This entry was posted 12 years, 2 months ago.
March 4, 2011
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) has got its place among the healthiest foods on earth. It’ s a hardy perennial herb with small yellow flowers, which originates from Europe (the Mediterranean region) and has a very long history of being used as a natural digestion aid by many early civilizations. In Ancient Rome and Greece, this herb was involved in many traditional rituals and celebrations as a symbol of nature. Also, fennel tea benefits were known and utilized in Ancient Egypt, and Indian or Chinese herbalists used fennel to cure snake and insect bites. Nowadays, the US is a world’s leader in fennel cultivation and production. The fennel herb is widely used in culinary for spicing various meals, especially fish.
Fennel herb has a variety of medicinal properties and therapeutic actions, which are most commonly used by consuming fennel tea made from fennel seeds. Fennel tea is highly valued as a great natural diuretic, stimulant, detoxifying and anti-inflammatory agent, natural aphrodisiac and so on. Health benefits of fennel tea are derived from rich content of fennel plant: it can be a great source of antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins (including B group), as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, folate, molybdenum and many other useful elements and nutrients.
Fennel tea is known as one of the best and most effective natural aids for digestion. It can assist in avoiding upset stomach, getting rid of colic, bloating, abdominal and stomach cramps, relieving constipation and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and so on. Fennel tea is an excellent herbal remedy which stimulates detoxification and prevents water retention. Aphrodisiac properties of this natural product 
can help boost sexual desire, as well as treat the symptoms of PMS by regulating estrogen effects. Fennel tea benefits include also soothing sort throat, reducing fever and managing other symptoms of respiratory diseases like flu or common cold.
For centuries, fennel tea has been known and used as an effective weight loss aid since, in addition to its excellent detoxifying effects, this natural product can also assist in lowering bad cholesterol levels in blood and stimulating metabolic processes. Rich in vitamins C, fennel tea is very beneficial to our immune system. Other health benefits of fennel tea embrace banishing bad breath, reducing appetite, relieving the symptoms of asthma, acting as an antimicrobial agent and so on.
Finally, fennel infusion or fennel tea benefits can be used externally: in particular, for treating eye infection (conjunctivitis). To prepare a good fennel tea, take one teaspoon of fresh or dried fennel seeds (crushed), add a cup of boiling water, steep for 5-10 minutes, and then strain. Remember that it is necessary to avoid boiling fennel seeds when preparing fennel tea, because boiling kills most of nutrients and beneficial natural properties of fennel tea. Also, keep in mind that using fennel is linked to increased toxicity, so talk to your doctor before taking any type of fennel tea or other product involving fennel seeds.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
March 7th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I remeber fennel from yers ago when I was young. Fennel grew as a weed along a parking lot fence accross the street. Now you tell me that it has a bunch of health benefits. Thank you for opening my eyes to the value of this weed.
March 13th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Hi Carla,
Thank you for the information. I too am very interested in herbal medicine. I am a 48 year old woman who has been suffering with gerds reflux, lpr reflux and perimenopause for the last year. I have been on various ant acid medications for over one year with absolutely no releif. My main problem is my throat, always feeing like I am chocking. Extremely uncomfortable. I have been told that I have developed an extra sensitive esophegus. There is nothing the doctor can do for me and the only suggestion was not to eat when I feel like I am chocking. This happens 24 hours a day, I have already lost 50 pounds in the 1 year period. I just can’t accept the solution! I am very interested in natural remedies, at this point I have absolutely nothing to loose. I am starting to drink fennel tea in hopes that it will help my throat and esophegus.
Sincerely,
Pat
June 10th, 2011 at 1:47 am
To Pat – I feel very sorry for your condition. I hope you don’t find this insensitive, but I would very strongly recommend doing A LOT of diet related research. Find out about raw foods, whole foods and how detoxing can help many many conditions that no medication can. It might not help you, but then again it might. Be well.
To Carla – thanks for the info!
June 25th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
[…] El hinojo es una hierba perenne, que presenta flores pequeñas de color amarillo, siendo originario de Europa. Para disfrutar de las propiedades del té de hinojo, éste debe ser consumido en una infusión que se prepara con las semillas de hinojo. […]
April 6th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Thank you for this information, I actually looked it up to use it for weight loss and bloating. I actually used it for a short time and my friends asked me if i loosed weight. So in all i guess it really is used for weight loss, I however did not know that there were so many other benifits attatched, thanks alot. Oh i almost forgot, that part about linked to toxcity that part is scary please tell more about that. Thanks
May 31st, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Have come across many websites on fennel, all with differant instructions on how to consume fennel tea. I would like to know how many cups per day and for how long you can drink fennel tea for with out worry. One site said 3 cups/day for only 10 days than stop for 5 days, also what amount of seed to use 1tsp or 1/2 tsp per cup. Thank you