by M. L. Kiser

Created on: September 19, 2008

You may wonder why the use of Fennel Seed is growing in popularity. Many people are using it to lose weight. While it is a natural appetite-suppressant, it also has many other health benefits. A natural diuretic it can relieve bloat and aid in the reduction of water retention.

A native herb to the Mediterranean, it has a light licorice taste and is a great celery-looking herb for seasoning your cooking. Actually a member of the carrot family, the leaves, bulb and stalk, as well as, the seeds are edible and it's filled with anti-oxidants. It's used in Asia and India as a natural breath freshener and can be eaten raw.

You can grow it yourself or purchase any number of extracts, seeds and oil from health food centers and online.

Aside from it's weight reducing properties, it is also a digestive aid, which means that it can aid in digestion process, relieve muscle spasms in the digestive tract, relieves indigestion, gas pains, irritable bowel syndrome, infant colic and to relieve cramps.

Fennels antispasmodic effects can help to alleviate muscle spasms elsewhere in the body including, as studies have shown, in the uterus. Fennel is a phytoestrogen that stimulates the effects of estrogen in the body. Traditionally, it has been used to stimulate milk production in nursing mothers and menstruation. It can be used to treat low milk production, PMS, menopause and even low libido.

Fennel is commonly used in many herbal and holistic preparations for premenstrual and menopausal women. The analgesic properties of fennel can relieve pain and protects your liver from toxins.

It can also be used as a decongestant and can help to loosen phlegm in bronchial passages. You can ease chronic cough and bronchitis by using fennel. It can be made into a tea by crushing 1-2 teaspoons of fennel seed and adding to a cup of boiling water.

If you grow your own fennel, be sure to grow it away from tomatoes or caraway. It can stunt the growth or interfere with the bearing of these plants.

While some people may be allergic to fennel, many others are helped by its properties. It's a great way to avoid many of the prescription and OTC medications on the market and their negative, sometimes fatal side effects.

Risk assessments warn that fennel contains estragole, a phytogenic monosubstance, which in abundance, can be carcinogenic in rats when taken with other estragole and methyleugenol substances like anise, star anise, basil, tarragon, lemon grass, Jamaica pepper and nutmeg, so you should not overdo these herbs with fennel. So whether your grow your own or use commercially prepared seeds, oils or extracts, be careful not to exceed the recommended amounts of fennel.

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