Common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a two-year herbaceous plant, growing up to two meters tall, resembling dill. Its leaves have membranous stalks and blade divided into four segments with linear divisions. Yellow flowers grow in umbels, consisting of 15 to 20 umbels. The fruit is a grayish-yellow schizocarp with five ribs.
Ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Arabs, Chinese, and Indians all used fennel as both a spice and a medicinal herb.
As a cultivated plant, fennel prefers warm, not too dry climates with fertile soil. Its distribution roughly corresponds to areas where grapevines are grown. It grows wild in the Mediterranean region, where both leaves and fruits are used. It is also found around the Black Sea and in Asian countries. In the Czech Republic, it occurs in southern Moravia.
Fennel seeds have a characteristic aroma and a slightly pungent, sweet taste. They are harvested in August of the second year. The best time to harvest them is in the morning, while they are still covered with dew.
Fennel contains essential oils containing terpenes such as anethole, fenochone, feniculine, methylchavicol, carvol, and many other substances. It also contains carbohydrates, proteins, fatty oils, pectin, starch, and estragole.
It is an excellent carminative and spasmolytic – it relieves bloating and painful cramps in the digestive system. The bitter fenchone also improves the secretion of digestive enzymes and stimulates proper bowel function. The small amount of substances similar to female hormones can increase milk production.
When used externally, fennel essential oil has a very beneficial effect and is well absorbed into the skin, which has a significant disinfecting effect. Fennel compresses relieve back pain. Fennel tea is also an excellent rinse for eye inflammation or fatigue.
Fennel is very suitable for use in ophthalmology, pediatrics, and obstetrics, especially for breastfeeding women, as well as for elderly and weakened individuals.
Due to its effects, it is a great aid in weight loss programs because it promotes the breakdown of excess fat. In addition, it improves digestion, reduces feelings of hunger, helps flush out toxins, and mildly dehydrates the body. The recommended dosage when using fennel tincture (an alcoholic extract from the fruits) is 21 days in the morning and evening, followed by a 5-day break.
In the kitchen, not only the aromatic seeds are used as a spice, but also the fleshy rhizomes, which are tasty raw, for example, in salads, or cooked. It is mainly used as a vegetable in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The delicate green leaves can also be used to garnish dishes.
Note: Fennel seeds, due to their high content of essential oils and resins, are an excellent remedy against ticks. This is a very common method of protection for hunters and their dogs. If you want to use fennel against ticks, put it in your trouser pockets and change it regularly so that it remains fragrant.
This article was published with the kind permission of Sféra magazine.
casopis-sfera.cz / gnews.cz-HeK