stimulating effect on the digestive system and for respiratory disorders such as bronchitis and unproductive coughs. In the East generally, it is used as a remedy for colic and rheumatism, and often chewed after meals to sweeten the breath and promote digestion. A common oriental domestic spice.
ACTIONS Antiseptic, carminative, expectorant, insect repellent, stimulant.
EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the fruits, fresh or partially dried. An oil is also produced from the leaves in small quantities.
CHARACTERISTICS A pale yellow liquid with a warm, spicy, extremely sweet, liquorice-like scent. It blends well with rose, lavender, orange, pine and other spice oils, and has excellent masking properties.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Trans-anethole (80–90 per cent).
SAFETY DATA Despite the anethole content, it does not appear to be a dermal irritant, unlike aniseed. In large doses it is narcotic and slows down the circulation; it can lead to cerebral disorders. Use in moderation only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE
CIRCULATION, MUSCLES AND JOINTS : Muscular aches and pains, rheumatism.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM : Bronchitis, coughs.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM : Colic, cramp, flatulence, indigestion.
IMMUNE SYSTEM : Colds.
OTHER USES By the pharmaceutical industry in cough mixtures, lozenges, etc. and to mask undesirable odours and flavours in drugs. As a fragrance component in soaps, toothpaste and detergents as well as cosmetics and perfumes. Widely used for flavouring food, especially confectionery, alcoholic and soft drinks.
ANISEED
Pimpinella anisum
FAMILY Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
SYNONYMS Anisum officinalis, A. vulgare , anise, sweet cumin.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION An annual herb, less than a metre high, with delicate leaves and white flowers.
DISTRIBUTION Native to Greece and Egypt, now widely cultivated mainly in India and China and to a lesser extent in Mexico and Spain.
OTHER SPECIES There are several different chemotypes of aniseed according to the country of origin. Not to be confused with star anise, which belongs to a different family altogether.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION Widely used as a domestic spice. The volatile oil content provides the basis for its medicinal applications: dry irritable coughs, bronchitis and whooping cough. The seed can be used in smoking mixtures. Aniseed tea is used for infant catarrh, also flatulence, colic and griping pains, also for painful periods and to promote breast milk. In Turkey a popular alcoholic drink, raki , is made from the seed.
ACTIONS Antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, stimulant, stomachic.
EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the seeds.
CHARACTERISTICS Colourless to pale yellow liquid with a warm, spicy-sweet characteristic scent. Like star anise, it is a good masking agent.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Trans-anethole (75–90 per cent).
SAFETY DATA Its major component, anethole, is known to cause dermatitis in some individuals – avoid in allergic and inflammatory skin conditions. In large doses it is narcotic and slows down the circulation; can lead to cerebral disorders. Use in moderation only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE See star anise.
OTHER USES By the pharmaceutical industry in cough mixtures and lozenges and to mask undesirable flavours in drugs. Also used in dentifrices and as a fragrance component in soaps, toothpaste, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes, mostly of the industrial type. Employed in all major food categories.
ARNICA
Arnica montana
FAMILY Asteraceae (Compositae)
SYNONYMS A. fulgens, A. sororia , leopard’s bane, wolf’s bane.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION A perennial alpine herb with a creeping underground stem, giving rise to a rosette of pale oval leaves. The flowering erect stem is up to 60 cms high, bearing a single, bright yellow, daisy-like flower. The whole plant is very difficult to cultivate.
DISTRIBUTION Native to northern and central Europe; also found growing wild in the USSR, Scandinavia and
ACTIONS Antiseptic, carminative, expectorant, insect repellent, stimulant.
EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the fruits, fresh or partially dried. An oil is also produced from the leaves in small quantities.
CHARACTERISTICS A pale yellow liquid with a warm, spicy, extremely sweet, liquorice-like scent. It blends well with rose, lavender, orange, pine and other spice oils, and has excellent masking properties.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Trans-anethole (80–90 per cent).
SAFETY DATA Despite the anethole content, it does not appear to be a dermal irritant, unlike aniseed. In large doses it is narcotic and slows down the circulation; it can lead to cerebral disorders. Use in moderation only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE
CIRCULATION, MUSCLES AND JOINTS : Muscular aches and pains, rheumatism.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM : Bronchitis, coughs.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM : Colic, cramp, flatulence, indigestion.
IMMUNE SYSTEM : Colds.
OTHER USES By the pharmaceutical industry in cough mixtures, lozenges, etc. and to mask undesirable odours and flavours in drugs. As a fragrance component in soaps, toothpaste and detergents as well as cosmetics and perfumes. Widely used for flavouring food, especially confectionery, alcoholic and soft drinks.
ANISEED
Pimpinella anisum
FAMILY Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
SYNONYMS Anisum officinalis, A. vulgare , anise, sweet cumin.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION An annual herb, less than a metre high, with delicate leaves and white flowers.
DISTRIBUTION Native to Greece and Egypt, now widely cultivated mainly in India and China and to a lesser extent in Mexico and Spain.
OTHER SPECIES There are several different chemotypes of aniseed according to the country of origin. Not to be confused with star anise, which belongs to a different family altogether.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION Widely used as a domestic spice. The volatile oil content provides the basis for its medicinal applications: dry irritable coughs, bronchitis and whooping cough. The seed can be used in smoking mixtures. Aniseed tea is used for infant catarrh, also flatulence, colic and griping pains, also for painful periods and to promote breast milk. In Turkey a popular alcoholic drink, raki , is made from the seed.
ACTIONS Antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, galactagogue, stimulant, stomachic.
EXTRACTION Essential oil by steam distillation from the seeds.
CHARACTERISTICS Colourless to pale yellow liquid with a warm, spicy-sweet characteristic scent. Like star anise, it is a good masking agent.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS Trans-anethole (75–90 per cent).
SAFETY DATA Its major component, anethole, is known to cause dermatitis in some individuals – avoid in allergic and inflammatory skin conditions. In large doses it is narcotic and slows down the circulation; can lead to cerebral disorders. Use in moderation only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME USE See star anise.
OTHER USES By the pharmaceutical industry in cough mixtures and lozenges and to mask undesirable flavours in drugs. Also used in dentifrices and as a fragrance component in soaps, toothpaste, detergents, cosmetics and perfumes, mostly of the industrial type. Employed in all major food categories.
ARNICA
Arnica montana
FAMILY Asteraceae (Compositae)
SYNONYMS A. fulgens, A. sororia , leopard’s bane, wolf’s bane.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION A perennial alpine herb with a creeping underground stem, giving rise to a rosette of pale oval leaves. The flowering erect stem is up to 60 cms high, bearing a single, bright yellow, daisy-like flower. The whole plant is very difficult to cultivate.
DISTRIBUTION Native to northern and central Europe; also found growing wild in the USSR, Scandinavia and
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