Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Family

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Common Fennel
Wild Fennel

Arabic Name(s)

shomar barri شومر بري
shomar شومر

Hebrew Name(s)

shumar pashut

שֻׁמָּר פָּשׁוּט

Life Form

Hemicryptophyte

Habitat

Batha
Disturbed habitats
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cancer	Cancer	Anti-carcinogenic	1.Add 1 teaspoon seeds to 1 cup hot mint tea (Mentha spicata) & drink x1 cup/day until recovery. 2.Mix 250 gm fennel seeds + 1 kg fenugreek (Trigonella berythea) + 0.5 kg anise (Anisum vulgare )+ 250 gm nigella (Nigella ciliaris) & eat daily. 3. Add to 1 cup of water 1 teaspoon fennel seeds + ? teaspoons nigella seeds (Nigella ciliaris) + fenugreek seeds (Trigonella berythea) + common mallow seeds (Malva sylvestris); drink.	Seed	B
Cardiovascular	Strenghthen heart	Cardiac	1. Cook fruit in water, mix + "za'tar" (Origanum sp.) + "nakhwa" (? species) + ginger + "heel" (Elettaria cardamomum) + "qarfa" (Cinnamomum cassia). (Admin. not specified.) 2. Cook fruit in water + ginger + "mastika" (Pistacia lentiscus) & drink.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain	Carminative	Decoct leaves & drink x2 cups /day as needed.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Carminative for stomach gas & ache	Carminative	1.Decoct powdered fruit in water & drink. 2. Cook aerial parts + "na'na" (Mentha sp.) & drink extract. 3. Eat fresh plant	Fruit Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	Eat dried ground fruit.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	1.Eat fresh aerial parts until improved 2. Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup /day as needed. .	Aerial parts Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Digestive system Inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	Decoct powdered fruit in water & drink x3 glasses /day.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Flatulence; adults & children	Carminative	Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup /day as needed.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Liver blockage & jaundice	Cholagogue, Hepatic	Decoct fruit & drink.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Stomach ache / cramps/ swelling: stomach poisoning /vomiting/ diarrhea	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-spasmodic	1. Decoct fruit in water & drink 2. Prepare fruit as tea & drink. (Admin. not specified.) 3.Cook fruit in water + chamomile & drink x1 glass/morning & evening for 4 days. 4. Eat fresh aerial parts.	Fruit Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Stomach ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Decoct seeds & drink x1-3 cups/day.	Seed	B
General	Drunkenness	Anti-intoxicant	1. Mix fruit with "za'tar" (Origanum sp.) + "qarfa" (Cinnamonum cassia) + "kammun" (cumin, Cuminum cyminum) + "nakhwa" (? Trachyspermum ammi) + "shedva" + "zeer" + "nu`ud" (unclear what these plants are). (Admin. not specified.) 2. Prepare tea from fruit + sugar.	Fruit	Z
General	Oedema (dropsy) (See NOTES)	Anti-hydropic	1. Decoct powdered fruit in water & drink all day instead of water. 2. Decoct either root or fruit & drink.	Fruit, Root	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic to expell kidney/ bladder stones/rinse kidney/ treat urinary retention	Anti-lithic, Diuretic	1. Decoct root. (Admin. not specified.) 2. Prepare hot coffee with fennel fruit & drink. 3. Extract fruit in water & drink as kidney flush.	Fruit, Root	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Arthritic pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Decoct root. (Admin. not specified.)	Root	Z
Nervous System	Stimulant	Stimulant	Use aerial plant parts & drink with tea. (Preparation not specified.)	Aerial parts	Z
Nervous sytem	Insomnia	Hypnotic	Cook 2 teaspoons of "tahlawa" (mixture of fennel fruit + sesame). (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Oral Health	Toothache	Analgesic	Decoct seeds & rinse mouth.	Seed	B
Respiratory	Cough	Anti-tussive	Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup/day as needed.	Leaf	B
Women`s Health	Prevent miscarriage	Anti-abortive	Extract fruit in water + fruits of "yansun" (Pimpinella anisum) + carrot + coriander & drink.	Fruit	Z
Women`s Health	Promote lactation	Galactagogue	1. Decoct leaves & drink x3 cups/ day. 2. Decoct ground seeds & drink x1-2 cups/day as needed.	Leaf, Seed	B

Other Uses

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Culinary	Food (to make cookies & cakes)	Nutritive	Use fruit. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Culinary	Spice	Nutritive, Seasoning	Use aerial parts (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts	Z

System/State

Complaint / Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/Administration

Parts Used

Source

Culinary

Food (to make cookies & cakes)

Nutritive

Use fruit. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)

Fruit

Culinary

Spice

Nutritive, Seasoning

Use aerial parts (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)

Aerial parts

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1. Z mentions several other local names for this plant provided by the Arab botanist, Natsar-Deen-Hurini , including: "razianj" (similar to a Persian name "razianeh"), "galil" & "namam".
2. Dropsy is an old fashioned term for accumulation of excess fluid in tissues. It may be due to several causes including congestive heart failure

Cautions

Essential oil from Foeniculum Vulgare fruit contains estragole. It should be avoided in kidney inflammation, infants /small children, pregnant & lactating women & women with estogen dependent cancer.