Fennel

The two types of fennel are Foeniculum vulgare, known as common, herb or sweet fennel, and Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum which is known as bulb or Florence fennel and finocchio. Both come from the carrot family, Apiaceae, and are related to parsnips, celery, and coriander. Fennel plants originate from the sunny coastal regions of southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Both varieties have green, smooth, hollow stems and finely dissected feathery leaves reaching 12inches (30cm) in length.

The bulb, herb greens, and seeds can be used as a garnish, in salads, bread, stews, soups or diffused as an anise flavor tea.

Fennel has been used throughout history for its medicinal benefits but is most renowned for aiding digestion and calming stomach spasms. As medicine, it might relax the colon, and also appears to contain an ingredient that may act like estrogen in the body. As a spice, fennel has an anise-like taste.

Medicinal uses

• Fennel can be used for menstrual cramps.
• It is also used for excessive crying in infants (colic).
• It helps to improve digestion.
• Fennel is used for  symptoms of menopause.

Precautions

• When taken by mouth: Fennel is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when used as medicine at appropriate doses for a short period of time. There isn't enough reliable information to know whether fennel is safe when used long-term. Although rare, side effects might include stomach upset and seizures.
• When applied to the skin: Fennel is possibly safe. Fennel can make skin extra sensitive to the sun and make it easier to get a sunburn. Wear sunblock if you are light-skinned. Pregnancy: Fennel is possibly unsafe to use when pregnant. Regularly using fennel has been linked to preterm birth.
• Breast-feeding: Fennel is possibly unsafe. There are some reports of breast-feeding infants with damage to their nervous systems after they were exposed to herbal tea containing fennel through breastmilk.
• Children: Fennel is possibly safe when used at appropriate doses for up to one week in young infants with colic.
• Allergy to celery, carrot or mugwort: Fennel might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to these plants.
• Bleeding disorders: Fennel might slow blood clotting. Taking fennel might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.
• Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Fennel might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, do not use fennel.

Interactions

• Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs) interacts with FENNEL. Some birth control pills contain estrogen. Large amounts of fennel might affect estrogen levels in the body. Taking fennel along with birth control pills might decrease the effects of birth control pills. If you take birth control pills along with fennel, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) interacts with FENNEL. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic. Fennel might decrease how much ciprofloxacin the body absorbs. Taking fennel along with ciprofloxacin might decrease the effects of ciprofloxacin. To avoid this interaction, take fennel at least one hour after ciprofloxacin.

• Estrogens interacts with FENNEL. Large amounts of fennel might have some of the same effects as estrogen. Taking fennel along with estrogen might decrease the effects of estrogen.

• Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) interacts with FENNEL. Large amounts of fennel seem to affect estrogen levels in the body. Taking fennel along with tamoxifen might decrease the effects of tamoxifen.

• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with FENNEL. Fennel might slow blood clotting. Taking fennel along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with FENNEL. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Fennel might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.