Star anise

Jllicium verum Hooker (illicium)

Star anise, or Illicium verum, is often called Chinese anise. Southern China is the birthplace of the evergreen tree, reaching 12 m in height, and the largest supplier of star anise oil to the world market. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from star fruits, which contain from 5 to 13 seeds. It has a warm, spicy, slightly sweet aroma.

Despite the fact that common anise and star anise belong to different families and grow in different climatic zones, the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from the seeds of these plants is very similar. The main component is trans-anethole. When exposed to sunlight, trans-anethole forms cis-anethole, which is 20 times more toxic. Therefore, star anise oil should be protected from light.

In ancient China, the leaves and seeds were used for religious incense. As a medicinal plant, the star anise tree has been known in Chinese medicine for more than 1,300 years. The seeds were typically chewed after meals to aid digestion. In powder form, they were added along with anise to various dishes to improve taste and smell. Star anise also helped with colds.

The widespread use of star anise oil in the food, perfume and pharmaceutical industries required a significant increase in its production. Currently, star anise is cultivated in China, Vietnam, India, Japan, Abkhazia, the Philippine Islands and Jamaica. The healing properties of star anise essential oil are similar to those of anise.

Medicinal properties

1. It is used as an antiseptic and expectorant for sore throat, flu, chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchopneumonia, whooping cough, bronchiectasis. Relieves bronchial spasms, asthmatic attacks. Helps thin mucus and improve expectoration. Helps restore voice.
2. Improves gastric and pancreatic secretion, helps quickly eliminate the consequences of food poisoning, stimulates the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, has a mild laxative effect, stimulates appetite, and reduces the formation of gases in the intestines. Restores peristalsis during convulsive intestinal spasms.
3. Effective for gastrointestinal disorders caused by nervousness.
4. Stimulates the functioning of the kidneys and liver, acts as a diuretic. Used in the treatment of hepatitis, bile, kidney and urolithiasis.
5. It has an analgesic effect for internal pain (menstruation, colic).
6. Tones the heart, improves blood circulation.
7. In folk medicine, it is used as a diaphoretic for fever, as well as for female diseases, inflammation of the gums, tonsils, loss of voice, burns, insufficient lactation, scurvy, dyspepsia of nervous origin, nervous vomiting.
8. It has a mild calming effect in cases of overexcitation, tearfulness (in children), stress and depression.
9. Regulates the water-fat balance of the skin, making it more elastic.
10. It has a detrimental effect on mosquitoes, lice, fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs, moths, lice, bird mites.

Dosage

Externally: 3-4 k. per 10 ml of vegetable oil.

Internally: 1 k. for 1 tsp. honey 2 times a day.

Baths: 4-5 k.

Inhalations: 2-3 k.

Compresses: 3-4 k.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 6-7 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance.

Note. Attention! Strong oil. An overdose leads to a slowdown in blood circulation, which is fraught with cerebral disorders. Use only under medical supervision.