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November 9, 2022    

Fennel is an herb most often associated with relieving gas and bloating.
This can happen by chewing the seeds to relieve digestive discomfort or by using fennel essential oil.
Fennel essential oil can be rubbed on the tummy or even the bottom of the feet for digestive relief.
The essential oil can reduce and relieve gut spasms, gas, bloating and constipation. It can even aid in weight loss.

Fennel seed has been used in gripe water to help relieve colicky babies of gas.  The essential oil is a much more powerful way to realize the benefits of fennel so only a small amount is needed.

Fennel Helps Constipation

Being relaxed is a good way to help the body with constipation and fennel can aid in achieving that goal, especially when it is combined with other essential oils.
Combine one drop of fennel essential oil with one to two drops of lavender oil and a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil.
Then rub it on your neck, chest and stomach.  To inhale it, cup your hands over your mouth while taking slow, deep breaths.

Fennel’s Active Ingredients

Fennel  is an anti-oxidant, anti-septic and anti-microbial. Fennel’s main volatile oil is known as anethole, which is also the fragrance and bioactive compound of anise and star anise spices along with  more than 20 other plant species.
Anethole is anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic, which makes it a possible cancer fighter. It does this by preventing the activation of a “gene-altering inflammation-triggering molecule associated with cancer known as NF-kappaB.”

Safety Factor:

Fennel essential oil contains trans anethole boosts the production of the estrogen hormone. This may be harmful for pregnant women and women with breast cancer, uterine cancer or tumors. If too much is consumed, it may cause convulsions, hallucinations and mental imbalance.

It has been suggested that anyone suffering from epilepsy should avoid using fennel essential oil. Fennel essential oil may cause nausea and vomiting, so use with caution.

This article was initially published in the Herbal Collective Nov’2022 issue. Sign-up to get notified of each issue.