Fennel seed

Foeniculi fructus , fennel seed.  

Fennel seed consists of the dried, ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare Miller var.   vulgare (Miller) Thellung [Fam.  Apiaceae], as well as their preparations in effective dosage.  

The seeds contain at least 4 percent essential oil with not more than 5 percent estragon.  

Uses

Dyspepsias such as mild, spastic gastrointestinal afflictions, fullness, flatulence.  

Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.  

Fennel syrup, fennel honey: catarrh of the upper respiratory tract in children.  

Contraindications

Herb for infusions and preparations containing an equivalent amount of the essential oil:

• None known.  

Other preparations:

• Pregnancy.  

Side Effects

In individual cases allergic reactions of skin and respiratory tract.  

None known.  

Unless otherwise prescribed:

Daily dosage:

• 5 - 7 g herb;
• 10 - 20 g fennel syrup or honey ( Erg. B.  6 );
• 5 - 7.5 g compound fennel tincture;
• equivalent preparations.  

Crushed or ground seeds for teas, tea-like products, as well as other galenical preparations for internal use.  

Fennel preparations should not be used on a prolonged basis (several weeks) without consulting a physician or pharmacist.  

Note:Fennel syrup, fennel honey: Diabetics must consider sugar content of bread exchange units according to manufacturer's information.  

Promotes gastrointestinal motility, in higher concentrations acts as an antispasmodic.  Experimentally, anethole and fenchone have been shown to have a secretolytic action in the respiratory tract; in the frog, aqueous fennel extracts raise the mucociliary activity of the ciliary epithelium.