Anise Star
Illicium verum
Also known as Aniseed, Sweet Cumin, Chinese Anise
History: Anise Star is an extremely popular spice for desserts and baking. Europeans used Anise Star in cakes, cookies, and sweet breads and in the Middle East and India, it is used in soups and stews. Its licorice-like flavor is also popular in candies, and its oil is often used in fine liqueurs. In addition to its delicious flavor, Anise Star also has an aromatic scent and has been used medicinally since ancient days.
Used for: coughs, pectoral affections, bronchitis, spasmodic asthma, infantile catarrh,
Constituents: anethole, cholrine
Actions: Expectorant, anti-spasmotic, carminative, aromatic, anti-microbial, tonic, parasiticide, galactagogue, pectoral
Complementary herbs: fennel, caraway, coltsfoot, horehound, lobelia