This umbrella plant belongs to the celery family, resembles dill in properties, and fennel seeds smell like aniseed. This is why the spicy culture is so popular in cooking. But the main use of the plant is folk medicine, as fennel has many beneficial properties.

Fennel seeds, fruits and root

The herb fennel in the wild grows like a perennial, and in vegetable gardens it is grown in a two-year way. In order not to confuse the cereal with other crops, it is necessary to study its external features:

  • the stem of fennel is straight, cylindrical, longitudinally ribbed, with a waxy bluish bloom; it branches well and reaches a height of 2 meters;
  • pinnately dissected short-petiolized leaves sit on the stems; they are all vaginal; the lower sheets are longer than the upper ones;
  • fennel blooms with yellow, small, antimorphic, bisexual, five-petalled flowers, collected at the tops in complex umbrellas;
  • the light-colored root of the plant is powerful, thick, up to 2 cm in diameter; it has little branching and is able to penetrate deeply into the soil;
  • fennel fruit is an oblong two-seed, which is characterized by a pronounced ethereal odor.

Fennel in the garden

The plant is found everywhere. Umbrellas bloom in July-August (depending on the region).

Fennel: properties and uses

Basil - what is useful, properties and application

The healing properties of fennel are due to its composition. In folk medicine, the fruits of the plant are used, the content is up to 6% of essential oils, where the main component is anethole. In addition, the seeds contain fatty oils (almost 20%), camphene, pinene, sugars, iron, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C, B and other useful components.

Considering fennel properties and its application, the following points can be noted:

  • antispasmodic and sedative effect;
  • carminative and choleretic;
  • antiemetic;
  • fennel increases the activity (secretory) of the digestive glands;
  • prescribe seeds to enhance lactation.

Note! By its action, this plant is regarded as an analogue of dill. It is often used by mothers to eliminate colic in babies.

Pharmacy packaging

It is not difficult to buy this medicinal product - any pharmacy has on sale the fruits of "sweet dill" (also called fennel). They are also included in the composition of various drugs.

The herbs used in cooking are useful not only as an additive to food and preservation. Spice is recommended to be added to diet menus for weight loss. Fennel has also found application in perfumery, cosmetology, and is included in oral care preparations.

Why is fennel useful?

Raspberry beneficial properties

The field of application of the celery plant is extensive. The effect of seeds is so great that doctors are actively using recipes for alternative therapy in their practice. The use of fennel seeds can be represented by the following list:

  • The high amount of vitamin C makes the plant a good antioxidant. It supports the immune system and helps relieve arthritis pain of any kind;
  • Folate and vitamin B group protect the walls of blood vessels from the negative effects of dangerous molecules, reducing the likelihood of heart attacks;
  • Potassium and a number of other minerals can help regulate blood pressure;
  • Anethol is able to resist cancer cells, protect the liver and reduce inflammation;
  • Dietary fiber helps to eliminate toxins from the intestines, lower cholesterol;
  • Drinking seed tea is a good way to get rid of a cold quickly;

Healing herbal tea

  • Gas formation, constipation and other indigestion are recommended to be treated with fennel;
  • For women, the plant will help to establish a monthly cycle and relieve menstrual pain, as well as cope with gynecological diseases;
  • Iron and an amino acid called histidine can help prevent anemia.

Fennel is also useful for eye diseases, kidney problems, and nervous system disorders. Thanks to decoction of seeds, you can stimulate the development of memory.

Important! Speaking about what fennel is good for people, we should also mention the harm. There is more than one contraindication to the use of the plant - it is epilepsy, pregnancy and allergies to the components of the composition.

Practical use

Garlic husk for the garden or garden - application

Fennel is truly a healing "elixir", but it should be used correctly, based on the problem. Each of the recipes below has been tried out in practice and gave good results.

When bloated in babies

Any newborn baby periodically suffers from bloating and colic. Fennel tea will help in this situation. To cook it, 1 tsp. fruits are brewed with a glass of boiling water. After insisting for about an hour, filter and give the baby warm before each feeding for 1 tsp until the problem is eliminated. To make it easier for the baby to take the medicine, they give it by mixing it with breast milk.

From bloating

For lactation

Mom can also drink healing tea to stimulate lactation. It is prepared according to the same principle as for the baby, only 1 tbsp is taken already. You can also add dill and anise seeds. A nursing woman needs to drink a hot drink up to 4 glasses a day. But if the mother has problems with the pancreas, then the one-time norm of tea is reduced to a quarter of a glass.

With vaginal thrush

Candidiasis is a common gynecological disease in women. Tampons soaked in fennel oil are helpful here. 5 drops of the product are added to any vegetable oil (5 g) and dipped in an inexpensive tampon ("Kotex" or "Natalie"). It must be inserted into the vagina before going to bed, and in the morning removed and washed with a decoction of fennel fruits.

With bronchitis

In this case, essential oil made from seeds is also used. 5-10 drops (depending on age) are added to a glass of warm milk and drunk at night. The procedure is repeated daily until the cough subsides.

Fennel essential oil

Young children should not be given an etheric composition - it is better to use a decoction of the fruits for chest cough. Fennel seeds are mixed with licorice and marshmallow roots. The collection (1 tablespoon) is brewed in half a liter of boiling water and insisted for several hours. It is taken strained every 3 hours for 2 tbsp.

As a sedative

Mixing in equal parts fennel fruits and caraway seeds, add the same amount of motherwort and valerian root. Steamed a tablespoon of the collection with a glass of boiling water, insist, filter and drink before bedtime.

Dietary influence

The peculiarity of fennel is that all parts of the plant have an excellent effect on metabolism. Dishes can be greened with chopped leaves, or the root cut and seasoned with olive oil sauce. Losing weight will go actively if crushed fennel fruits are added to salads, cereals, soups, etc.

Any of the herb's healing characteristics described above are worth keeping fennel seeds and oil on hand. The fruits can be used periodically and as a prophylactic agent to strengthen the immune system, brewing, in this way, as recommended by the instructions attached to the drug.

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