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 the ancient times. Pythagoras claimed that the anise enhanced man's strength, cured insomnia, stimulated appetite, made men more fertile and facilitated digestion.
Main constituents 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 have got a nice taste and are used in the 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.
