Fennel

Fennel – a perennial or two-year plant, concerns to family umbrella. In height the plant can grow to 2 meters, a stalk of its straight line and round, strongly branched from above. The root of fennel is presented by a fleshy bulb, ochroleucous color. Leaves of fennel are very similar to fennel. From above all parts of a plant are covered with a gray plaque. Fennel as usual fennel blossoms. Fennel fruits ripen in the fall.

Other names of a plant is the following:

• Pharmaceutical fennel;
• Fennel of voloshskiya.

The Mediterranean is considered the homeland of a plant. Fennel in Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt was known to the person, already then it was applied as spice and medicine. The first mentioning of use of fennel and its properties is dated even the 18th century.

In the wild nature fennel grows on dry stony slopes, in ditches and at roadsides of roads. Wild fennel at us can be met in the Crimea, in Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

For use of fennel as medicine and spice it is grown up in Krasnodar Krai, in the North Caucasus, in Ukraine, in Belarus and Moldova. The most widespread grade of a plant is a fennel Balonsky presently.

Structure and useful properties of fennel

The main property of fennel is high content in it essential oils. So, various parts of a plant contain various amount of essential oil:

• Fruits (seeds) - 6,5%;
• Leaves - 0,5%.

Essential oil of fruits of fennel has strong aroma and sweetish spiciness. Useful properties of fennel are caused by unique chemical composition and contents in it numerous substances:

• Fenchone;
• P-propenyl anisole;
• Camphor;
• Alpha pinene;
• Methyl chavicol;
• Alpha phellandrene;
• Limonene;
• Cineol;
• Terpinolene;
• Bornyl acetate;
• Citral.

Fruits of fennel are rich with fat oils. So, scientific reviews of fennel contain information on what seeds contain from 12 to 18 percent fat oils. These oils include many valuable acids in the structure:

• Olein;
• Petrozelinovy;
• Palmitonovy;
• Linoleic.

Use of useful properties of fennel in fruits is caused by such rich structure. But not only fruits of fennel have useful properties, use of leaves and a stalk of a plant brings essential benefit to an organism. So, the structure of a green part of fennel is also rich in various elements:

• Glycosides;
• Ascorbic acid;
• Carotene;
• Flavonoids;
• Mineral substances;
• Group B vitamins.

Distinctive property of fennel, according to culinary specialists, is its low caloric content. So, the caloric content of fennel makes 31 kcal in 100 g. And 100 grams of fruits of fennel are very impressive weight. It is unlikely someone eats such quantity at once. Besides, it would be already excessive use of this medicinal plant. There are many reviews of fennel which use in a large number, on the contrary, has pernicious effect on health. In particular, it can cause a gastric disturbance, and even poisoning.

Drugs from fruits of fennel have the following effect on an organism:

• Increase in secretion of digestive glands;
• Spasmolytic;
• Cholagogue;
• Sedative (soothing);
• Diuretic action;
• Antibacterial.

Use of fennel

Use of fennel according to patients, gives fine effect at treatment of numerous diseases. In the medicinal purposes use fruits of fennel and its leaves. Fennel fruits found use also at production of other drugs, for neutralization of bitterness of drugs and unpleasant smells. It is connected with distinctive property of fennel in the form of a strong smell and saturated taste.

In numerous reviews of fennel its salutary impact on the central nervous system is noted. Spasmolytic and soothing properties of fennel are applied at production of drugs for bronchial asthma.

Oil from fennel fruits found application as an expectorant for treatment of catarrhal diseases. So, use of fennel is reasonable at the following diseases:

• SARS;
• Flu;
• Bronchitis;
• Pneumonia;
• Laryngitis;
• Tonsillitis;
• Laryngotracheitis.

Oil from fennel fruits is also applied at a meteorism, colitis and an indigestion. Property of fennel to improve functioning of intestines is actively applied at many diseases of digestive tract. Use of fennel, in moderate doses, is also reasonable for prevention of locks. This property of fruits of fennel is applied even to newborn children and babies, to removal of spasms in a stomach and gripes. The well-known "Dill water" is made of fennel fruits.

Besides, broth from fennel fruits found application in obstetrics and gynecology. Unique properties of fennel, according to pregnant women, help to improve digestion and to remove toxicosis attacks (nausea). The same effect of use of fennel is reached at its use in food by just given rise women. Use of fennel helps the woman in labor to adjust digestion. Besides, unusual property of fennel, according to young mothers, is its ability to stimulate a lactation. Accepting tea from fennel fruits, women manage to establish a lactation quickly. Besides, through breast milk the substances providing medicinal properties of fennel get into an organism of the child. Thus, it is possible to avoid excessive gas generation in a small organism. Use of fennel well affects normalization of a menstrual cycle.

In cookery fennel found application in the form of seasoning. Practically all plant can be eaten: its bulb, trunk (stalk), leaves and seeds. From fresh greens and a bulb of fennel, according to culinary specialists, cook salads and soups. Fennel fruits perfectly supplement meat and fish dishes. Besides, fruits of fennel use at conservation for winter of some vegetables.

Essential oil from fennel fruits also found application in cosmetology and perfumery.

Contraindications to use of fennel

Along with the fact that use of fennel and its properties by the nursing women is eurysynusic, at the same time it is necessary to be careful. There are reviews of fennel from women who began to notice at themselves and the child symptoms of an allergy, after the excessive use of this plant. The same concerns also pregnant women. You should not appoint and accept independently drugs on the basis of fennel. And the more so, it is impossible to exceed the recommended reception doses. During pregnancy and feeding by a breast use of fennel is possible only in coordination with the doctor.

Besides, an absolute contraindication to use of fennel is hypersensitivity of an organism, or individual intolerance of fruits of fennel. In this case the person can feel nausea and dizziness, even from a plant smell.

Excessive use of fennel, according to doctors at epilepsy is extremely dangerous, and can lead to a lethal outcome.