Star Anise

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. A stimulant and carminative; used in cases of flatulency, flatulent colic of infants, and to remove nausea. Sometimes added to other medicines to improve their flavor, correct griping and other disagreeable effects. The dose of aniseed, crushed or powdered, is from 20 to 40 grains. Infusion (ʒij or ʒiij to aqua Oss.), for infants, in doses of a teaspoonful.

primary-actions. Star Anise acts primarily as: Carminative, Expectorant, Antispasmodic, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory. Secondary actions include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiviral, Antifungal, Insecticidal.

Description. "About 4 or 5 Mm. (⅙ to ⅕ inch) long, ovate, compressed at the sides, grayish, finely hairy, and consisting of 2 each with a flat face, and 5 light-brownish, filiform ridges, and about 15 thin oil-tubes, which can be seen in a transverse section by the microscope. It has an agreeable, aromatic odor, and a sweet, spicy taste. It may be distinguished from conium fruit (which it somewhat resembles, and which has been mistaken for it), by the odor and taste, and by the conium fruit consisting usually of single mericarps, which are smooth, grooved upon the face, and have crenate ridges with wrinkles between them, and no oil-tubes" ... (U. S. P.).

History. Anise originally came from Egypt, and is at present cultivated in many of the warm countries of Europe; the fruit of the Spanish plant is that which is more generally selected for medical purposes. The fruit, popularly called aniseed, is the official portion.