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Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Common Names: Hinojo, fenkel, sweet Fennel, wild Fennel. Occurrence: Found wild in most areas of temperate Europe and generally considered indiginous to the shores of the Mediterranean. It is cultivated for medicinal benefit in France, Russia, India and Persia. Parts used: The seeds, leaves and roots. The roots are rarely used in herbal medicine today. The essential oil is seperate dby distillation with water. Fennel oil varies widely in quality and composition depending upon where and under what conditions the Fennel was grown. Magick/Lore: Fennel has been used as a Magickal Herb, giving the user strength, vitality and sexual virility and fertility. It has also been used as an Herb of Protection, and has a very long history of Magickal uses. Remedial/Medicinal: Fennel has also been used to stimulate lactation, as a remedy against colic, and to improve the taste of other medicines. This is the primary use of Fennel among herbalists as an aromatic added to herbal mixtures to make them more palatable and pleasing for digestion. Modern herbalists still prescribe it as an eye wash. Chinese herbal medicine includes the use of Fennel for gastroenteritis, hernia, indigestion, abdominal pain, and to resolve phlegm. Fennel seed is used in the food and flavor industry. The essential oil and the oleoresin of Fennel are used in condiments, soaps, creams, perfumes, and liqueurs. Some eat the leaves and "bulb" of this plant, and some chew the seeds as a breath freshener. When the seed is finely ground to a powder, it deters the presence of fleas and may be used as a pesticide for ones domestic pets. Fennel is highly recommended for those who practice fasting, as it eases the process for the body, alleviating the pangs of hunger, and keeping the digestive system in a more content state. Administer as: Distilled water, fluid extract, essential oil. Fennel is a: Antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, pesticide, diuretic, expectorant, laxative and stimulant. |