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Anise Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages, anise also is found in many cough drops, baked goods,and beverages. Anise comes from Pimpinella anisum, a Mediterranean plant.

Anise oil is extracted from aniseed (the plant's dried ripe fruit) by steam distillation. The oil also can be obtained from the Chinese star anise plant (lliicium verum). The Food and Drug Administration considers anise oil safe

Common dose of Anise

Anise comes as an extract and lozenges and in teas. It's also available in trace quantities as a flavoring agent in liqueurs, lozenges, and teas and as a fragrance in soaps, creams, perfumes, foods, and candies. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• For intestinal gas, 0.1 milliliter of anise oil taken orally three times a day.

Why people use Anise herb

• Asthma
• Cough
• Intestinal gas
• Lice
• Muscle spasms
• Scabies
• To repel insects

Side effects of Anise

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of Anise:

• allergic reaction
• mouth and lip inflammation (from anise-containing toothpaste)
• nausea, vomiting, and seizures (from ingesting as little as 1 to 5 milliliters of anise oil)
• skin irritation on contact.

Ingesting just 1 to 5 milliliters of anise oil may lead to pulmonary edema.

Intoxication with an anise-based beverage can cause pseudo-Conn's syndrome (hypermineralocorticism), an overgrowth of the adrenal glands that causes low blood potassium levels, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, and increased urination and thirst.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don't use anise while taking iron supplements.

Important points to remember

• Don't use anise if you're pregnant.
• Use this herb cautiously if you're prone to contact dermatitis or hypersensitivity reactions.
• Don't ingest pure anise oil except under a health care practitioner's supervision. It may be toxic.
• St ore anise in a tightly sealed, light-resistant container at room temperature.
• Be aware that anise may cause weight gain from salt and water retention.

What the research shows

In a Russian study, aviation flight controllers who took a combination of anise, brandy mint, and lavender oils had reduced mental fatigue. Nonetheless, anise has limited therapeutic benefits. Until researchers know more about the herb, they caution against using it except as a flavoring agent or fragrance. They especially warn people not to ingest large amounts (several milliliters or more) of anise oil because this may cause serious digestive tract problems.

Other names for Anise: -

Other names for anise include aniseed, anise oil and sweet cumin.

Products containing anise are sold under such names as Beech Cough Drops and Bronhillor Natural Source Cough Candies & Throat Discs.

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