Fennel Seed
Fennel seed is a classic digestive remedy—especially for gas, bloating, and crampy discomfort after meals. It’s gentle enough for frequent use and tastes sweet and licorice-like. Fennel is one of those ‘why didn’t I keep this in the kitchen drawer’ herbs because it’s simple, safe, and actually helpful.
Key Benefits
- Supports gas and bloating relief (supportive)
- May ease crampy digestive discomfort (supportive)
- Supports gentle digestion after heavy meals (supportive)
- Can freshen breath when chewed (supportive)
Common Issues It May Help With
- Gas
- Bloating
- Indigestion (supportive)
- Crampy digestion (supportive)
How To Use (Simple)
- Tea: lightly crush 1–2 tsp seeds and steep 10 minutes. Chew 1/2 tsp after meals for breath and digestion. Works well with ginger or peppermint for a post-meal tea.
Taste / Notes
Sweet, licorice/anise-like, aromatic.
Evidence Level
Traditional use is strong and some evidence supports antispasmodic and carminative digestive effects. Often used for symptomatic comfort.
Cautions
Generally safe in culinary/tea amounts. If allergic to carrots/celery/fennel family plants, avoid. Pregnancy/breastfeeding: tea-level use is commonly considered low-risk, but avoid concentrated essential oil.
Interactions
No major interactions at typical culinary/tea levels If on estrogen-sensitive conditions, avoid high-dose fennel extracts without clinician guidance Separate from medications by 1 hour if using very strong teas and you notice sensitivity
Debug: Loaded Herb Fields (verification)
{
"slug": "fennel-seed",
"title": "Fennel Seed",
"latinName": "Foeniculum vulgare",
"category": "seed",
"tagsCount": 6,
"summaryLen": 303,
"benefitsBullets": 4,
"issuesItTreats": 4,
"howToUse": 1,
"hasTaste": true,
"hasEvidence": true,
"hasCautions": true,
"hasInteractions": true
}