Herbs, Plants, Trees and Roots | August, 2011

You entered Hua-hsian, the more common name is...

Aniseed tea is given to nursing mothers and to women to relive menstrual cramps. Chew on seeds to relieve bad breath. Aniseed milk is drank for insomnia, just place seeds in milk and heat before drinking. Anisette, sold in most liquor stores, has volatile oil of anise as part of the preparation. Anisette is reputedly helpful for bronchitis and spasmodic asthma. Taken in hot water, anisette is said to be an immediate palliative. Anise also has numerous culinary uses.

Anise

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Pimpinella anisum)


Native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia, fragrant Anise is an annual that grows to heights of up to 3 feet. Its lower leaves are long, about 2 inches, and shallowly lobed, while the upper leaves are feathery. During July and August, small white flowers appear in dense umbels. The fruit, an oblong dry seedpod, is about 3 to 5 mm long and ripens during August and September. These seeds flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.



Common Names:

Anise Plant, Aniseed, Anise Seed, Common Anise, Hua-hsian


Anise

Uses:

Aniseed tea is given to nursing mothers and to women to relive menstrual cramps. Chew on seeds to relieve bad breath. Aniseed milk is drank for insomnia, just place seeds in milk and heat before drinking. Anisette, sold in most liquor stores, has volatile oil of anise as part of the preparation. Anisette is reputedly helpful for bronchitis and spasmodic asthma. Taken in hot water, anisette is said to be an immediate palliative. Anise also has numerous culinary uses.



Applications:

Tea:
Boil 1 Tbls. Aniseed in a cup of water.


Warnings:

Not to be used as an antiseptic on open wounds.

With any herb, there is the risk of an allergic reaction. Small children and pregnant women should use additional caution when considering the use of herbal remedies.