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Fennel is an herb with a hint of anise or licorice, native to southern Europe and Türkiye. Its seeds, leaves, and roots offer benefits such as relieving digestive problems, increasing breast milk, and preventing flatulence. Fennel can also be used to treat colic, eye conditions, and as a natural flea repellent.
Fennel, or Foeniculum vulgare, is an aromatic biennial herb. It is native to southern Europe and Türkiye. The smell and taste of the plant offer a hint of anise or licorice. The seeds, leaves, and roots of the plant have long been used as part of the herbal pharmacopoeia. The most common benefits of fennel include relieving digestive problems and eye problems, increasing breast milk, and relieving colic.
Fennel can also help reduce bloating, upset stomach symptoms, and mild gastrointestinal spasms. The oil from the seeds is most often used for stomach and intestinal problems. In the Middle Ages, fennel seeds were often prescribed for patients to chew, to soothe upset stomachs and prevent unwanted stomach rumbling during religious services.
The carminative property of the herb is another fennel benefit. A carminative is a substance that helps prevent gas buildup in the digestive system, thus helping to relieve and prevent flatulence. That’s why fennel is often combined with purgatives, in the hope that it will alleviate side effects. Like laxatives, purgatives are substances given to a patient to loosen stool and can cause diarrhea.
Another one of the many benefits of fennel is that it can be a galactagogue and can help the growth of breast tissue. Galactagogues are substances that promote lactation. The phytoestrogens contained in fennel are believed to help promote breast enlargement and milk production. Phytoestrogens, or dietary estrogens, are naturally occurring chemical compounds that are like the human hormone estrogen.
Babies can also reap benefits from fennel, especially if the child is colicky. Colic is a condition in which a baby screams and cries for prolonged periods of time. It is believed to be caused by excess gas trapped in the body, but no one is entirely sure what its true cause is. Parents can use fennel as a colic treatment because it is safe and effective. A small amount of fennel seed oil in baby formula should help soothe the condition. However, before administering any treatment, parents should consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.
Eye conditions such as glaucoma, a condition in which the pressure in the eye is abnormally high, can also benefit from adding fennel to the diet. Among the other eye-related benefits of fennel, it can also help improve overall eyesight. The ancient Romans believed that snakes went to fennel plants at night to suck their juices to improve their eyesight.
A powdered form of fennel can also be used to prevent fleas and other insect infestations. This is one of the other benefits of fennel enjoyed by many pet owners looking for natural alternatives to pesticides. Fleas do not care for fennel and tend to avoid animals that have been treated with a dusting of this powder. Many all-natural flea powders often contain fennel, as well as other natural ingredients that pests don’t like. These can include powdered pennyroyal, garlic, cayenne pepper, and wormwood.
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