FOENICULUM VULGARE

COMMON NAME  :  Fennel

FAMILY  :        Apiaceae  (carrot family)

HABIT / GROWING:

Wild in temperate Europe, naturalised in UK. Feathery perennial with yellow flowers which prefers limestone areas.

PARTS USED:        

Mainly seeds medicinally, leaves for flavouring, roots cultivated as vegetables

TRADITIONAL & MODERN USE:

Once used to improve or restore eyesight. Its other traditional use, for improving digestion, (e.g. serving the leaves with oily fish) is the one most used today. It was also supposed to aid slimming but is now used more to tempt the appetite and help delicate stomachs (e.g. IBS). Anti-spasmodic to prevent griping pains and was once a component of babies' gripe water. Also diuretic and stimulates the production of breast milk. Used by nursing mothers and for hiccups and nausea.

Used as an anti-inflammatory for polyarthritis and as an anti-coagulant. Some research has showed it to have oestrogenic properties.