Pimpinella anisum

Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Pimpinella anisum L.

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    Apiaceae

    • Anisum vulgare Gaertn.
    • Anise
    • anisun أنيسون
    • habb el-hulwah حب الحلوة
    • habba hilwa حبة حلوة
    • kamun hilu كمون حلو
    • yansun يانسون / ينسون
    • kamnon ha-'anis
    • כַּמְנוֹן הָאָנִיס

    Annual

    • Batha
    • Phrygana
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    For distribution and other botanical details for this plant

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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.)
    2. Decoct x1 teaspoon seeds to 2 cups boiled water & drink (Further details of Admin 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.
    2. Cook fruits in water & drink.
    3. Boil fruits in water + Tamarix sp. + cinammon (Cinnamonum sp.) + coriander (Coriandrum sativum) + sesame (Sesamum indicum) + fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) + "fadranaq" (?) & drink + sugar. Avoid eating meat.

    		 Fruit Z
    Gastrointestinal

    Constipation,

    		Laxative

    1. Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x2 /day until well. (B)
    2. Use crushed fruits. (Admin. not specified.) (Z)

    		 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)
    2. Decoct seeds & drink1 cup x 2/day until well. (B)

    		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)
    2. Prepare alcoholic drink "araq" from extract of fruits & gargle. (Z)

    		 Fruit, Seed B, Z
    Respiratory

    Common cold (B) / Colds (Z)

    		 Anti-Infective

    1. Decoct seeds & drink 1 cup x2/day until well.(B)
    2. Use smoke from incense of fruits. (Admin not specified but may imply inhaling smoke.) (Z)

    		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)
    2. Decoct fruits. (Admin. not specified.) (Z)

    		 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/

    Notes

    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"

    Cautions

    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.