Anise Seeds 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Anise Seeds 100 g ($9.99), 50 g ($7.99), 25 g ($4.99)

Benefits:
Anise is a secretagogue, an herb that stimulates the body to secrete fluids to clear out congestion and normalize digestion. It may reduce intestinal spasms and is an antibacterial and antiviral agent. It may even be an effective insect repellent. It has been approved by the German Commission E for the common cold, cough, bronchitis, fever, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx, dyspeptic complaints, and loss of appetite

Nutrients  Though anise seed is used in relatively small amounts, it packs a good amount of several important micronutrients into each serving. In particular, anise seed is rich in iron, which is vital for the production of healthy blood cells in your body (1). It also contains a small amount of manganese, a key mineral that is an antioxidant and is necessary for metabolism and development (2).

One tablespoon (7 grams) of anise seed provides approximately (3):

• Calories: 23
• Protein: 1 gram
• Fat: 1 gram
• Carbs: 3 grams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Iron: 13% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
• Manganese: 7% of the RDI
• Calcium: 4% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 3% of the RDI
• Phosphorus: 3% of the RDI
• Potassium: 3% of the RDI
• Copper: 3% of the RDI

However, keep in mind that most recipes will likely call for less than a tablespoon.

Bad breath. The seeds of this licorice-flavored herb have been used for thousands of years to freshen the breath. You can boil a few teaspoons of seeds in a cup of water for a few minutes, strain, and then drink or use as a mouthwash.

Colic. Anise seeds are an ingredient in paregoric, an opium mixture that is used to settle the stomach and was once commonly given to colicky babies. Unlike paregoric, anise seed contains no opiates and has no potentially harmful sedative effect on the central nervous system. Anise also stops spasmodic flatulence and aids digestion.

Influenza, Sinusitis, And Other Respiratory Ailments. The essential oil in anise seeds stimulates secretions from the linings of the throat and lungs. Anise seed teas are particularly appropriate in cases of unproductive cough. Used as a cough suppressant, anise is an ingredient in many cough medicines and lozenges. It also gives them a better flavor. The Greeks use teas made from anise and fennel for asthma and other respiratory ailments. They both contain creosol and alpha-pinene, which help to loosen bronchial secretions. As an expectorant, anise helps to loosen and get rid of phlegm in the respiratory tract.

Depression  Depression is a common, yet debilitating condition that affects up to 25% of women and 12% of men around the world (4). Interestingly, some research has found that anise seed may help treat depression. One study showed that anise seed extract exhibited powerful antidepressant properties in mice and was as effective as a common prescription medication used to treat depression (5). What’s more, in another study in 107 people, taking 3 grams of anise seed powder three times daily was effective at reducing symptoms of postpartum depression (6). Similarly, in a four-week study in 120 people, taking a capsule with 200 mg of anise oil three times daily significantly decreased symptoms of mild to moderate depression, compared to a control group (7).

Ulcers  Stomach ulcers, also called gastric ulcers, are a painful sore that forms in the lining of your stomach, causing symptoms like indigestion, nausea and a burning sensation in your chest. Though traditional treatment typically involves the use of medications to decrease the production of stomach acid, preliminary research suggests that anise seed could help prevent stomach ulcers and reduce symptoms.

For instance, one animal study noted that anise reduced stomach acid secretion, helping prevent the formation of stomach ulcers and protecting cells against damage (8).

Anti-Fungal, Anti-Bacterial  Test-tube studies show that anise seed and its compounds possess potent antimicrobial properties that prevent infections and block the growth of fungi and bacteria. One test-tube study demonstrated that anise seed and anise essential oil were especially effective against certain strains of fungi, including yeasts and dermatophytes, a type of fungus that can cause skin disease (9).

Anethole, the active ingredient in anise seed, inhibits bacterial growth as well. In one test-tube study, anethole blocked the growth of a specific strain of bacteria that causes cholera, an infection characterized by severe diarrhea and dehydration (10). However, further research is needed to examine how anise seed may affect the growth of fungi and bacteria in humans.

Menopause  Menopause is the natural decline in women’s reproductive hormones during aging, resulting in symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue and dry skin.

Anise seed is thought to mimic the effects of estrogen in your body, potentially reducing symptoms of menopause (11).

In one four-week study, 72 women with hot flashes took either a placebo or a capsule containing 330 mg of anise seed three times daily. Those taking anise experienced a nearly 75% reduction in severity and frequency of hot flashes (12).

Some of the compounds in anise seed may also help prevent bone loss, one of the hallmark symptoms of menopause that occurs as a result of declining estrogen levels in your body (13). One study found that an essential oil comprised of 81% anethole, the active ingredient in anise, helped prevent bone loss and protect against osteoporosis in rats (14).

Despite these promising results, more research is needed to determine how anise seed itself may affect menopause symptoms in women.

Blood Sugar  Some research indicates that anethole, the active ingredient in anise seed, may keep blood sugar levels in check when paired with a healthy diet.

In one 45-day study in diabetic rats, anethole helped reduce high blood sugar by altering levels of several key enzymes. Anethole also enhanced the function of pancreas cells that produce insulin (15). Another animal study also reported that anethole improved blood sugar levels in rats with diabetes (16). Keep in mind that these studies use a concentrated dose of anethole — much higher than what is found in a typical serving of anise seed. More studies are needed to evaluate how anise seed may affect blood sugar levels in humans.

Inflammation  In many cases, inflammation is considered a normal response by your immune system to protect against injuries and infection. High levels of long-term inflammation are linked to chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes (17). Animal and test-tube studies suggest that anise seed may reduce inflammation to promote better health and prevent disease. For example, one study in mice showed that anise seed oil reduced swelling and pain (18). Other research indicates that anise seed is high in antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and prevent disease-causing oxidative damage (19).

Recommended Use
When made as a homeopathic remedy, Pimpinella anisum, anise is used for shoulder pain and lumbago. Anise may be prepared as an essential oil and applied topically or taken as a tea. The essential oil is employed in aromatherapy, and the whole seeds are used in cooking. Aromatherapy with anise and foods prepared with anise (such as anise cookies) have the same but milder action as anise used as an herb.

You should avoid anise if you are allergic to anise and anethole, or if you have an allergic and/or inflammatory skin condition. Large doses are narcotic and slow down the circulation and may cause difficulty in breathing. Use this herb in moderation only. It should not be used during pregnancy. Anise has been shown to interfere with drugs that clot the blood and it may increase the risk of bleeding if used with them.

Botanical Name: Pimpinella anisum
English: Aniseed
Also Known As: Anys, Pa chio, Anis wert, Anis, Yan kok, Anice werde, Erva- doce, Anis, Anis, Anis Vert, Aniseed, Anise Essential Oil, Anise Oil, Anisi Fructus, Dohn-e-Anisoon, Graine d’Anis Vert, Green Anise, Huile Essentielle d’Anis, Phytoestrogen, strogène, Pimpinella anisum, Pinella, Semen Anisi, Shatpushpa, Sweet Cumin, Velaiti Saunf.
Origin: Spain
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Seeds

General Information:
Anise is a highly aromatic, low-growing plant that produces feathery leaves and small yellow and white flowers on stalks that reach a height of one to two feet (thirty to sixty centimeters). It is native to the Mediterranean coasts of west Asia and is cultivated in Egypt, Spain, and Turkey. The essential oil, distilled from the seeds, is used in medicine. The seeds also are used in the manufacture of flavored liqueurs, such as the French anisette and the Greek ouzo, and in the flavoring of food.

The small dry fruits refer to as “Anise seed,” are grayish brown in color, 3-6 mm long and have the sweet and aromatic smell. Annual herb growing to a height of about 0.6 meters. Anise has a long history as a medicinal herb in ancient Greece and as a culinary spice used by the Romans, Arabs, and British since the Middle Ages. Greece and Egypt cultivated since 2000 BC. Anise is still an important crop, grown commercially in India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and other countries. The cultivated plant attains a considerably large size than the wild one. On the continent, especially in Germany, many cakes have an anise seed flavoring. Anise is also used as a flavoring for soups.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.