Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare

Plant Family: Apiacea

Native Habitat: Temperate Europe, naturalized to US

Herbal Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, nervine relaxant, antidepressant, nervine anxiolytic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, hepatic, emmenagogue, galactagogue

Parts used: Seeds (most commonly in herbal medicine), bulb (most commonly in food), leaves.

Forms: Tincture, infusion, glycerite, spice in cooking.

Season: Late summer.

Taste/ Smell: Pungent aromatic, sweet.

Energetic Qualities: Very neutral. Cooling. Dense and heavy (associated with sweet), light and mobile (associated with mobile). Amphoteric.

Indications: Inflammation in the digestive or musculoskeletal system, nervous system disorders, indigestion, hypertension, lactation.

Body system affinities: Nervous, musculoskeletal, digestive.

Harvesting: Harvest when plant is in seed for fennel seed tincture or tea.