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What is Anise Tea?

Dee Saale
Dee Saale
Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Anise tea is made by boiling the seeds from the anise plant in water. Anise is also called aniseed, sweet cumin, and pimpinel seed. Some people prefer to refer to it by its Latin name, pimpinella anisum. Anise tea has been used in homeopathic remedy practices for thousands of years, since the times of the ancient Egyptians. It is believed to treat a wide range of ailments, such as respiratory illnesses and nausea.

Growing to approximately 2 feet (.61 m) in height, anise has feather-like leaves, yellow flowers, and plenty of greenish-gray seeds. It is native to North Africa, parts of Asia, and the eastern Mediterranean. The seeds are not only used for medical purposes, but also as a spice in many cooking recipes.

Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum).
Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum).

Anise has a sweet fragrance and a strong licorice-like flavor. As a result, it is used to flavor a variety of products. For example, many natural toothpastes and mouthwashes are flavored with anise. Even licorice may be flavored with anise to increase the licorice taste.

One of the best ways to obtain the antispasmodic and antiseptic benefits of anise is to make anise tea. Simply crush approximate 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of anise seeds. Then, add about 1 cup (236.6 ml) of boiling water to the seeds. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and then drink or gargle with the tea.

Anise tea might help with breast milk production.
Anise tea might help with breast milk production.

Many people who practice homeopathic medicine claim that the health benefits of anise tea are numerous. For example, it may be used to loosen mucus and phlegm in the lungs and throat. It is also believed to treat respiratory illnesses, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and colds. It may be recommended to treat colic and even hiccups as well.

Anise tea may be used to treat colic in babies.
Anise tea may be used to treat colic in babies.

Anise tea may be useful for other ailments beyond respiratory conditions. For example, it is sometimes recommended to breastfeeding mothers as a way to enhance the breast milk supply. For men, it is sometimes used to treat impotence. In addition, it is believed to treat nausea, gas, and bloating. Also, the oil from the seeds may be used outside the body to rid the body of lice and scabies.

Anise tea can be gargled to soothe a sore throat.
Anise tea can be gargled to soothe a sore throat.

As with any homeopathic remedy, a doctor should be consulted before using anise tea. For people with special sensitivities, anise tea may cause acne, rosacea, or other skin inflammations. If the seeds of the anise plant are used in large doses, they may act like a narcotic. Consequently, it is best to err on the side of moderation when using anise.

Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to WiseGEEK.

Learn more...
Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to WiseGEEK.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

SteamLouis

When my daughter was born, I did not have much breast milk and read on many forums that anise tea helps produce more breast milk. Sometime ago though, I had read that anise is not safe for pregnant woman, so I was reluctant to try it because of clashing reviews.

I'm glad I didn't have anise tea at that time because several years later, there was a report released in a mother and child magazine. There, it said that in breastfeeding mothers who drank a lot of anise tea, they found toxicity in their milk which transferred to their babies!

I think there is still some uncertainty about how safe anise tea is for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Maybe, very minimum amounts might be helpful for increasing breast milk. But no one can give 100% proof for it, so my personal view is that pregnant women and breastfeeding women should not use it.

candyquilt

@feruze-- I love anise tea! My boyfriend is Lebanese and his mom makes the best cinnamon anise tea ever. She boils anise seeds and cinnamon sticks together and adds honey or sugar to sweeten it.

It's such a comforting drink, especially on a cold winter day. I've also seen her give it to her younger son when he had a bad cold. She said it helps soothe his throat and lessen his cough. So anise tea has health benefits for sure. But I can have cinnamon anise tea everyday. It's really good with some ginger or cinnamon cookies.

bear78

I've started having anise herbal tea after dinner lately. I heard that anise is really good for digestion in general. That's why in some cultures, it's common to chew on anise seeds or have anise tea after a big meal.

I have digestion and heartburn a lot after meals, so I started having this tea for that. It really helps a lot, but also makes me very sleepy. I sleep like a baby the night I have it! It's definitely good if I don't have work to do that night. But I try and avoid it if I need to stay up.

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    • Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum).
      Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum).
    • Anise tea might help with breast milk production.
      By: Kzenon
      Anise tea might help with breast milk production.
    • Anise tea may be used to treat colic in babies.
      By: Dmytro Panchenko
      Anise tea may be used to treat colic in babies.
    • Anise tea can be gargled to soothe a sore throat.
      By: JackF
      Anise tea can be gargled to soothe a sore throat.