Anise is a pretty perennial herb, but it can do more for you than add visual interest to your garden. Growing medicinal anise plants and harvesting the seeds means you can add this natural, herbal remedy to both your kitchen and your medicine cabinet.
How Is Anise Good for You?
Anise, or aniseed, comes from the plant known as Pimpinella anisum. It is native to the Middle East, grows to about two feet (61 cm.) tall, and produces clusters of small white flowers. This should not be confused with star anise, Illicium verum, an evergreen tree native to China. The seeds of anise have long been used for their licorice flavor in food and drink, but there are also some health benefits. You can harvest the seeds from your anise plants if you let the flowers go and the seed pods develop fully. Some of the anise plant benefits for health include:
- Minerals, including manganese, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and copper.
- B vitamins, including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine.
- Antioxidants, including vitamins C and A.
- Promoting healthy blood sugar levels.
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Protecting against stomach ulcers.
- Relieving digestive issues like bloating, gas, nausea, and abdominal cramps.
How to Use Aniseed
Using anise for health is something you should do with your doctor’s input. Always speak to your doctor before trying any herbal medicine. If you get the go ahead, you can grow your own aniseed to use for medicinal purposes or in the kitchen for its delightful flavor. You can use aniseed like you would other seeds in cooking, by drying and grinding them in a spice grinder. You can also get benefits from the natural oils found in the seeds—antheole and its derivatives—by crushing them and steeping them in boiling water for several minutes, like a tea. You can infuse oil with crushed aniseed as well. In cooking, use aniseed in cookies, cakes, bread, stews, infused liqueurs, and teas. For medicinal purposes, use it as a tea or use the infused oil to treat skin conditions, like fungal infections. Aniseed is considered to be relatively safe, but as with any herb, use it carefully and always check with your doctor before using it as a medicinal herb.
-
Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low LightSome apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
-
"My Worst Mistake" – Gardeners Share 10 Hard-Learned LessonsGardeners never stop learning, and sometimes our mistakes are the best teachers. But why not save time and heartache by learning from other gardeners' failures?
-
Harvesting Anise Seed – When And How To Pick Anise SeedsIf you’re someone who loves anise, there’s nothing easier or more rewarding than growing and saving your own anise seeds to use year round. Click this article to learn more about how to pick anise seeds and preserve them so you can use and enjoy the spice year after year.
-
Common Anise Diseases: How To Treat A Sick Anise PlantWhile it is fairly easy to grow, the anise plant is not without its problems, specifically diseases. It’s important to recognize the symptoms in order to learn how to treat a sick anise plant before a disease progresses to the point of no return. This article will help.
-
Container Grown Anise Seed: How To Care For Anise In A PotAnise, sometimes called aniseed, is a powerfully flavored and scented herb that is most popular for its culinary properties. Like all culinary herbs, anise is very useful to have on hand near the kitchen, especially in a container. But can you grow anise in a pot? Find out here.
-
Anise Vs. Star Anise – Are Star Anise And Anise Plants The SameLooking for a slightly licorice-like flavor? Star anise or anise seed provide a similar flavor in recipes but are actually two very different plants. A description of their differences will reveal unique origins and how to use these interesting spices. Click here for more info.
-
Aniseed As A Spice – Learn How To Use Anise PlantsAnise is a popular culinary herb easy to grow by seed, but the question is, what to do with aniseed once it’s harvested? How do you use aniseed as a spice, and how about cooking with anise? Click here to learn a few of the many ways of using anise plants.
-
Fennel Vs Anise: What’s The Difference Between Anise And FennelIf you’re a cook who loves the flavor of black licorice, you no doubt commonly use fennel and/or anise seed in your culinary masterpieces. Many cooks use them interchangeably. But are anise and fennel the same? Find out more in this article.
-
Propagating Anise Herbs: How to Propagate Anise PlantsVariety is the spice of life, so it is said. Growing new anise plants will help spice up the ho-hum herb garden while giving dinner a surprising new zip. The question is, how is anise propagated? Click here for information on propagating anise herbs.
-
Does Anise Repel Bugs: Information On Natural Anise Pest ControlCompanion planting with anise attracts certain beneficial insects, and the pest-repellent properties may even protect veggies growing nearby. Click here to learn more about anise pest control and how you can easily grow this beautiful, useful plant.
