Foeniculum vulgare
(Fennel)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Acts on beta 2 receptors, effecting vasodilation
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Carminative
• Flavoring
• Galactagogue
• Increases liver regeneration in partially hepatectomized rats
• Mild expectorant
• Possesses estrogenic effects
• Promotes bronchodilation
• Relaxes the bladder
• Relaxes the intestines
• Relaxes the uterus

Clinical Indications:

• Constipation
• Hepatitis
• Cough
• Flatulence
• Indigestion

Contraindications:

• Allergic hypersensitivity - empirical data
• Infants due to the essential oil - speculative
• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effect and phytoestrogen activity - empirical data
• Prolonged usage unless under a physician's care - due to the speculative procarcinogenic estragole constituent in the volatile oil

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• 2-6% essential oil consisting of:
  
  50-70% of the sweet trans-anethole
  20% of the bitter and camphoraceous (+)-fenchone
  Camphene
  Estragole
  Limonene
  Pinene
• Alpha-phellandrene
• Anisaldehyde
• Fixed oils:
  
  Linoleic acid
  Oleic acid
  Petroselenic acid
• Flavonoids:
  
  Kaempferol glycoside
  Quercitin glycoside
  Rutin glycoside
• Methylchavicol
• Minerals:
  
  Calcium
  Potassium
• Protein
• Organic acids
• Vitamins

Toxicity:

• Overdose of the essential oil can cause:
  
  Nausea
  Pulmonary edema
  Seizures
  Vomiting

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).