Apiaceae
Annual
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Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Pimpinella anisum L.
| System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Cancer |
Anti-carcinogenic | 1.Decoct seeds + fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) + nigella (Nigella ciliaris) + fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) & drink. (Admin. further details not specified.) |
Seed | B |
| Cardiovascular | Heart palpitations/ chest pain/ angina pectoris |
Analgesic, Cardiac | Prepare alcoholic drink "araq" from extract of fruits. (Admin. not specified.)(See NOTES 2) |
Fruit | Z |
| Cardiovascular | Weak heart |
Cardiac | Crush fruits into powder & eat x1 teaspoon/day. |
Fruit | Z |
| Child health | For baby whose mother's milk has stopped |
Nutritive | Prepare infusion of fruits & give baby to drink. |
Fruit | Z |
| Child Health | Infant care |
Non-specific | Decoct seeds & give x1 teaspoon to infant. |
Seed | B |
| Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Tinnitus |
Anti-tinnitus | Make alcoholic solution (tincture) of etheric (essential) oil & apply drops into ear. |
Essential oil | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Abdominal gas |
Carminative | Mix powdered fruit of "yansoon" (Pimpinella anisum) + powdered ground Asparagus aphyllus seeds + ginger (Zingiber officinale) + "kharmal" (Peganum harmala) + honey & eat x1 teaspoon every morning. |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Abdominal pain |
Carminative | 1. Prepare infusion of fruit in water & drink + sugar. |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Constipation, |
Laxative | 1. Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x2 /day until well. (B) |
Fruit, Seed | B, Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Diarrhea/ disinfect intestines. |
Anti-Infective, Depurative | Grind fruit + "nabat" [large crystalled] sugar & eat. |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Dysentery |
Anti-Infective | Mix powders of Pimpinella fruit + cumin (Cuminum cyminum)+ cress (Lepidium sativum ) + thyme (Thymbra?capitata) + sugar & eat x1 teaspoon every morning before breakfast. |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Excessive gastric acid |
Antacid | Crush fruits + cumin (Cuminum cyminum)+ sugar & eat x2 teaspoons mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Increase appetite |
Stomachic | Use crushed fruits. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
| Gastrointestinal | Indigestion/ intestinal pain/ flatulence |
Carminative, Digestive | Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x2/day until well. |
Seed | B |
| General | Oedema |
Anti-hydropic | Cook aerial parts of Thymbra spicata in water + cumin (Cuminum cyminum) + Pimpinella + Lepidium sp. & drink. |
Fruit | Z |
| Infections | Tuberculosis |
Anti-tubercular | Mix powders of Pimpinella fruit + cumin (Cuminum cyminum) + cress (Lepidium sativum) + thyme (Thymbra?capitata) + sugar & eat x1 teaspoon every morning before breakfast. |
Fruit | Z |
| Kidney & Urinary Tract | Increase urinary output & against abdominal pain. |
Analgesic, Diuretic | Roast & crush fruits. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
| Kidney & Urinary Tract | Urinary obstruction |
Deobstruent | Grind together seeds of Cucumis sativus+ "biz'r batikh" (Citrulllus vulgaris)+ "biz'r qara" (Curcubita maxima.)+ "yansun" (Pimpinella) + "bashbash" (Senecio vulgaris) & eat. |
Fruit | Z |
| Mental Health | Relaxation; "to prevent anxiety & weight loss". (Z) Relaxant; nervous calming. (B) |
Anxiolytic | 1. Use smoke from incense of fruits. (Admin not specified but may imply inhaling smoke). (Z) |
Fruit, Seed | Z, B |
| Nervous system | Facial & oral muscular paralysis. |
Nervine | Mix powders of Pimpinella fruit + "sureb" (? lead) + nutmeg (Myristica sp.) & tie in a bag; leave in mouth for 2 days. |
Fruit | Z |
| Nervous system | Headache |
Analgesic | Use smoke from incense of fruits. (Admin not specified but may imply inhaling smoke.) |
Fruit | Z |
| Oral Health | Toothache |
Analgesic | 1. Decoct seeds & rinse orally as needed. (B) |
Fruit, Seed | B, Z |
| Respiratory | Common cold (B) / Colds (Z) |
Anti-Infective | 1. Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x2/day until well.(B) |
Fruit, Seed | B, Z |
| Respiratory | Regulate respiration |
Non-specific | Use crushed fruits. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
| Respiratory | Softening expectorant for throat & chest/ runny nose /bronchitis |
Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal, Demulcent, Expectorant | Decoct fruits + chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
| Respiratory | Sore throat & colds |
Anti-Infective, Demulcent | Prepare infusion of fruit in water & drink + tea. |
Fruit | Z |
| Women`s Health | Increase (B)/ induce (Z) maternal milk flow |
Galactagogue | 1. Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x 2/day during pregnancy & after giving birth. (B) |
Fruit, Seed | B, Z |
| Women`s Health | Menstrual pain |
Analgesic | Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x 2/day. |
Seed | B |
| Women`s Health | Preserve a pregnancy from aborting. |
Anti-abortive | Prepare infusion in hot water of Pimpinella + carrot (Daucus carota) + coriander (Coriandrum sativum) + fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare) fruits & drink. |
Fruit | Z |
| Women`s Health/ Sexuality | Increase libido in women. |
Aphrodisiac | Prepare vaginal plug of aerial parts of Alcea acaulis + "yansun" (Pimpinella anisum) fruit + Cuminum fruit + bu'eithran (Teucrium polium) (See NOTES 3) + honey (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Other Uses
Pimpinella anisum L.
| System/State | Complaint / Use | Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary | Spice for cookies |
Seasoning | Use fruit. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified) |
Fruit | 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.
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 - https://florapal.org/disclaimer/
1. Z refers to the fruit of Pimpinella anisum as the part used medicinally. This fruit is an oblong dry schizocarp (a dry fruit that on maturing, splits into 2 or more closed, one-seeded parts) usually called "aniseed". Z recipes refer to the fruit while B recipes refer to the seed..
2. Several recipes for Pimpinella anisum (anise) include "araq" or "arak" (arabic: perspiration ), a traditional alcoholic beverage especially of the Eastern Mediterranean. Made from crushed seeds of anise, the oil provides araq with a slight licorice taste. The other ingredient of araq are grapes. (See also Vitis vinifera.)
3. In the recipe for increasing female sexual drive, Z notes that one of the ingredients "bu'eithran" is Teucrium polium (synonym of Teucrium capitum). However this is not the common Arabic name for this species which is known as "jada". The Arabic name for Artemesia judaica however is "b'eithran"
Pimpinella anisum is assocaited with occasional allergic reactions of the skin, respiratory & gastrointestinal tract. Essential oil can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures, pulmonary oedema, kidney inflammation, dermatosis. Aniseed is an abortifacient & galactogogue & should not be used in preganacy & lactation in greater amounts than those in food. Hgh doses in nursing mothers can cause CNS disturbances, lethargy & poor suckling etc. in the newborn. High doses interfere with anticoagulant , contraceptive, MAOI and Oestragen Replacement therapy.
