Family Friendly Fennel
Fennel has a LOT of strong feelings around it. I personally love it, but others tend to hate it due to their taste buds’ relationship with black licorice. Fennel, not licorice root, flavors black licorice (I know it is very confusing).
Historically in herbalism the fennel seeds get made into a tea and the bulb and fronds get eaten. When I’m in a pinch and don’t have any fennel seeds available to me, I make a strong tea out of the bulb and/or fronds.
Fennel is an excellent children’s herb – excellent for their digestion and (for some) is quite tasty. Herbalists for thousands of years have used it for:
- To increase breast milk production
- Colic for babies
- Many gynecological issues – including menstrual pain
- Dry roast the seeds for pain in the testes and urinary bladder
- Stimulate appetite and regulate digestion
- Easing flatulence
- Abdominal pain
- Calming to the lungs – helpful with bronchitis and coughs
- Expectorant for coughs (helps prevent and remove excess mucus)
- Upset tummy due to nerves
- Move dampness (think any long standing illness)
- Externally for pink eye and inflamed eyelids
Fennel, like all herbs also has a long history of emotional uses as well:
- Help to open those up who all who have experienced trauma but particularly around mother figures, eating, and sexual trauma
- Help find grounding
- Bring in more joy
- Helps to end things so you can move forward
- Moves energy throughout the body
- Particularly soothing with those who have more of a quiet disposition
- Calming for the nervous system
The other night I made a strong tea out of the bulb and I ended up falling right to sleep before I could even finish it! So give it a whirl and see what you think.
If you are interested in personalized herbal recommendations and Chinese Medicine sessions for your health imbalances or your child’s imbalances please feel free to reach out to me here to book a free 15 minute consultation to discuss what those sessions entail and if they might be a good fit for you or your family’s health needs.
Bibliography
- Brooke, Elisabeth. An Astrological Herbal for Women. The Crossing Press, 1995.
- Cantin, Candis, and Michael Tierra. The Spirit of Herbs. U.S. Games Systems, 1993.
- McBride, Kami. The Herbal Kitchen. Conari, 2010.
- Tisserand, Robert. The Art of Aromatherapy. Tisserand Aromatherapy, 1996.
*Disclaimer* None of these statements have been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. This article is meant solely for educational purposes. Please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications
