Anise, also known as aniseed or sweet cumin, Pimpinella anisum (sometimes labelled Anisum vulgare), is the herb from which aniseed is collected. It’s a member of the same family as cumin, but that’s about as far as it goes. It is not related to anise hyssop or anise root (another name for the American Sweet Cicely) or to star anise.

Back in the days when herbalists used to make sweets from local herbs (possibly to deliver medicine in a tasty form), aniseed would be boiled in sugar to make aniseed balls, though you will have great difficulty in finding a recipe for these. There must be one, though, as they are still sold in the UK, and very nice they are too (I have a couple in my mouth as I type this).

Anise is a member of the family of Umbellifers, which all have very similar looking flowers (and often similar foliage as well). If you look at the picture, you will see that the inflorescence, as it is technically called, is made up of a number of florets. The stalks of these florets all come from the same point on the flower stem, and spread out like the spokes of an umbrella. I’m not sure whether the name came from this habit, or the umbrella was named after the family. But I guess it doesn’t matter all that much, anyway.

What does matter is that the Umbellifer family contains several very poisonous members, including Hemlock. For this reason, you should never pick plants which you think are anise (or any other umbelliferous plant) from the wild, nor should you collect seed from wild plants. Instead, buy your seeds from a reputable seedsman and grow them yourself. They are pretty easy to grow, generally, so it’s really not worth the risk.

Anise is generally grown as a half hardy annual, so you can start the seeds off indoors if you are in a cooler part of the world, and plant them out after all risk of frost has passed about 12-15″ (30-38cm) apart each way. You can use all parts of the plant medicinally, either fresh or dried. Oil can also be distilled from the seeds and roots, although it’s unlikely you will want to do this at home. The leaves and seeds are also sometimes used in the kitchen, particularly in Oriental cooking, and for tea.

Medicinally, anise is one of the safest herbs in the herbalists’ armory, suitable for young and old, but unfortunately not safe for pregnant women, due to its estrogenic effects.

Make a standard infusion from a mixture of seeds and leaves, using 3-4 teaspoonfuls of fresh or 1-2 teaspoonfuls of dried to 250ml (1 US cup, 8 fl oz) of boiling water. Leave to stand for at least 10 minutes, then strain and use. You can also make a decoction of the roots, using 15g (half an ounce) of dried or 30g (1 ounce) of fresh chopped root to 600ml (2½ US cups, 1 UK pint) of water. Put them in a pan and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and continue to cook until the liquid is reduced by half.

Take a cup of either the infusion or decoction to treat coughs, sore throat and asthma. It’s also helpful for indigestion, colic and flatulence (“wind” or “gas”). You can also chew the seeds to tackle bad breath.

If you have plenty of this herb growing in the garden, you can make an oil which is useful for treating scabies or lice (cooties), and also as a chest rub for coughs and colds. It only takes a few minutes to make, but it has to stand for about 3 weeks before you can use it. You need a clear glass bottle with an airtight lid, some good quality vegetable oil, some finely ground aniseed, some spirit vinegar or vodka and a sunny windowsill. Put about 2 tablespoonfuls of crushed seeds into the bottle and add 200ml (a little over ¾ US cup, 6½ fl oz) of oil and a tablespoonful of spirit vinegar or vodka. Cork the bottle or screw on the lid and put it on a sunny windowsill. Shake the bottle every day for three weeks, then strain and throw the herbs away. In cold weather, you can help the process work better by putting the bottle into hot water for an hour every day.

Aniseed is fairly easy to grow in a sunny position, but like all herbs grown for medical use, it’s important that it is grown organically, so that you don’t end up with noxious chemicals in your remedies. To find out more about how to grow organic anise, visit the Gardenzone.

Aromatherapy

Aniseed essential oil is irritant and sensitizes skin. It should only be used by professional practitioners. Not suitable for pregnant women, cancer patients or anyone with sensitive skin.

For more information on aromatherapy visit Guide to Aromatherapy: guidetoaromatherapy.org

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