Fennel contraindications Fennel is a plant native to the Mediterranean area. There are different species and varieties, which can be annual, biennial or perennial.
The leaves have a pungent odor, somewhat similar to licorice, and an anise-like aroma. This characteristic is due to the presence of the phytochemical anethole, the main constituent of anise oil.
He fennel It has fine yellow flowers that are grouped together and are frequently visited by different insects.
The stalks can be eaten fresh, like celery, or boiled and cooked as a vegetable. Fennel has adapted to most of the temperate zones of the world and is widely cultivated for its medicinal, ornamental, and culinary properties.
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Medical uses
Fennel seeds, leaves and roots are harmless and edible. The essential oil, extracted from the seeds, is toxic even in small amounts. Fennel has been widely used in medicinal and culinary preparations for centuries.
The plant acts as a carminative and is traditionally used to favor or improve digestion and as a remedy against flatulence. An infusion or decoction of the dried seeds is antispasmodic and decreases stomach achesbecause it accelerates the digestion of fatty foods.
Fennel is a proven remedy for infant colic. It is also used for cough and colds.
It exerts a calming influence on the bronchial tissues. The seeds contain large amounts of the phytochemical alphapinene, which acts as an expectorant and helps fluidize the congestion of the lungs.
An eye wash prepared from a decoction of crushed seeds is believed to improve vision and reduce irritation and eye strain. Fennel has a long history of use as a galactogogue. The barley seed boiled in water acts increasing milk secretion in nursing mothers.
A plaster with the plant can be useful to relieve inflammation of the breasts during lactation. The infusion made with the leaves and seeds has been used to eliminate parasites and destroy intestinal bacteria.
Fennel has also been used to stimulate the appetite. The entire plant is used in cooking dishes, and the fleshy covering that surrounds the base of the stems is an important raw material in Italian cooking. The leaves are used to flavor egg, fish, cooked and vegetable dishes.
The root is sometimes grilled and added to salads. The licorice-scented seeds are traditionally served after meals in India to scent the breath. The flowers produce a yellow dye, and the leaves are a light color that is used as a natural dye in wool factories.
Fennel seeds contain volatile oil, most of which is transanethol, and much less of other components. Let’s see, next, the contraindications of fennel.
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Fennel contraindications (side effects)
Because fennel belongs to the carrot family, avoid consuming it if you have an allergy to carrots or other plants in that family, including celery or mugwort. If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, you should also be careful when drinking tea.
Its use is not recommended in patients with gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, liver disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological diseases.
Pregnant women should not take the fennel plant, seeds, tincture or essential oil in medicinal remedies, as fennel acts as a uterine stimulant. However, the small amounts used in cooking are safe.
In excess, fennel can induce breathing problems, increase palpitations, and make an irregular heartbeat. Taken in excess, it can also cause neurotic problems.
Fennel essential oil is toxic in doses as small as 5 ml and can cause skin irritation, vomiting, seizures and respiratory problems. The volatile oil should not be ingested.
The plant and the oil from the seeds can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
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