Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a herbal, aromatic plant, which is cultivated. It grows as high as 40-70 cm in the light, in rich soils and it needs moderate humidity.
The therapeutic virtues of the anise have been known since ancient times. Pythagoras claimed that the anise enhanced man's strength, cured insomnia, stimulated appetite, made men more fertile, and facilitated digestion.
The main constituents are known: The vitamins, the B complex (B1, B2), C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron, aromatic essences.
Pharmacologic action: carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, a pancreatic stimulant.
The anise fruit has got a nice taste and is used in phytotherapy. As a ripe fruit or as juice, it is recommended for curing asthenia and for stimulating suckling mothers' lactation. Synthetically speaking, one may say about the anise that it is a medicine plant recommended for curing nervous asthenia, migraines, vertigos, rheumatism, cough, bronchial asthma, gastric pains, and slow digestion.
