Family: Apiaceae
Part of the plant used: seed
Area of world which it is grown: Egypt, Greece, China, South America, Germany, Spain, Italy and Southern Europe.
Some interesting notes about Anise: all the plants from the family it is in, Apiaceae, get their essential oils from the seed and have an affinity for the digestive system. These include caraway, dill, coriander and fennel. Do not confuse Anise Pimpinella anisum with Star Anise Illicium venum. Sometimes Star Anise is used to cut Anise, which is not a good thing because Star Anise comes from a completely different plant family (even though it smells and tastes similar) and it does not have the medicinal properties of Anise. Star Anise is used primarily in flavoring and the perfume industry.
History of Anise: Anise is one of the oldest known medicines, mentioned in the Bible and by ancient herbalists like Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny.
Theophrastus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophrastus
Dioscorides http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorides
Pliny, the Elder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_elder
Anise was thought to award protection from evil, purify the air and prevent evil dreams.
Characteristics of Anise: Anise oil is colorless and has a very sweet flavor and has an odor not unlike licorice. In a high quality Anise oil, there should be 80% to 90% anethole, a constituent which appears to give muscle relaxant effects. Light and heat both destroy the anethole content of Anise. It should be stored in a cool, dark place in bottles with tight-fitting lids.
Below normal room temperature, a good quality Anise oil will congeal due to the high anethole content. To test this, place Anise oil in the refrigerator and check for it to congeal into complete crystallization. If it does not, it has either been cut with another substance or has not been stored properly. If it has been cut, you will see the diluent sit either on top or underneath the crystallized oil. Congealing will not damage the oil.
Pimpinella anisum also has eugenol, which is also in Clove oil and has anesthetic properties; and, small amounts of methyl chavicol, also known as estragole. Methyl chavicol is a phenyl methyl ether and has antiseptic, bactericidal action. Both eugenol and estrogole could have anesthetic, hypothermic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant activities.
For more information on the history and chemistry of Anise here's some websites:
Scientific studies with Anise oil: I'm not going to go into all the details here, but in different tests Anise oil was shown to have antibacterial properties, killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth and replication. It also kills fungi or inhibits growth.
One study done in 1987 tested Pimpinella anisum on 28 fungal species and it inhibited the growth at 1000 PPM (parts per million). The study identified the anethole content as the antifungal component. (Another reason why you want the true Pimpinella anisum oil, not a diluted substitute.) Some studies indicate the Anise oil is more of a fungal deterrant than a fungicide. There are other oils more powerful for this action.
Another study in 1997 found that Anise oil kills insects which is why it can be useful to put on insect bites to kill any larvae on the site.
Some medicinal uses for Anise oil: Anise can be effective for anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion, stress, tension and muscle spasms. It's also good for asthma and any breathing difficulties as it relaxes the breathing passageways and loosens mucus. It's also good for bronchial congestion and coughs (dry and irritable). Its uses in digestive issues is well known; it's good for indigestion, hiccups, flatulence and vomiting. It has also been used for headaches and migraines.
Anise oil inhibits the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Therefore, it is antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral. This makes it very effective for the respiratory system and the digestive system. It can be used directly on objects to eliminate many pathogenic microorganisms. Due to its muscle-relaxant qualities, it is very effective with muscle spasms in the respiratory system, reproductive system, cardiovascular system, muscular system and digestive system.
Anise aids in the digestion of food and stimulates appetite. It relieves flatulence, bloating, indigestion, nausea, vomiting and is also useful for fluid retention. It promotes menstruation, which is one of the reasons pregnant women should avoid it.
Recommended Dosage for Anise Oil:
Adult: Internally - 1 drp. 3x daily for a max. of 2 wks.
Externally - 1 to 3 drps. in the bath for a max. of 5 wks.
Cautions and Contraindications:
Anise oil has a Toxic rating of III and requires a skin patch test if being used directly on the skin. (More on what this means in another post coming soon.) In excessive doses, it can slow down circulation, causing circulatory and nervous system disorders. So not exceed a max. of 3 drops, 3x daily or take longer than 14 consecutive days. Avoid internally and externally while pregnant, breast-feeding, if you have estrogen-dependent cancer, liver disease, endometriosis or prostatic hyperplasia.
Household and perfume uses for Anise: It is used as a flavoring agent in beverages, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It's also used in cakes and soups. The liquor, anisette, is prepared from Pimpinella anisum mixed with wine. The alcoholic beverages ouzo (Greece) and raki (Turkey) are made from Anise. It is also used to flavor pipe tobacco. For perfumery, Anise is known to blend well with Lavender, pine, rose attar.
The following are formulas for stress reduction and massage:
Stress Reducing FormulaSweet almond oil : 1/2 cup
Anise Pimpinella anisum: 6 drops
Rose attar Rosa damascena: 6 drops
Nutmeg Myristica fragrans: 6 drops
Relaxing Massage Formula
Anise Pimpinella anisum: 6 drops
Benzoin resinoid (Onycha) Styrax benzoin: 6 drops
Chamomile Matricaria recutita (German): 6 drops
2 oz. base oil
Flowering Pimpinella anisum
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