Fennel

Current uses

Fennel tea is known to relieve stomach upsets, abdominal cramps and colic.

It is used to promote digestion and stimulate the appetite It is also used, mixed with other herbs (see below) to relieve symptoms of upper respiratory infections, asthma and bronchitis.

To prepare the tea, crush a quantity of seeds and pour boiling water over two teaspoonfuls of the crushed seed. Other herbs, such as caraway seeds and anise may be added to this mixture.

To relieve URT infections, mix the fennel seed with an equal amount of anise seeds, a third of the quantity of marshmallow root, and two thirds of thyme. Then use one teaspoon of herb mixture per one cup of boiling water. Let mixture stand in water for ten minutes and then strain to remove undiluted herbs. Drink this mixture three times per day.

This mixture of milk also helps relieve stomach cramps and abdominal pain, mix one cup warm milk with one tablespoon crushed fennel seeds, let stand for two to three minutes, strain and slowly drink warm milk If breastfeeding, an old folk remedy to relieve sore nipples or relieve an infection, is to soak a cloth in warm tea and apply to the infected area of the skin. Apply this compress up to three times per day.

Fennel tea is reputedly also good for eye inflammations, to prepare this mixture take one-half cup water and add two teaspoons crushed fennel seeds and bring mixture to a boil. Let cool for ten minutes, then soak a cotton cloth in mixture and place on eye for fifteen to twenty minutes. It is best to do this is a dim lighting

.