Foeniculum vulgare

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

  • Common Fennel
  • Wild Fennel
  • shomar barri شومر بري
  • shomar شومر
  • shumar pashut
  • שֻׁמָּר פָּשׁוּט

Hemicryptophyte

  • Batha
  • Disturbed habitats
  • Phrygana
Click Flora of Israel Online to view distribution
and other botanical details.

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

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.