Originally published April 11 2014
The amazing benefits of fennel seeds
by J. Anderson
(NaturalNews) Fennel is a flavorful, aromatic herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region. The seeds of this herb have many powerful digestive benefits and incredible benefits for infants with colic, with the most widely used species being the sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Let's take look at some of the amazing benefits of this plant.
Improve digestion and reduce gas
One of the biggest benefits of fennel seeds are their ability to improve your digestion and release trapped gas in your intestines. The seeds' high volatile oil content (anethole, fenchone and estragole) are the main substances that effectively clear intestinal gas. By improving digestion, the seeds cause food to move faster through you body; therefore, there is less of a chance of gas building up.
One way the seeds and their volatile oils have been found to be responsible for improving digestion is by stimulating bile production. The digestive benefits of fennel seeds are so well known that, in India, fennel seeds are commonly chewed after a meal. For the added digestive benefits of fennel, chew a pinch (1/2 teaspoon) of organic fennel seeds after a meal and swallow them! Chewing the seeds also helps freshen your breath! Another alternative is to make and drink fennel seed tea by allowing seeds to soak for 5 minutes in hot water.
Decreasing colic in babies
One natural way to reduce the intensity of colic in infants is by administering fennel seed oil orally! According to a 2003 study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, compared to a placebo, administering fennel seed oil emulsion orally to infants with colic could significantly reduce their symptoms and improve their condition. This provides a great natural alternative to the normally pharmaceutically recommended treatment of dicyclomine hydrochloride.
(One note about fennel is that nursing or pregnant women are not recommended to consume it. It can also produce some narcotic effects in large doses.)
Fennel seeds have some amazing benefits! From improving the symptoms of colic in infants to reducing your flatulence, fennel seeds provide a natural alternative that is worth a try! So if you feel like your digestion is acting up and there may be a gas buildup occurring, grab a pinch of fennel seeds! The people in the same room as you will thank you for it!
Sources for this article include:
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About the author:
Living healthy starts at-home and it starts by educating yourself! To learn more about living a healthy, natural lifestyle visit DIY Active.
Living healthy starts at-home and it starts by educating yourself! To learn more about living a healthy, natural lifestyle visit DIY Active.
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