The annual culinary herb, ANISEED belongs to celery family. Anise plant grows in sunshine and warmth. Anise originated from the Middle East. Ancient Egyptians cultivated anise and were very much aquatinted with it's medicinal & culinary uses. Early Greeks & Romans new the values of aniseed. It is now grown in Europe, Middle East Asia, India and Mexico. All through India and some other parts of the world aniseed are well known carminative to relieve excessive gas. In Indian restaurants, aniseeds are served to round off a meal. It is also taken as an infusion along with other digestive like ginger, cumin, pepper etc. the famous gripe waters for infants contain aniseeds extract. According to Hakeem Hashmi, well-respected unani physician, an easy way to make a digestive with aniseeds at home is to add a teaspoonful of aniseed to a cup of boiling water and leave it covered over night. The clear fluid is then decanted and taken as such or with honey. This is an ideal treatment when there are gurgling sounds in the abdomen and for those prone to indigestion. Even nowadays many mothers prefer aniseed water sweetened with a piece of palm candy to administering ready-made gripe mixtures for their infants. Hakeem Hashmi advises that aniseed should not be boiled too long, since it will loss its essential oil. Avoid over boiling so that its digestive properties are retained. Aniseed is considered one of the best herbs in medicine for its properties to relieve flatulence and to remove catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tube. Aniseed induces copious perspiration and increases the volume and discharge of urine.

1. DIGESTIVE DISORDERS: -

Aniseed is a very beneficial medicine for expelling wind from the stomach. It can also be taken, in combination with other digestive like ginger, cumin and pepper, in the form of infusion.

2. ASTHMA: -

Aniseed is considered beneficial in the treatment of asthma due To its expectorant properties.

Six gram of aniseed taken daily in the morning and evening is useful in the treatment of cataract.

Ground aniseed paste is applied over the scalp as an insecticide against lice. It also has fungicidal properties. Aniseeds are used to flavour curries, sweets, cakes, cookies and biscuits, aniseeds oil is used in medicine as an aromatic carminative to relieve flatulence. Being a mild expectorant, it is used as an ingredient in beverages and liqueurs. It is also used as a flavouring agent for dental preparation and mouthwashes.