ANISE (Pimpinella anisum L.)

 

ANISE (Pimpinella anisum L.) ++
Synonym — Anisum vulgare Gaertn.
Activities (Anise) — Abortifacient (f; CAN; CRC); Allergenic (1; CRC); Analgesic (1; CRC;
HH2); Antibacterial (2; HH2; KOM; PHR; PH2; PIP); Anticonvulsant (1; CAN); Antiseptic
(2; KOM; PHR; PIP); Antispasmodic (2; CAN; HH2; KOM; PHR; PH2); Antiviral (1; HH2;
PH2); Aperitif (f; CRC); Aphrodisiac (f; HHB); Carminative (1; CAN; HHB; JFM); Collyrium
(f; CRC); Dentifrice (f; CRC); Diaphoretic (f; CRC); Digestive (f; PH2); Emmenagogue (1;

CAN; HHB); Estrogenic (1; CAN; HHB; HH2; PH2); Expectorant (2; CAN; HH2; KOM;
PHR; PH2); Fungicide (1; CRC); GABA-genic (1; CAN); Hepatotonic (1; CRC); Hepatotoxic
(f; CAN); Insecticide (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Insectifuge (1; PH2); Lactagogue (1; CAN; CRC;
HHB; JFM); Laxative (f; DEM); Libidogenic (f; CAN); Litholytic (f; CRC); Paraciticide (1;
CAN; FNF); Pectoral (f; CRC); Pediculicide (1; APA); Secretolytic (1; CAN); Sedative (f;
CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC); Stomachic (f; CRC; HHB); Sympathomimetic (1; CAN); Tonic (f;
CRC).
Indications (Anise) — Andropause (f; CAN); Anemia (1; APA); Anorexia (2; CRC; PHR; PH2);
Arthrosis (f; PH2); Asthma (f; CRC); Bacteria (2; HH2; KOM; PHR; PH2; PIP); Bronchosis (2;
CAN; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cancer (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, bladder (f; JLH); Cancer, kidney (f;
JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, lung (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH); Cancer, stomach
(f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Cancer, uvula (f; JLH); Catarrh (2; CAN; DEM; HH2; KOM;
PH2); Childbirth (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (2; CRC; PHR); Cholera (f; CRC); Cold (2; PHR;
PH2); Colic (1; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2); Colitis (f; HH2); Congestion (f; AHA); Convulsion (1;
CAN); Cough (2; APA; CAN; PHR; PH2); Cramp (2; AHA; CAN; HH2; KOM; PHR; PH2);
Dropsy (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; CAN; CRC; HH2; PH2); Dyspepsia (1; APA; BIS; CRC;
PH2); Epilepsy (f; CRC); ERT (1; CAN; FNF); Fever (2; CRC; PHR; PH2); Frigidity (f; AHA;
CAN; FNF); Fungus (1; CRC; WOI); Gas (1; APA; CAN; CRC; HHB; JFM; PH2; SHT);
Gastrosis (f; DEM); Halitosis (1; AHA; CRC); Hepatosis (2; PHR; PH2); Induration (f; JLH);
Infection (2; CRC; KOM; PHR; PIP); Insomnia (f; CRC); Lice (1; APA; CRC; WOI); Lumbago
(f; PH2); Migraine (f; CRC); Morning Sickness (f; AHA); Mucososis (2; CAN; KOM; PHR);
Mycosis (1; CRC); Nausea (f; AHA; CRC); Nephrosis (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; CRC); Neuralgia
(f; CRC); Pain (1; CRC; HH2; PH2); Parasite (1; CAN); Parturition (f; AHA); Pediculosis
(topical) (1; APA; CAN); Pertussis (f; CAN; PH2); Pharyngosis (2; PHR; PH2); Poor Milk
Supply (1; CAN); Psoriasis (1; CAN); Respirosis (f; PH2); Scabies (topical) (f; APA; CAN;
CRC); Sclerosis (f; JLH); Splenosis (f; JLH); Stomatosis (2; PHR; PH2); Stone (f; CRC);
Tracheosis (f; CAN); Tuberculosis (f; HH2; PH2); Tumor (f; JLH); Ulcer (f; JLH); Virus (1;
HH2; PH2).
Dosages (Anise) — 1 tsp crushed seed/cup water 3 ×/day; 3 g seed, or 300 mg seed oil/day (BIS;
PHR); 0.5–1 g seed in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN; HHB); 0.5–3 g fruits (HH2); 20 g fruit in alcohol or
water (JFM); 0.5–1 tsp tincture up to 3 ×/day (APA); 0.05–0.2 ml fruit EO (CAN; PNC); 0.3–1
ml anise water (CAN; PNC); 0.3–1.2 ml anise spirit (PNC).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Anise) — Class 2b (AHP). “Hazards
and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). “Occasional allergic
reactions of the skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract” (BIS, KOM). We might extend
to all apiaceous oils Bisset’s comments on celeryseed oil, “The drug is contraindicated in
inflammation of the kidneys,” since apiaceous EOs may increase the inflammation as a result
of epithelial irritation (BIS). Oil reported carminative and expectorant; 1–5 ml can cause
nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, and vomiting; LD50 EO =2700 mg/kg orl rat (HH2).
Anethole in the volatile oil may cause contact dermatosis (CAN). Commission E reports
contraindications for fruit: hypersensitivity; adverse effects: allergic reactions (occasionally)
(AEH). Seed, reportedly abortifacient and lactagogue, should not be used in pregnancy and
lactation in amounts exceeding those used in foods (CAN). “Often used in pediatric practice”
(BIS). Nursing mothers taking anise or fennel tea, or both, to stimulate lactation caused
temporary CNS disturbances, emesis, lethargy, poor suckling, restlessness, and torpor in the
newborn (15–20 days old), possibly due to anethole in the milk. (Infants were healthy at 6-
month follow up.) (Acta Pediatrica 83:683; 1994). Excessive dose may interfere with anticoagulant,
contraceptive, ERT, and MAOI therapy.

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