There is no denying that fennel tea is loaded with a myriad of health benefits, from relieving menstrual pain to colic. While people in different parts of the world have been using this wonderful herb for hundreds of years, it’s only recently that the Western science has started to acknowledge its amazing health benefits.

Included in this article are five health conditions that can be managed effectively by taking fennel tea. Also, you will learn how to prepare the tea and how much to take for maximum benefits.

Having difficulties falling asleep? Does menstrual pain impair your daily activity? Are you struggling with poorly controlled blood glucose levels? Are you prone to cold and common infections? Well, fennel tea could be the answer to all these common health conditions.

In fact, numerous scientific studies now support its use as an effective natural remedy for the following conditions.

1. Menstrual pain. Painful periods are nothing new to women. A constant throbbing pain in the lower abdomen often disrupts their daily life. In an attempt to free themselves from the pain, they take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications that provide the much-needed relief but at a cost. Some side effects of OTC pain medications are hard to tolerate such as increased acid in the stomach. Moreover, long-term use of these medications is not generally recommended. Then, they turn to alternative or complementary treatments like fennel tea, which is a great idea at least when you look at its science-backed health benefits. According to a 2012 study, fennel is an effective herb for menstrual pain. The pain-relieving property of fennel tea comes from the fact that it has powerful antispasmodic ingredients.
2. Sleep problems. For those who struggle with falling asleep or maintaining a quality sleep, fennel tea can be nothing less than a miracle herb. A cup in the evening after a hectic day works to relax all your muscles and give you that peaceful experience which will make you more likely to fall asleep without any stress.
3. Digestive problems. Fennel tea is a great way to relieve common digestive problems like flatulence, upset stomach, constipation, and diarrhea. The warm tea calms your digestive system in two ways. First, the warm water itself is a natural remedy for upset stomach. Second, fennel has powerful digestion-promoting properties. Moreover, it is also known to soothe and relax the muscles of your digestive tract. Together, these properties make the warm tea an effective remedy for common digestive problems.
4. Recurrent infections. If your struggle with common infections like common cold and flu never seems to end, you should definitely consider taking a cup. This is because fennel has powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties. Taking fennel tea regularly could help to ward off the common infections by strengthening your own disease-fighting immune function. Feeling uneasy yet praying not to catch a cold? Take a cup of warm tea for a few days till you start feeling fine again.
5. Impaired liver and kidney functions. Because fennel tea contains high amounts of antioxidant chemicals, it can work to improve the functions of your liver and kidneys. In a very recent study published in Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, researchers found that fennel has positive effects on the cellular structures of both liver and kidneys. Moreover, they also noted that it could improve the levels of various liver enzymes and markers of abnormal kidney function like creatinine and urea.

Prepare a refreshing cup by using the following simple steps.

• Dry the seeds that you can purchase from a health food store by microwaving them for a minute. Alternately, you can dry the seeds naturally by exposing them to the sun for two or three days.
• Crush the dried seeds and use it to fill an empty tea bag.
• Allow it to steep in hot water for five to ten minutes.
• You can also buy the seed tea that’s ready to steep.

Regarding its dose, there is no clear recommendation on how much is safe or how much is too much. Nonetheless, you are suggested to start by taking a cup daily for a few days and then see how your body reacts to it. If everything goes as expected, you may increase the number of cups a day.

Key Takeaways

The health benefits of fennel tea are due to its antioxidant, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. While you can reap the benefits by taking other forms of fennel like its extract and oil, tea is easiest to prepare and exerts almost similar health effects. Moreover, fennel tea can be used as a natural refreshing alternative to your common tea.  

Want to Know More?

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References

1. Mohamad, RH., et al. “Antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects of methanolic extract and volatile oil of fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare).” Journal of Medicinal Food.  2011 Sep;14(9):986-1001.
2. Omidvar, S., et al. “Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: A placebo-controlled trial”. AYU. 2012;33(2):311-313.
3. Badgujar, SB., et al. “Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology”. BioMed Research International. 2014; 2014: 842674.
4. Al-Amoudi, WM. “Protective effects of fennel oil extract against sodium valproate-induced hepatorenal damage in albino rats.” Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2017 May;24(4):915-924.