What is Fennel

Fennel is also known as bronze fennel, bitter fennel, sweet fennel, fenkel, hinojo, finocchio, shatapushpa, or xiao hui xiang. Fennel has greyish-green foliage with thread-like feathered leaves and yellow flowers at the ends of the stems. Fennel is a perennial herb of the carrot family native to southern Europe and Asia Minor, but some consider it an invasive species in much of Australia and parts of the United States.

Health Benefits of Fennel

• Anti-inflammatory
• Carminative effects – digestive aid to help ease discomfort with gas and bloating
• Supports Heart Health
• Has the ever-helpful fiber content
• Galactagogues - These are the foods and herbs said to help boost breast milk supply

How to Use Fennel

Fennel is grown for its edible shoots, leaves, and seeds, commonly used for medicinal purposes. You can find fennel in dried bulk, capsules, powders, extracts, oils, or tinctures. Teas and soups are also options, especially when following Ayurvedic medicine recipes.

Safety Concerns

Safe for all ages.

Mainstream sources claim fennel is possibly unsafe when breastfeeding. They claim there are some reports of breastfeeding infants with damage to their nervous systems after they were exposed to herbal tea containing fennel through breastmilk.

As per trusted herbalist Richard Whelan, no adverse effects are expected (or have ever been reported) from taking fennel in tea or tincture, even in high or frequent doses. It may be confidently taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and used safely by the young or old.

Studies

The effect of a fennel seed extract on the STAT signaling and intestinal barrier function

This study examined and confirmed the usefulness of fennel seed extract on intestinal epithelium barrier function and the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) pathway.

Fennel: Drugs and Lactation Database

Discusses the usefulness of fennel to improve milk content and supply.