Fennel: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

Fennel Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare), known as Shatapushpa ("what possesses a hundred flowers") in Sanskrit, are one of the best herbs for digestion. Their energetics are sweet and pungent with a slightly cooling virya and sweet vipaka, balancing all three doshas (VPK=). They act as a carminative, stomachic, stimulant, diuretic, and antispasmodic, working on plasma, blood, muscle, and marrow tissues through the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.

Fennel strengthens Agni without aggravating Pitta, stops cramping, and dispels flatulence. The seeds can be taken roasted after meals, one teaspoon by themselves or with rock salt. They combine well with cumin and coriander as three cooling spices, making them a good general herb and spice for all constitutions.

Key indications include indigestion, low Agni, abdominal pain, cramps or gas, difficult or burning urination, and children's colic. Preparation is typically as an infusion or powder (250 to 500 mg).

• Dı-pana: Enkindles the digestive fire
• Pa-cana: Digestive Śu-lapraśamana Alleviates intestinal spasms
• Anuloma: Redirects the flow of vata downwards
• Chardinigrahan.a: Antiemetic
• Ka-sa: Benefits coughs Śva-sa Antiasthmatic
• Sattva: Increases clarity of consciousness
• Biomedical: Carminative, aromatic, diuretic, antispasmodic, galactagogue, expectorant, antitussive

Contraindications: None known. Fennel is a very; safe herb

Safety: None known. Fennel is a very safe herb. the body at twice the normal rate when taken with fennel (Low Dog 2002, Harkness & Bratman 2003).

Dosage: 500mg–9g per day dried or 3–15ml per day of a 1:3 @ 45% tincture. There is some theoretical concern that ciprofloxacin is cleared from

Combinations:

• Cumin, peppermint for GIT disturbance.
• Ginger, chitraka, cinnamon for low agni.
• Coriander, gokshura in urinary problems with aggravated vata and kapha.
• Pippali, anthrapachaka, licorice in vata–kapha type coughs.
• Brahmi, gotu kola for mental tension relief and to enhance antispasmodic activity.
• Shatavari, ajmoda for lactation. Chapter 6 PLANT PROFILES

Rasa (Taste): Sweet, Pungent

Virya (Energy): Cooling

Vipak (Post-digestive effect): Pungent

Qualities: Unctuous

Dosha effect: Calms all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)

Fennel acts as a digestive aid and as a diuretic. It helps to get rid of intestinal worms and can relieve hemorrhoids.

• For indigestion: Chew 1/2 teaspoon roasted fennel and cumin seeds after each meal.
• For acute diarrhea: Mix 1/2 teaspoon each of fennel powder and ginger powder, and chew this 2 or 3 times a day.
• For acute cold, cough and upper respiratory congestion: Chew 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed powder mixed with 1 teaspoon of natural sugar, 2 or 3 times a day.
• For edema: Fennel tea made from 1 teaspoon fennel seeds steeped in 1 cup boiling water, 2 times a day.
• For burning urination: Drink fennel tea with 1 teaspoon natural sugar.