Fennel: The Spice and Herb from Europe

Fennel is the dark small fruit of the plant, Foeniculum that originates from the Mediterranean region of Europe. In modern times, this plant has been moved and cultivated in India, Turkey, China, and Egypt. This plant is truly beautiful with its green slender foliage and yellow flowers. Even though the massive cultivation is on the other side of the world, it gives off its licorice aroma in flower and herb gardens through out North America from starters or seeds that can be bought at local nurseries.

The first time I had ever heard of this spice was when I was still a girl. My mother had used it to season baked chicken. I could faintly detect the taste of licorice that gave the chicken a slight sweetness to it. She also used it when she made spaghetti so that she could avoid using sugar in the sauce. Fennel can also be used in cooking to give flavor to fish, sausage, and liquors.

It wasn't until I became interested in alternative medicine that I discover some extraordinary properties and uses for fennel as an herb. Fennel has an antispasmoic agent in it that, when made into a tea, can help with digestive disorders like cramps, bloating, and gas. For women who are going through Menopause, it will help with the hormonal unbalance. The easiest way to use it for this is to obtain the fennel herb in pill form. The juice of fennel can be used in syrup for the relief of the croup, asthma, and bronchitis. Like cinnamon, it can be used as an appetite suppressant as well. People in India use it as a natural breath freshener and to help digestion after a meal.

The legends and myths about fennel are intriguing. It is said to be one of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo-Saxons known for secret powers. During ancient times, it was thought that fennel used with St. John's Wort would keep witchcraft and other evil things at bay just by placing it as a bundle over the door of the dwelling. They also believed that by eating the herb or seeds would give that person courage and better eyesight.

There are a couple of warnings that I read about that should be kept in mind when using fennel. It will stimulate the uterus so women who are pregnant shouldn't eat it. The seed oil should not be eaten. It should only be used for external use because it may cause vomiting, seizures, or pulmonary edema.