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Tlahui-Medic. No. 7, I/1999
Dr. Mario Rojas Alba English common name: Fennel Botanical characteristics and
habitat: Easily found along roadsides,
fields, wasteland, in temperate climates and at 33 to 3280 feet above sea level
(10 to 1000 meters). Cultivated in different countries in the Americas.
Herbaceous plant with stems of up to 6 ft. (1.5 meters); leaves are alternate,
finely divided with a sheathing petiole, opposite, pale-green in color; flowers
are yellow, pedunculed and grouped into umbels. Properties: Carminative, antispasmodic, stimulant, diuretic,
expectorant, galactogenous. Uses in traditional medicine: The whole plant of Foeniculum vulgare Gaert. is
used, but especially the seeds. Contains the active principle fenchone, which
excites secretory functions in the organism. Fennel seeds are stimulant,
stomachic, alleviate intestinal colic, carminative, galactogenous, expectorant
and diuretic. Flowers are basically used as a perfume. The plant is classified
as of warm and humid nature. It is identified with the zodiac signs Pisces and
Aquarius. Remedies:
Constituents: Anethole, fenchone, and volatile oils. The plant and
especially the seeds contain volatile oils of 2 to 6.5%, producing anethole (50
to 60%) of sugary flavor, 20% bitter fenchone, and an isomeric liquid with oil
of turpentine, fixed oil, albumin, sugar, calcium oxalate and ash. Precautions & contraindications: If taken in excessive doses, Plantago may cause serious side
effects, which include cramps, hallucinations and epileptic seizures. Consult
your doctor. |
