it is used as an ingredient in beverages and liquors, it is a popular flavoring agent in dental preparations and mouthwashes.

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6. What are the Side Effects of Aniseed?

All Ayurveda herbs are plant-based, and they don’t have any side effects, but they may react with some allopathy or homeopathy medicine. It is better to consult the doctor if you are on any medications or have unique health issues.

Here are some side effects of Aniseed

• Consult the doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• Do not take Aniseed without a doctor’s prescription if you are pregnant.
• Do not take Aniseed, if you are Aniseed from any kind of critical disease.
• If you are on diabetes or hypertension medication. Consult first the doctor before consuming Aniseed.
• If you are above 65 years old and want to start Aniseed, consult the doctor, and talk about your health conditions.
• If you are on any supplements, vitamins, or herbal medication, consult the doctor before taking Aniseed.
• Aniseed may interact with other medicines like blood sugar or blood pressure allopathy medicines.

Note: This post is about educating the benefits and uses of Aniseed, consult the Ayurvedic doctor before starting.

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