© Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Flora von Deutschland (1885) · Public domain · Commons
Anise
CautionAnis · (Pimpinella anisum)
Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Description
Anise is an annual member of the carrot family with finely divided upper leaves, rounded and scalloped lower ones, and small white flower umbels. The part used are the fruits ripening in late summer — botanically schizocarps, commonly called seeds. Their characteristic sweet scent comes from 1.5 to 6 percent essential oil, of which 76 to 94 percent is trans-anethole. The German Commission E confirms two uses: as a tea for flatulence and mild gastrointestinal cramps, because anethole relaxes smooth muscle, and for cold-related cough with tenacious mucus, because it thins bronchial secretions. One practical point sinks most anise teas: the fruits must be crushed immediately before brewing — whole seeds release almost nothing.
CONTRAINDICATED for children
Medicinal tea not for children under 12. Pure essential oil strictly NOT for children under 5 (laryngospasm).
Classic digestive tea for bloating, mild GI cramps and fullness. Commission E approved for dyspeptic complaints. Anethole relaxes smooth muscle (spasmolytic) and promotes gas expulsion (carminative).
Preparation & dosage
IMPORTANT: Crush aniseed in mortar immediately before preparation. 1–3.5 g + 150–250 ml boiling water, cover and steep 10–15 min (lid retains essential oil), strain. Prepare fresh 3× daily between meals; for bloating directly after meals.
- Dry amount
- 1–3.5 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — Per EMA from 12 years. For infant colic the safer approach is the breastfeeding mother drinking the tea.
Secretolytic and secretomotor cough tea for cold cough with thick mucus. Commission E approved for catarrhs of the respiratory tract. Anethole liquefies bronchial mucus and facilitates expectoration; partly excreted through the bronchi.
Preparation & dosage
BRONCHIAL TEA: crush seeds, steep 10–15 min covered in 150–250 ml boiling water, strain. Drink warm 3× daily. Anethole is excreted through the lungs — hence bronchial effect. Honey (from 1 year) enhances mucosal effect.
- Dry amount
- 1–3.5 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — From 12 years.
Culinary use as spice since antiquity. Anise stimulates digestive glands and reduces flatulence tendency in typical anise-spiced dishes. Culinary amounts are far below therapeutic doses.
Preparation & dosage
SPICE: Use whole or coarsely ground aniseed in cooking and baking — bread, biscuits, liqueurs, cheese. Culinary amounts (1–2 tsp per dish) considered safe. Anise combines well with fennel, dill and star anise in spice blends.
External application of diluted anise essential oil for cough and bronchial complaints. Inhalation of volatile components (anethole, methylchavicol) soothes mucosa and is mildly antimicrobial.
Preparation & dosage
EXTERNAL: Anise essential oil diluted 1–2% in carrier oil, applied to chest or back for cough and bronchitis. ONLY as ready-made preparation — pure essential oil NOT directly on skin or mucous membranes. STRICTLY FORBIDDEN for children under 5 (laryngospasm risk). Not on face, nose or mouth.
Folk evening use as mildly calming tea. Pliny the Elder described anise as sleep-promoting; the analgesic and relaxing properties of anethole may contribute to mild sedation.
Preparation & dosage
RELAXING TEA: 1–2 g crushed seeds + 200 ml boiling water, steep 10 min covered, strain. Evening drink as mild sedative for restlessness. Folk tradition following Pliny the Elder describes sleep-promoting properties.
- Dry amount
- 1–2 g
- Doses per day
- 2×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
Folk use for menstrual complaints and dysmenorrhoea. Anethole has structural similarity to oestrogen; in-vitro studies describe weak oestrogenic activity. Therapeutic tea doses are far above culinary spice amounts.
Preparation & dosage
TEA for menstrual complaints: 1.5–3 g crushed seeds + 250 ml boiling water, steep 15 min covered, strain. Drink warm 2× daily in days before and during menstruation. Not with oestrogen-sensitive conditions.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–3 g
- Doses per day
- 2×
- Max duration
- 1 weeks
Aniseed MUST be crushed before preparation. Symptoms persisting beyond 2 weeks (digestive) or 1 week (cough): doctor. Apiaceae allergy possible (fennel, caraway, anise, celery, carrot). Pure essential oil NOT on mucous membranes or skin. STRICTLY FORBIDDEN for children under 5 — laryngospasm risk. Very high chronic doses may show weak oestrogenic effects — culinary use safe. Estragole content: no risk in tea amounts per EFSA.
⏱ Max continuous use: 2 weeks
Culinary spice amounts safe. Therapeutic tea doses and pure essential oil should be avoided in pregnancy — insufficient safety data.
EMA does not recommend therapeutic use due to insufficient data. Traditionally moderate anise tea valued as milk-promoting; active substances pass into breast milk.
Medicinal tea not for children under 12. Pure essential oil strictly NOT for children under 5 (laryngospasm).
Drug interactions
Östrogen-haltige Arzneimittel und hormonelle Verhütungsmittel
Anethole has structural similarity to oestrogen and shows weak oestrogenic activity in vitro. Theoretical additive or antagonistic interaction at therapeutic doses.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to aniseed, anethole or other Apiaceae (fennel, caraway, dill, celery, carrot, parsley).
- Children under 12 — medicinal anise tea not approved.
- Pure essential oil for children under 5 (laryngospasm).
- Oestrogen-sensitive conditions (e.g. oestrogen-dependent tumours) with therapeutic use.
Harvested part: ripe fruits (late summer/early autumn)
- Time of day:
- On dry mornings after dew has dried. Harvest when first umbel fruits turn grey-brown and detach when rubbed.
- Drying:
- Hang whole umbels upside down in paper bags to air-dry — seeds fall out naturally. After 1–2 weeks sieve seeds and re-dry below 35 °C until fully dry. Important: do not overdry — essential oil evaporates rapidly above 40 °C.
- Storage:
- 24 months — Store WHOLE seeds airtight, cool, dark — never pre-ground. Crush only immediately before use. 2 years aromatic with correct storage.
- Ätherisches Öl (Anisöl)Essential oilContent: 1,5–6 %Fruit
Activity-determining fraction. Released only on crushing. Responsible for characteristic anise scent and the spasmolytic, secretolytic and carminative action.
- trans-AnetholEssential oilContent: 76–94 % des äth. ÖlsFruit
Main component of anise oil. Relaxes smooth muscle, promotes bronchial secretion, carminative. Weakly oestrogenic at high isolated doses. Excreted through the lungs — hence bronchial effect.
- Estragol (Methylchavicol)Essential oilContent: 0,9–2,4 % des äth. ÖlsFruit
Minor component. Potentially genotoxic in high isolated amounts; no demonstrable risk in tea amounts per EFSA assessment.
- γ-Himachalen und TerpeneEssential oilContent: 0,4–8,2 % des äth. ÖlsFruit
Sesquiterpene component in anise oil. Varies greatly depending on origin.
- Fettes ÖlOtherContent: 8–23 %Fruit
Mainly petroselinic acid triglycerides. No significant medicinal activity. Can turn rancid with improper storage.
- Flavonoide (Rutin, Apigenin-Glykoside, Quercetin-Glykoside)FlavonoidFruit
Mildly antioxidant. Support the spasmolytic and anti-inflammatory action.
- Cumarine (Umbelliferon, Scopoletin)OtherContent: SpurenFruit
Typical for Apiaceae. Pharmacologically irrelevant in tea amounts. Contribute to the characteristic aroma.
- Protein und B-VitamineVitaminContent: Protein ~18 %Fruit
Aniseed contains ~18% crude protein plus thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and iron — nutritionally insignificant as spice, unsuitable as dietary supplement.
- [1]MonographEMA/HMPC/321184/2012 — European Union herbal monograph on Pimpinella anisum L., fructus (Final, 17 June 2014)(accessed: 2026-05-18)
- [2]MonographEMA Assessment Report on Pimpinella anisum L., fructus — includes reference to positive Commission E monograph (Anisi fructus, BAnz 1990)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [6]MonographReview of Pharmacological Properties and Chemical Constituents of Pimpinella anisum (Shojaii & Abdollahi Fard, ISRN Pharmaceutics, 2012)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [5]BookPlants For A Future — Pimpinella anisum(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [3]WikipediaAnis (Wikipedia DE)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [4]WikipediaAnise (Wikipedia EN)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
Classical quotes
"Anise makes the eye clear, calms the cough and sweetens the breath."
Distribution in Europe
🤝 Permaculture Partners
In your garden, this plant acts as:
✨ Best symbiotic partners
- 🌿 Coriander Classic companion-planting partner.
Source: Helga und Margarete Langerhorst, Mein gesunder Naturgarten (eigene Kuration)