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Fennel
(Foeniculum
vulgare)
COMMON NAMES: Large fennel, sweet fennel, wild fennel.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, seed.
DESCRIPTION: Fennel is a biennial or perennial plant that grows wild in the Mediterranean area and in Asia Minor but is commonly cultivated (and sometimes found wild) in the U.S. and Europe. The long, carrot-shaped root produces a stout, pithy, finely grooved stem with fine bluish stripes. The leaves are decompound, dissected into numerous filiform segments, the upper leaves on broad sheaths that surround the stem. Large, compound umbels of yellow flowers appear from July to October. The fruit consists of two joined carpals, together taking an oblong form with prominent ribs.
Fennel is a striking, 6-foot perennial with feathery leaves and tall stalks capped by large umbrella-like clusters of tiny yellow flowers. The tiny oval-shaped fruits (“seeds”) are ribbed and greenish gray. All parts of the plant have the herbs characteristic anise/licorice fragrance.
Fennel grows easily from seeds sown in rich, moist soil in fall or after danger of frost has passed. Germination takes about 2 weeks. Thin seedlings to 12-inch spacing. Do not over water seedlings, but as plants develop, extra water increases stem succulence. Leaves may be harvested once plants are established.
When stems are about an inch thick, hill the soil over them to cause blanching, which results in a milder flavor. Harvest about 10 days after hilling.
Harvest seeds in late summer as they turn greenish gray.
Fennel can damage some neighboring plants; bush beans, tomatoes, caraway, and kohlrabi. If coriander is planted nearby, fennel will not fruit.
Alert: In the wild, fennel may be confused with poison hemlock, which has coursed fatalities. Don’t gather wild fennel unless you’re sure you’ve identified it correctly.
PROPERTIES AND USES: Antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, stimulant, stomachic. The seeds are usually used, but both seed and root are excellent stomach and intestinal remedies. Fennel helps us to arouse appetite; relieve colic, abdominal cramps, and flatulence; and expel mucous accumulations. For flatulence, take fennel oil with sugar or as a saturated solution in water. Add it also to gargles for coughing and hoarseness. To stimulate the flow of milk in nursing mothers, use the tincture or boil the seed in barley water. Externally, rub the oil on affected parts to relieve rheumatic pains, and use a decoction of the seeds as an eyewash for irritation and eyestrain.
Fennel was used in the olden times to improve eyesight. It is used in a tea for colic in babies. It normalizes the appetite, increases or decreases as needed. Fennel helps to increase milk for nursing mothers.
PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE: Gather the root in the spring. Sprinkle or ground fennel on food will prevent gas in the stomach and bowels.
Infusion: Steep 1 tbsp. freshly crushed seeds in 1 cup water for 5 minutes. Sweeten with honey to taste.
Decoction: Boil 1/2 tsp. seed in water. Strain. Use as an eyewash 3 times a day.
Milk decoction: Boil 1 tsp. seed in 1/2 cup milk for 5 to 10 minutes. Take for colic.
Tincture: Take 10 to 30 drops in water, as required.
Fennel-honey: Add 1 to 3 drops fennel oil to 1 tbsp. honey and mix. Take a tsp. at a time. A natural cough remedy.
