Dishes with anise - heritage national cuisine many countries. In Germany, it is added to minced meat for sausages, in some regions of Italy - in tomato sauces.

It gives the dishes a sweetish aroma and light sweet aftertaste. Do not forget about those who make food with its addition, to some extent, medicinal. As for other spices, it goes well with coriander, dill, fennel, bay leaf, cumin.

Where can you add anise?

• Meat. Anise, cinnamon and bay leaves used to be sprinkled with jellied meat and other aspic dishes. You can also cook meat with anise (beef is especially tasty). It goes well with fish and seafood.
• Soups. Soups (fish, milk) are also spiced with pleasure.
• Vegetables. Chopped greens can be safely used in vegetable (with cabbage (including sauerkraut), carrots, beets) salads and fruit platter. This makes it possible to save beneficial features this wonderful spice.
• Sauces. Together with garlic, dill and fennel, it can be used to make sour cream sauce, which is served, for example, with boiled potatoes. Such food will undoubtedly be beneficial for the digestive system.
• Bakery. Fruits and oil are used for flavoring bakery and confectionery products. There are many recipes for baking with anise in cooking. For example, biscuits, cookies, pies, gingerbread, pancakes, muffins are baked with it, put in mousses and jellies, in various pastes. Anise goes well with fruit.
• Porridge. It is especially good to add this spice to oatmeal or rice.

It is also used in the preparation of kvass, cheese sourdough, in tomato marinade (umbrellas), in pickling cucumbers (umbrellas), in sauerkraut.

Alcoholic drinks

This is a separate article on the use of spices. In the past, when spices were generously added to alcoholic drinks(however, at that time - to soften the taste of coarse, "unfiltered" alcohols), he gained popularity as one of the most common flavoring additives. Anise vodka is a very famous drink that, according to experts, has medicinal properties. The spice is also added to drinks such as ricar, pastis, and pernod. The recipe for the famous absinthe was not without anise. It is also included in the composition of anisetta, ouzo, raki, arak, sambuca and many others, giving them unrepeatable aroma and smack.

It contains many essential oils, vitamins of group B and C, fatty acids and minerals. The calorie content of the plant is about 335 kcal / 100g. It is this rich composition that allows the use of anise not only in cooking, but also for medicinal purposes.

When asked if there are conflicting opinions. But still, even despite the similarity of the chemical composition, these are two completely different spices, which can not always successfully replace each other.

The article discusses medicinal properties anise and contraindications to the use of spices. We will tell you about the options for using anise seeds in traditional medicine. Following our advice, you will learn how to brew anise tea, prepare decoctions, water infusions and spice-based alcoholic tinctures.

Anise vulgaris is a herbaceous annual plant that is widely used in folk medicine. From seeds and herbs, plants prepare infusions, decoctions and tinctures.

Anise seeds are used in folk medicine

The benefits and harms of anise lie in its composition. The plant contains essential oils, proteins, organic acids, camphene, fatty oils, dipentene, and sugars. More than 80% of anise consists of anethole - an aromatic ester that gives the plant a sweet-spicy aroma.

Anise is widely used in traditional medicine.... The seeds of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials, less often the stems.

The use of anise herb is possible in cooking. Fresh leaves are added to salads and side dishes. Food with anise herb improves digestion, relieves pain in the stomach and intestines, prevents constipation and flatulence. The beneficial properties of the herb anise explain its use in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Anise has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. These beneficial properties of anise are indispensable for inflammatory diseases internal organs.

Anise seeds normalize the liver and pancreas. Plant-based products reduce the acidity of gastric juice.

The beneficial properties of anise make it possible to use it to treat diseases. nervous system... Anise is a natural antidepressant. Means based on the plant eliminate depression, stress, and lift the mood.

Anise enhances the effect of antibiotics. Therefore, funds based on it should be used carefully during the period of taking antibacterial drugs and only after consulting a doctor.

The medicinal properties of anise seeds help in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases. Plant-based products have expectorant and antipyretic effects.

You have learned about anise and its medicinal properties. Next, we'll cover anise seeds and how to use them in homemade recipes.

The use of anise in traditional medicine

Anise seeds are used in folk medicine. The healing properties of anise seeds are used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems, painful menstruation in women and impotence in men.

Tea, decoctions, infusions and tinctures are made with anise

Medicines are prepared from anise, each of which has its own purpose and method of application. Since anise is a potent plant, drugs based on it should be used exclusively as directed by a doctor, strictly observing the dosage.

The course of receiving funds from anise is 7 days. If it is necessary to repeat the intake, take a break for 2 weeks.

You learned about anise and what the plant is used for. Now let's look at recipes for preparing spice-based medicines.

Anise seed tea

Anise tea has a tonic effect. It is useful to drink it during periods of exacerbation of infectious diseases.

Ingredients:

1. Anise seeds - 1 teaspoon
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Pour boiling water over the anise seeds and let it brew for 10 minutes.

How to use: Drink 1 glass of tea 2-3 times a day.

Result: Tea strengthens the immune system, normalizes digestion and calms the nervous system.

Anise decoction

Anise decoction is beneficial for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. The tool is used to disinfect the oral cavity and gargle with a cold.

Ingredients:

1. Water - 250 ml.

How to cook: Cover seeds with water, place in a water bath and bring to a boil. Boil the product for 10-15 minutes over low heat.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon up to 4 times a day.

Result: Anise decoction effectively relieves pain and inflammation.

Anise infusion

Anise is useful for coughing. The infusion of the plant is used to treat laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma. The agent stimulates the production of phlegm and removes it from the body.

Ingredients:

1. Anise seeds - 2 teaspoons
2. Licorice root - 10 gr.
3. Water - 250 ml.

How to cook: Grind licorice root, combine with anise seeds and pour a glass of boiling water. Cover and let sit for an hour.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon every 3 hours. Use a gargle 3-4 times a day.

Result: Infusion relieves sore throat and has an expectorant effect.

Anise tincture on vodka

Anise tincture is useful for disorders of the cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary systems. The tool is used not only internally, but also externally used to treat skin diseases.

Ingredients:

1. Anise seeds - 40 gr.
2. Vodka - 250 ml.

How to cook: Pour a glass of vodka over the seeds and leave for a week.

How to use: Take 20-25 drops 3 times a day with or without food.

Result: Anise tincture normalizes heart rate and eliminates nervous excitement. When taken regularly, the remedy enhances blood circulation in the pelvic organs and restores potency.

You learned about anise - the properties and uses of the plant in traditional medicine. Let us tell you how anise is useful for loss of voice.

Anise on loss of voice

Anise is used to treat hoarseness. A decoction of the plant softens the ligaments and restores the voice in 2-3 days.

Ingredients:

1. Anise seeds - 1 tablespoon
2. Water - 250 ml.
3. Linden honey - 1 teaspoon.

How to cook: Cover the anise seeds with hot water, bring to a boil in a water bath and cook covered for 15 minutes.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon every half hour.

Result: The remedy eliminates hoarseness of the voice, normalizes the closure of the ligaments.

Contraindications

The beneficial properties and contraindications of anise lie in its chemical composition. Uncontrolled consumption of anise leads to indigestion, nausea and general weakness of the body. Exceeding the dosage for oral administration leads to burns of the gastric mucosa.

Anise - contraindications for use:

• exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• periods of pregnancy and lactation;
• individual intolerance.

You have learned the beneficial properties and contraindications of anise. Now we will tell you where you can buy a medicinal spice.

For more information about anise, see the video:

Where can I buy

Anise seeds can be purchased at any pharmacy or supermarket in the spice section. They are sold whole and ground. Price 100 gr. anise seeds range from 80 to 100 rubles, depending on the manufacturer.

What to remember

1. The beneficial properties and contraindications of anise seeds are in its composition, which is 80-90% of anethole. Plant-based products have a number of contraindications that should be consulted before use.
2. Anise seeds and herb are used as medicinal raw materials.
3. Anise has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant and antipyretic effects.
4. The beneficial properties of anise herb are used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Anise is one of the most popular medicines around the world. For many years, mankind has been using anise seeds and herbs as a carminative that can relieve pain and cramps, and bloating. Anise is also used as an excellent cough remedy, for gargling with various inflammatory diseases, with loss of voice. Many are familiar with the characteristic aniseed aroma of potions and cough tablets.

Anise is also used to improve lactation breast milk in lactating women. Anise seeds are part of the tea for colic in children.

Anise seed composition

Anise is an annual plant (in our country) with a height of only about 60 centimeters. Anise blooms usually in July white, with a specific aroma, flowers collected in an umbrella. The seeds ripen at the end of August in September. The smell of anise is sweetish spicy, somewhat reminiscent of the smell of caraway. It is often referred to as sweet cumin because of its similar flavor. But the caraway tastes sharper and the anise is sweeter.

In the countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, anise has been known for a long time and was cultivated several millennia ago. Now this plant is distributed all over the world.

Anise seeds in medicinal purposes can be used whole or crushed. Since anise can still be attributed to oil crops, its calorie content is high. 100 grams of anise seeds contains 337 kcal.

Anise is also a source of vitamins such as B vitamins: folates, niacin, riboflavin. It contains vitamins A and C.

Among the minerals, it is necessary to highlight such important for human health as calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron, selenium.

The healing properties of anise

Anise is used for many ailments and can help with a variety of health problems.

As an antispasmodic, anise can help relieve coughing attacks, cramps, pain and colic, and diarrhea.

Anise oil has anti-inflammatory and sedative properties, can relieve epileptic and hysterical attacks.

Anise oil also has antiseptic properties, accelerates wound healing.

The anti-inflammatory properties of anise make it possible to use it in the treatment of rheumatism and gout. It increases the secretion of enzymes and hormones, thereby stimulating the metabolism and the body's defenses.

A special place is occupied by the use of anise in various gastrointestinal disorders. It stimulates digestion processes, relieves spasms, removes gases. In the countries of the East, it is customary to chew anise seeds after a meal to improve digestion and eliminate bad breath. Moreover, anise stimulates appetite.

They take anise preparations for insomnia, to eliminate various nervous disorders, relieve feelings of anxiety and anxiety, anger and stress.

Antibacterial properties make anise effective remedy in the treatment of the throat, to freshen the breath and other diseases of the oral cavity.

Anise seeds are very beneficial for men and women, they increase libido and increase sexual attraction... In addition, they can be used to reduce menstrual pain, frigidity in women and increase potency in men.

If your period is delayed due to stress or other nervous disorders, simply brew anise tea.

Anise oil is one of the best expectorants. It helps to improve the discharge of phlegm from the bronchi and lungs, thereby improving the condition and relieving the severity of chest congestion. The oil can be taken for coughs for colds, asthma, bronchitis.

Anise water is a good remedy for the common cold in young children. Anise is also used to treat hiccups in children, eliminate stomach pain and colic in the intestines.

Anise is used to treat skin conditions such as acne and acne. Due to its antibacterial properties, it inhibits the growth of bacteria, accelerates healing. Anise is used to relieve itching from insect bites. In the summer, you can simply attach fresh plant grass to the bite site.

The medicinal use of anise in folk medicine goes back more than one hundred years. Anise is a traditional remedy for improving digestion and stomach problems in Chinese folk medicine. As a verified folk remedy anise and its seeds are used in all countries. Here are the most best recipes traditional medicine with anise.

Cataract treatment

Chew 6 grams of anise seeds daily in the morning and evening.

Take half a teaspoon of crushed anise seeds 3 times a day with water for impotence.

Anise decoction

Brew one tablespoon of anise fruit with 200 ml of boiling water. Then put on the stove and simmer over low heat with a low boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let it brew for another 20 minutes.

Then strain and drink, adding one tablespoon of natural honey and a tablespoon of brandy to the broth.

This broth can be used for chronic cough. Drink a quarter of a glass of broth three, four times a day. Cognac need not be added.

Brew a teaspoon of anise seeds with 500 ml of hot water and let it brew for an hour, wrapped in a towel on top. Strain and drink half a glass 4 times during the day. The broth significantly improves the condition of the skin, they drink it in the absence of appetite, edema, shortness of breath, painful periods, diarrhea. You need to take a quarter of a glass 3-4 times during the day before meals.

With flatulence, prepare the following broth. A tablespoon of ground or crushed seeds is brewed with 500 ml of boiling water and allowed to brew for one hour. Take half a glass 3-4 times before meals.

For colitis, the broth is prepared from one teaspoon of ground seeds. Seeds are poured with boiling water (1 glass) and wrapped, insisted for 30 minutes. Drink in small sips throughout the day.

Brew two teaspoons of anise seeds with 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew for one hour. Strain and use to rinse the mouth from bad smell, with diseases of the oral cavity.

In order to get rid of bad habit smoking, prepare a decoction of anise roots. It is usually brewed. A glass of boiling water is taken on a tablespoon of dry roots. Insist, strain and take several times a day throughout the day.

The decoction of the roots is also drunk to improve the work of the heart muscle.

Anise seed tea

This tea can be taken when coughing, to improve stomach function, bloating and flatulence.

To make tea, pour 200 ml of hot water over a teaspoon of seeds and let it brew for about 10 minutes. Strain and drink several glasses a day.

Anise tincture on vodka (or moonshine)

To prepare a tincture of 40 grams of seeds, pour 250 ml of good vodka or purified home-made moonshine. Insist in a dark place for 7-10 days. Shake the bottle with tincture several times during infusion.

Strain and drink 20-25 drops three times during the day. The tincture is taken for general strengthening of the body.

Anise oil is taken as an expectorant, dropping 5 drops on a sugar cube. It should be taken 2-3 times during the day.

In addition to anise oil, when coughing, you can use anise-ammonia drops. The reception method is the same as for anise oil. You need to drop 10 drops on a piece of sugar. Take 3-4 times during the day.

Anise infusion

Pour a tablespoon of dry anise herb with 100 ml of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Strain and rinse the eyes with this infusion to improve vision, reduce eye pressure, and to prevent cataracts.

Pour a tablespoon of anise fruit with 200 ml of hot water and wrap it up for half an hour. Take an infusion of 1-2 tablespoons for dry cough, asthma, urolithiasis and flatulence.

Brew one teaspoon of ground anise seeds with a glass of hot water. Put on the stove and boil for a minute. Then let it brew for half an hour. After insisting, strain the infusion and add a tablespoon of honey to it. Take an infusion of two tablespoons two, three times a day before meals. This infusion with honey helps with chronic cough.

Anise on loss of voice

Laryngitis is an unpleasant disease. Especially if it is accompanied by a loss of voice. To restore your voice, you can prepare anise decoction. The broth turns out to be very strong and perhaps someone will not like its rich, sugary taste.

To prepare the broth, grind half a glass of anise seeds in a coffee grinder or crush in a mortar.

Pour the crushed seeds with one glass of freshly boiled water. Then put on the stove and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Cover the saucepan with a lid so that the water does not evaporate.

Then remove and let it brew for another 15 minutes. Strain through a fine strainer. You can put a bandage rolled into two, three layers in a strainer.

Add boiled water to the strained broth to the original volume. Then add one quarter cup of honey and stir. It is better to take honey that is not so bitter, for example, lime or flower. Add a tablespoon of good brandy or vodka.

Take this remedy in a tablespoon every 30 minutes until the voice is restored.

Contraindications to the use of anise

Anise has no major contraindications. It should not be taken by pregnant women, as it can provoke premature birth and lead to miscarriage.

In rare cases, anise may have an individual intolerance in the form of an allergic cough or skin rashes.

Do not use drugs with anise in intestinal atony and during an exacerbation of gastric or duodenal ulcer.

Take extra care with anise oil. Do not use it for more than two weeks.

Learn more about the medicinal properties of anise in the video

The topic of the article is anise. We consider its useful and medicinal properties, the presence of contraindications, what benefits and harm it brings to the body. You will learn about the use of the plant in cosmetology and cooking, how to properly harvest the spice.

Anise or Aniseed Bedrenets - annual herbaceous plant, growing both in the wild and cultivated by humans to obtain seeds. Essential oil and seeds are used for cosmetic and medical purposes, and ripe fruits in the form of a fragrant seasoning in cooking.

Anise oil is made by water distillation. During the day, the seeds are infused in water, after which the liquid is evaporated.

Botanical features of the plant:

• taproots are thin;
• not a large number of leaves are evenly distributed throughout the stem - at the flowers, in the middle and at the roots;
• small flowers are collected in umbrellas up to 6 cm in diameter;
• during the ripening process, the seeds change color from light green to brown;
• anise blooms in June-July;
• the seeds ripen in August.

What does it look like

The stem of anise reaches 60 cm in height. It is round, erect, branched in the upper part. The lower leaves are long-petiolate, notched-toothed. The middle ones are wedge-shaped with two-lobed lateral leaves. The upper ones are solid or divided into 3 segments.

In the upper part of the plant, several branches are formed, on which flowers appear in June. They are collected in complex umbrellas with 6-14 beams.

Each flower forms a two-seeded ovoid fruit with a diameter of 1-2 mm and a length of up to 4 mm. A ripe fruit contains 2 seeds.

Where grows

The alleged homeland of anise is the Mediterranean or the Middle East. In southern Europe, Mexico and Egypt, the plant is cultivated for the purpose of obtaining seeds.

In Russia, ordinary anise grows as a cultivated plant in the Krasnodar Territory, Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk regions. The plant is frost-resistant, grows well on fertile soils.

What a taste and smell

The fruits and seeds of anise ordinary have a fragrant, spicy smell, sweetish in taste. The flavoring is somewhat reminiscent of fennel, with only one difference - the "licorice" aftertaste.

Anise chemical composition

Anise contains a large number of useful substances for the human body:

• proteins - up to 18%;
• fatty acid;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin C;
• magnesium;
• selenium;
• zinc;
• copper;
• vegetable fats - up to 23%;
• essential oil - up to 6%.

The essential oil contains 90% anethole, which gives the characteristic aroma of the spice.

Useful properties of anise

Even in ancient times, anise was used as a diuretic and pain reliever. Now in medicine, oil and plant seeds are used for the manufacture of various medicines.

The beneficial properties of anise include:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antiseptic;
• antipyretic;
• antispasmodic;
• sedative;
• diuretic;
• laxative.

The healing properties of anise

Thanks to the rich chemical composition, anise has the following therapeutic effects on the body:

• normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• improves appetite;
• relieves migraines and headaches;
• eliminates depression;
• activates genitourinary functions;
• improves kidney function;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle;
• eliminates pain during menstruation;
• improves male potency;
• relieves frigidity.

Indications for the use of anise and anise oil:

• apathy and depression;
• frequent stress and nervous tension;
• arthritis and rheumatism;
• muscle pain;
• tachycardia;
• migraine;
• dizziness;
• colds;
• menstrual pain;
• menopause;
• cystitis and edema;
• stomach problems.

Experts recommend periodically drinking tea with anise for therapeutic purposes. It enhances lactation and breast milk production in lactating women, soothes heart palpitations and asthma attacks, eliminates bad breath, and also has a positive effect on the throat in case of hoarseness.

The use of anise in cooking

Anise is actively used in cooking. Anise fruit is added to baked goods and confectionery, sweet fruit and vegetable dishes. Dried fruits without seeds are used for preserving food.

Spice can be added to meat and fish dishes, but this must be done very carefully. Despite the pleasant aroma, in a concentrated form, the taste of anise becomes peculiar and not everyone will like it.

Fresh anise leaves are great for starters, main courses and salads. When heated, greens lose their aroma, so they can only be used to decorate cold dishes.

Spices with which anise is combined:

• pepper;
• Carnation;
• cardamom;
• cinnamon.

The most famous culinary drink with anise is tea. It helps to improve the functioning of the intestines, reduces the risk of indigestion, and eliminates bloating. It is also useful for women who have problems conceiving. Below is the recipe for this healing drink.

Anise tea

Ingredients:

• water - 1 l;
• anise seeds - 5 g.

Preparation:

1. Pour boiling water over the seeds, leave for 10 minutes.
2. Strain the infusion and add to regular tea.

If you prefer alcoholic beverages homemade, then we recommend that you try anise moonshine. And here's his recipe.

Moonshine with anise

Ingredients:

• moonshine - 10 liters;
• water - 5 l;
• anise seeds - 0.2 kg.

Preparation:

1. Pour anise seeds into the moonshine, mix. If you want the drink to have a bright aroma, then first crush the seeds of the plant.
2. Place the container with moonshine in a dark and cool room for 4 weeks.
3. Strain the prepared composition, add water and distill again.

Due to the fact that the drink will be strong enough, if desired, it can be diluted with a little water.

You can surprise your guests with anise tincture. Here is her recipe.

Anise tincture

Ingredients:

• anise - 1 tsp;
• cumin - 1 tsp;
• star anise - 2 stars;
• vodka - 0.5 l;
• granulated sugar - 1 tsp

Preparation:

1. Pour all the spices into a jar, fill with vodka, cover with a lid, and then put the container in a dark room for 14 days.
2. After the expiration date, filter the composition through several layers of gauze.
3. Sweeten the tincture if desired. For this, 1 tsp. Dissolve sugar in a small amount of warm water and pour into the tincture.
4. Let the drink sit for a few days and then put it in the refrigerator.

In cosmetology

In perfumery and cosmetology, anise oil is commonly used to make toothpaste and powder with a strong refreshing taste and aroma. Anise fatty oil is used in soap making. Anise oil is found in many creams.

Anise can be added to homemade face masks. The substances contained in anise oil relax the expression muscles and smooth them out.

To avoid development side effects, add no more than 2-3 drops of essential anise oil to cosmetics.

Why anise is good for the skin:

• anise essential oil normalizes the water-fat balance of the dermis, giving it elasticity;
• adding 5-6 drops of oil to the bath helps to relax, give the skin a healthy and well-groomed look;
• eliminates irritation after insect bites, hair removal and depilation.

Below are recipes for anise based home remedies for the face.

Lotion for dry skin

Ingredients:

• anise fruits - 1 tsp;
• boiling water - 100 ml.

Preparation: Pour boiling water over the crushed anise fruits, cover the container with a lid. Wait for the composition to cool, then strain.

Usage: Wipe your clean face with lotion twice a day.

Result: Moisturizes dry and wrinkled skin.

Cleanser & Moisturizer Recipe

Ingredients:

• milk - 5 ml;
• lemon juice - 10 ml;
• anise oil - 5 drops;
• mineral water - 1 glass.

Preparation: Mix all ingredients. Pour the prepared mixture into an ice cube tray, then place it in the freezer.

Usage: Wipe your clean face with an ice cube for a minute.

Result: With regular use of the product, the skin tone rises, improves appearance, the dermis is nourished and moisturized.

Anise harm

Despite all the useful and medicinal properties, anise can harm the human body. The spice stimulates an increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. For this reason, with inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and peptic ulcer diseases, it is better to refrain from using the spice.

Photo of anise plant

Anise harvesting rules

If you want to always have anise on hand, and its beneficial properties do not disappear, you should learn how to properly harvest this healing spice. This is quite simple to do.

Harvest the anise at the end of July, as most of the fruit is ripe by this time. When collecting, pay attention to the smell and color of the seeds. Good seeds have a strong aroma and a light brown color. Dry the collected seeds in the fresh air. If this is not possible, then place them in a well-ventilated area. Thresh the dried grass to separate the fruits from impurities.

Anise during pregnancy

It is strictly forbidden to consume anise while carrying a child. And this applies not only to the seeds of the plant, but also to the products to which they are added. For this reason, it is important not only to know what anise looks like in the photo, but also to guess its specific aroma in dishes and pastries.

Contraindications

In certain cases, the use of the fruits and seeds of anise can harm the body. You should refrain from using it when:

• pregnancy;
• chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• allergies to plant components.

For cosmetic purposes, it is forbidden to use anise for deep damage to the dermis, acne. Remember, anise is a likely causative agent of skin diseases such as dermatitis.

Anise cannot be used as a medicine for a long time, and the recommended dosage must also be strictly observed. When you first take anise-based medicine, you need to start with a low dosage in order to track the body's response to the remedy. In the absence of allergies and deterioration of health, it is allowed to take the remedy in a full dosage.

Anise is native to warm Mediterranean countries. Since ancient times it was cultivated in India, Greece, in Europe it became known in the Middle Ages, and came to Russia in the nineteenth century. It took root everywhere due to its absolute unpretentiousness. The plant can grow on any soil, except for heavy alkaline soils. The most important factor in its growth is direct access to sunlight. The more the culture receives, the more actively the vegetation of the shoots takes place, and the fruits ripen completely.

Features of anise

Cultivate a crop for industrial harvesting. She is listed medicinal herbs used by the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture drugs... In Russia, the regions of cultivation are the Belgorod, Kursk and Voronezh regions. Small farms exist in the Krasnodar Territory.

Description

Anise ordinary. Botanical illustration from the book "Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen", 1887.

The plant is annual grass with thin, pubescent stems. It grows up to fifty centimeters, the stems branch at the top, erect, rounded.

The root is thin, resembles a rod without branches. The lower leaves with long petioles, rounded in shape, grow directly from the root. Above the stem, large lobed leaves are not found, they are replaced by back wedge-shaped leaves by the middle of the shoot, the size of which decreases more and more towards the upper part.

Flowers are collected in umbrellas of small diameter up to six centimeters. In a bundle up to fifteen to seventeen "rays", with short white petals. The plant blooms for a long time, gradually, from June to mid-October. By the end of this period, fruits are formed that are of interest to medicine and cooking.

The fruits of the anise plant are ovoid achenes compressed from two sides. They reach five millimeters in length and are brown-gray. A plant can be distinguished during the period of fruit formation by its characteristic aniseed smell. The mass fruiting period is in August, when up to eighty percent of the fruits ripen.

The plant is often called star anise but cultures are not identical. Common belongs to the Umbrella family and is an annual herb. Star or star anise is an evergreen plant from the Lemongrass family. It grows as a shrub, reaching eighteen meters in height, and bears fruit in star-shaped cups.

Cultivation

Anise seeds are obtained from industrial and private cultivation. The most important condition is the use cultivated plant grown in a designated area. Due to the fact that the plant is not demanding on growing conditions, it is found in well-lit meadows. However, it should not be harvested in the wild, as it looks similar to most umbrella crops, many of which are poisonous.

Anise is planted on chernozems, loose soils, fertilized with humus. It is tolerant of loamy and sandy loam soils, on which it grows well with a sufficient amount of fertilizer. Enrich the composition of the soil in spring and autumn. In the first decade of the year, nitrogen and potash mixtures are applied, after harvesting, phosphorus fertilizers are used.

For reproduction, last year's seeds are used. They can be planted in early spring due to the sufficient frost resistance of the plants. After planting seeds in the ground in the amount of one gram of raw materials for each square meter, seedlings appear within three weeks. The soil between the shoots must be regularly loosened and kept free of weeds.

Collection and procurement

In medical practice, plant seeds are used, the harvesting of which takes place until they are completely ripe. The collection is carried out when sixty to eighty percent of the seeds ripen. In this growing season, the fruits of the umbrellas, which appeared earlier than the others, acquire a brown color. And the umbrellas that appeared later are kept green. The typical harvest period is August-September.

The plant is cut completely, formed into sheaves. Lay under a canopy in a well-ventilated space. The separation of the fruits from the umbrellas is carried out after drying the sheaves by threshing.

For cooking, the greenery of the plant is harvested. In this case, the leaves are cut off before flowering. They are not dried, but used in fresh.

Composition

The chemical composition of the culture is well studied, which is why the properties of anise are used in medicine for the treatment of a number of diseases. The healing effect is based on a combination of essential oil up to ninety percent crystalline anethole and ten percent liquid metalhavicol. Extraction of essential oil from fruits is carried out by steam distillation.

Also, the plant contains up to twenty-eight percent of fatty oils, proteins, organic acids and natural sugars. This gives the fruits and leaves a specific, sweet taste.

The use of anise ordinary

The culture is used in cooking and medicine. In the first case, leaves are used, in the second - exclusively the fruits of anise ordinary. In perfumery, fruits are used as a flavoring agent, a natural sweetener for toothpastes and powders. A persistent and rich aroma allows the use of anise in the production of perfumes, eau de toilette.

In cooking

The leaves are added to salads fresh, used as a flavoring agent when stewing meat and fish, making soups and sauces. In Russia, the plant has become an integral part of pickles - cucumbers, apples, cabbage, and is often used as a dressing for kvass. Spice not only gives its own aroma, but eliminates the unpleasant odor of other components of the dish. It can be added to neutralize the odor, and then removed and saturated with other preferred spices.

The use of star anise is also in demand in cooking. It gives a luxurious smell to baked goods, stews, mulled wine.

Anise vodka is prepared using the spice; its recipe also includes caraway seeds and star anise.

Preparation

1. Mix a teaspoon each of anise and caraway seeds, add two star anise stars.
2. Fold in a jar, pour half a liter of vodka.
3. Insist for two weeks, occasionally shaking the mass.
4. Pass through cheesecloth, add a teaspoon of sugar.

Thanks to the spices, vodka acquires a pronounced aroma and golden color. Before using it, it is recommended to stand it for a day in a dark place.

In medicine

The use of anise in medicine is based on a composition in which essential and fatty oils predominate. Anethole, which is part of the essential oil of anise, penetrates into the mucous membranes of the bronchi, accelerates the movement of cilia of the epithelium and stimulates the respiratory center. This leads to irritation of the bronchi, increases the secretion of mucus.

Anise oil is used as a medicinal and stimulant.

• For diseases of the upper respiratory tract- bronchitis, bronchial catarrh, tracheitis as an expectorant. The safety of use in children has been proven younger age... Essential oil helps to clear the airways and cough up.
• With a decrease in lactation... The substances have an antispasmodic effect, which increases the excretion of breast milk in lactating women.
• For digestive disorders, constipation... When taken orally, it stimulates the production of gastrointestinal juice, increases the motor activity of the intestinal mucous membranes.

The production of essential oil is carried out only in an industrial environment. The use of anise drops in pharmacy form is recommended three to six drops three times a day. The specific taste will help remove the sugar cube on which the drug is dripping.

At home, aniseed cough drops are prepared with alcohol. Use 3.5 grams of pharmacy oil per 17 ml of ammonia and 80 ml of alcohol with a strength of 90%. The composition is called ammonia-anise drops.

A clear liquid with a pungent odor is traditionally used in pediatric therapy of bronchitis, from the first year of a child's life. Prescribe one or two drops of the drug for up to a year, then the number of drops according to the number of years. The medicine should be taken three times a day.

Also, infusions from plant seeds are prepared at home. They have a pronounced expectorant and antispasmodic effect.

Preparation

1. Pour 200 ml boiling water over a teaspoon of the fruit.
2. Leave to stand under the lid, cool.
3. Strain.

The infusion should be taken in a quarter of a glass up to six times a day for respiratory diseases with impaired sputum discharge. As a laxative, it is recommended to take up to four times a day for half a glass. Infusion can serve as an adjuvant for ARVI, flu with fever. At a dosage of ½ glass three times a day, it has antipyretic and diaphoretic effects.

The use of ordinary anise is widespread in Russia, despite the fact that the plant is not traditional for our country. But thanks to unpretentiousness, important pharmacological qualities, unique aroma, the culture took root and became an integral part of folk and official medicine, cooking. The cultivation is carried out on an industrial scale, so the plant is always available in the pharmacy network.