Fennel Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Foeniculum vulgare Fennel essential oil is somewhat unique because while most essential oils are made by distilling flowers, leaves or bark, fennel is different. It's made by crushing and then distilling the seeds of F. vulgare. This perennial herb, which may be biennial in some areas, has two subspecies and the essential oil produced from each is very different from the other. The variety known as amara gives us bitter fennel while the variety known as dulce gives us the more familiar sweet fennel. Characteristics of Fennel OilFennel essential oil should be a pale yellowish color with a sweet "soil" scent that has undertones of pepper and spice. It should feel a bit dry in the nose.Psychological AromatherapyAromatherapist Patricia Davis calls fennel an effective defense against evil forces and recommends it whenever you feel threatened by a "psychic attack". Other aromatherapists use fennel to help open creative channels and reduce overly-analytical thinking.Traditional Uses for Fennel OilVarious preparations made from fennel have been used throughout history to help purge congestion, ease menstrual issues and promote the flow of urine. But perhaps fennel's best-known use is as a stomach ailment. Fennel was actually approved by Germany's Commission E, which is similar to our FDA, for peptic ulcers, spastic colon and flatulence.Aromatherapy author Salvatore Battaglia assigns the following actions to fennel essential oil:
Scientific Studies on Fennel OilAnti-Microbial Activities In SoilIn controlled tests, fennel essential oil showed what researchers called "marked antifungal activity" against one of the most damaging plant pathogens, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. When tested on soil used to grow tomatoes, fennel essential oil increased the survival rate of seedlings by more than 50%. Diuretic Properties Fennel has been a long-time favorite diuretic among herbalists and a 2007 study published in the Journal of Enthopharmacology listed fennel as first among a number of essential oils studied for diuretic actions. Tuberculosis Tuberculosis kills 3 million people around the world every year and drug-resistant strains are becoming more and more common. But in the future, perhaps essential oils like fennel may be used to fight this aggressive and often deadly disease. A 2007 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found fennel essential oil among the oils that showed at least some activity against dug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. In fact, although fennel had to be used at a higher "dose" than the best-performing oil, it was one of only two oils that showed activity against all TB strains tested in this study. Tumors & Cancer While fennel often doesn't perform as well as other botanical extracts against tumors, a few studies suggest that fennel may have some potential as an anti-cancer agent. One of the most recent studies finding in favor of fennel was a 2007 report in the the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Ulcers In Germany, fennel essential oil is an approved remedy for peptic ulcers. A study in the journal World Journal of Gastroenterology is only the latest in a line of studies proving that fennel can reduce, and even prevent, some types of damage to the intestinal tract. Fennel has also been studied for other digestive complaints, including constipation, IBS and similar conditions. Fennel is one of the ingredients in the popular herbal tea Smooth Move. Safety IssuesAs is the case with all botanical extracts, most of the research is done in vitro or on animals. Like other essential oils, fennel has not been exhaustively studied for long-term or high-dose use in humans.Many popular aromatherapy texts contraindicate fennel for those with epilepsy and those who are pregnant and nursing. Some caution against any oral uses at all. While scientific support for these positions is scant, we do know that fennel contains potentially troublesome chemical components like trans-anethole, which is suspected of having hormone-influencing qualities.
References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Soylu, S., et al. (2007). Antifungal effects of essential oils from oregano and fennel on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Wright, C., et al. (2007). Herbal medicines as diuretics: A review of the scientific evidence. Camacho-Corona, M., et al. (2007). Activity against drug resistant-tuberculosis strains of plants used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. Kaileh, M., et al. (2007). Screening of indigenous Palestinian medicinal plants for potential anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. Birdane, F., et al. (2007). Beneficial effects of Foeniculum vulgare on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. Bub, S., et al. (2006). Efficacy of an herbal dietary supplement (Smooth Move) in the management of constipation in nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Bilia, A., et al. (2000). Identification by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analyses and quantification of constituents of fennel teas and decoctions. Leave Fennel Essential Oil & return to Essential Oil Directory
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