Fennel Seed Latin Name: Foeniculum vulgare

Description

Fennel is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. The medicinal parts are the fennel oils which are found in ripe fruit and seeds; mainly trans-anethole, fenchon, and estragole.

Fennel seed has been approved by the commission E for:

* Cough

* Bronchitis

* Dyspeptic complaints

Unproven uses include "improves lactation" which is probably due to the phytoestrogen estragole contained in fennel.

In a book called "The Green Pharmacy" which was written by James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist who worked for the USDA for 30 years, describes Fennel as:

"fennel is another estrogenic herb that has been used for centuries to promote milk production"