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plant profile
Fennel Seed
LATIN NAME
Foeniculum vulgare
MEANING
Courage; Deceit; Endurance; Flattery; Force; Greif; Merit; Worthy of all praise
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Fennel Seed
About
Fennel’s scientific name is Foeniculum vulgare and it belongs to the Apiaceae family. For teas, the dried seeds are used.
Active Constituents
Volatile oil, flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic acid, vitamins, minerals, and fixed oils.
Sowing & Growing
Plant the seeds directly outside once the soil warms up in mid to late spring. As the seedlings grow, thin them out to maintain about 30cm of space between each plant.
Alternatively, you can start them indoors in modules in early spring, just be careful not to disturb the roots when you transplant them outside. This plant is easy to grow, reaching heights of about 8 feet, and it thrives in full sunlight with well-drained soil.
Harvesting & Prep
Every part of the fennel plant is usable! Throughout the summer, you can pick fresh fronds to toss into salads, cook with, or brew into herbal teas. When the flowers start to bloom, they make for a delightful treat—snack on them as you wander around the garden, just be aware that the bees love them too!
Once the flowers turn into seeds, you can enjoy them fresh as a sprinkle on both sweet and savory dishes. Honestly, trying a fresh sweet fennel seed is an experience everyone should have at least once.
As summer wraps up, the seeds will be fully ripened. Make sure to collect them when they're bright green and well-formed. Dry them out in a warm, well-ventilated space for about 36-48 hours, then store them in an airtight container for your cooking needs.
Therapeutic Properties
Antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antitussive, carminative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, hormone-balancer and mucolytic.
Traditional Uses
Fennel has been traditionally used as an aromatic digestive remedy. It helps relieve wind, colic, indigestion, heartburn, bloating, and nausea. It was considered an important herbal tea for after dinner. Now, we know it as an important remedy for IBS too.
It was also used as a cough and cold herb, helping to clear the airways and ease coughing. It can be used to warm the uterus and relieve cramping. This antispasmodic action is also useful on the skeletal muscles, both internally and externally. Fennel is one of our traditional galactagogue herbs, stimulating milk flow in nursing mothers. This also benefits the baby by alleviating colic.
