Green anise properties and contraindications Green anise is native to the Mediterranean area, but today it also grows in large areas of Asia, the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Green anise is an annual herb in the Umbelliferae family, the family of plants like carrots, fennel, and parsnips.
It has light green leaves and small white flowers. The plant requires a warm climate with a long frost-free period. Let’s see, below, the green anis properties and contraindications.
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Green anis properties and contraindications
Green anis benefits and properties
The anise seeds They have been used since ancient times for their aromatic essential oil content in traditional medicine, for cosmetics, alcoholic beverages such as aniseed, arak, ouzo and raki, and in cooking.
Ripe seeds contain around 2.5% fragrant oil which is responsible for most of the beneficial effect associated with them.
The oil is mainly composed of antheole and its derivatives, such as diantezol and fotoheleol. Methylchavicol and para-methoxyphenylacetone, flavonoids such as quercetin, and coumarins are also present.
The oil produced from the crushed seeds by steam distillation is valuable in perfumes and soaps and has also been used in toothpaste, mouthwashes and skin creams.
When taken internally, the seeds have been used to relieve indigestioncolic, gas, halitosis, bloating, abdominal cramps and to eliminate nausea.
The seeds have mild diuretic (increased urine production) and diaphoretic (increased sweating) properties and have also been used for their effects antiseptics.
Green anise oil works as an expectorant, which means that it helps to expel mucus in conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, the common cold and whooping cough. Therefore, it is being used as an ingredient in cough syrups and lozenges.
The seeds also have mild estrogenic effects most likely due to the presence of diantezol and photohelene in the oil. This is the reason why the seeds have traditionally been used to promote lactation in lactating mothers, increase libido and alleviate symptoms of colic. Premenstrual syndrome.
Ointments and soap containing green anise oil can help as a natural remedy for oily skin and to treat impurities such as mild acne.
Since the oil is poisonous to many insects, ointments containing green anise oil should also be used as a natural treatment for anise. scabies and infestations of lice.
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Dosage and administration
As an infusion: One to two teaspoons of green anise seeds should first be crushed to release the volatile oils, then the crushed seeds should steep for five to ten minutes in a cup of boiling water. Many herbalists recommend a cup three times a day.
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like an oil: A popular option is a drop of the green anise seed taken internally mixed with a half teaspoon of honey.
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Green anis contraindications and side effects
Green anise, especially its oil, is not without its side effects, as large amounts used internally can cause nausea and vomiting, seizures and even pulmonary edema. This is why the pure oil should not be used internally as pulmonary edema has occurred after ingestion of as little as 1-5 ml of pure anise oil.
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Using seeds internally is safe as they do not contain more than 2.5% oil. Used externally, the neat oil can cause skin irritations, therefore the oil is formulated with other emollients to form an ointment in which the oil is sufficiently diluted to be safe.
As with all natural products, life-threatening allergies can also develop. The skin rashswelling of the skin or tongue, difficulty breathing and/or tightness in the chest could indicate an allergic reaction, in which case a doctor should be consulted immediately.
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