Fennel is a medicinal plant that produces seeds known as fennel and small yellow flowers that appear in the summer. For medicinal purposes it can be used as a home remedy to improve digestion, fight the cold, and help you lose weight, but this plant can also be used in cooking as a great spice for meat or fish dishes.
Its scientific name is Foeniculum vulgare, the plant measures up to 2.5 m in height and it can be purchased in health food stores and handling pharmacies such as flowers and dried leaves prepared for infusion, and in some open markets and supermarkets you can find the stem and leaves of the fennel to use in the kitchen.
Fennel Benefits
The main health benefits of fennel are:
- Relieve menstrual and intestinal cramps; Decrease appetite and help you lose weight; Combat stomach pain; Relieve digestive disorders; Relieve gas; Combat bronchitis and flu by releasing phlegm; Relieve vomiting; Combat sore throat and laryngitis; Detoxify the liver and spleen, Fight urinary infections; Fight diarrhea; Eliminate intestinal worms.
Fennel has these benefits because it has anethole, estragol and alkanphor as medicinal properties, in addition to vitamins and minerals that confer its anti-inflammatory, stimulating, antispasmodic, carminative, deworming, digestive, diuretic and mild expectorant action.
How to use
Fennel seeds (fennel) can be used to prepare teas or to add to cakes and pies, giving a characteristic aromatic flavor. But fennel leaves and their stem can be used in cooking to season meat or fish, and in salads. Some ways to use are:
- Fennel tea: Place 1 spoonful of fennel seeds (fennel) in a cup of boiling water, cover and let it warm for 10 to 15 minutes, strain and drink next. Take 2 to 3 times a day. Fennel essential oil: Take 2 to 5 drops diluted in water, several times a day; Fennel syrup: take 10 to 20g a day.
The root, leaves and stem of fennel are quite aromatic and are widely used in the preparation of fish dishes, their stems are edible and used in salads.
Tea for gargling or drinking
The following tea is great to use for gargling 2 times a day, in case of laryngitis:
Ingredients:
- We have a wide range of products to choose from, and we have a wide range of products to choose from.
Method of preparation:
Put 150 ml of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of this mixture of herbs, let it stand for 10 minutes, let it cool and use it to gargle or to drink. It is not recommended for children under 3 years.
When not to be used
Fennel is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in children under 5 years and patients with hyperthyroidism. When used in excess it can cause some allergic reactions.
