The Romans called fennel the “herb of sight,” and recent studies show that fennel does have potential in treating glaucoma. In India and Pakistan, fennel flavors spicy dishes, and is chewed as an after-meal breath freshener. China combines it with other spices, and the Lebanese use it along with onions and flour in a special omelet recipe called ijjeh. The Germans and Italians mix fennel with avocado and chicory in salads, and it’s even an ingredient in toothpaste. The oil has a sweet-spicy scent similar to anise oil.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) belongs to the celery family Apiaceae, also known as Umbelliferae [1]. Considered by taxonomists to be the only species in its genus, fennel has feathery green leaves, small yellow flowers, and a swollen basal stem used in cooking for its anise-like flavor. The fennel plant is native to Mediterranean Europe and Southwest Asia, and has been naturalized in North America [1].

Fennel oil contains anethole, which explains why the oil is an essential part of aromatherapy. The polymers in fennel act as phytoestrogens, so the medicinal uses for fennel oil were established centuries ago. The present Chinese pharmacopoeia promotes fennel for vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain [2]. The Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia recommends fennel for flatulent dyspepsia, anorexia, and colic in children [2].

Fennel was also known in medieval Europe as a medicinal herb and a good luck charm. The English word fennel comes from the Middle English fenel or fenyl. This was a distortion of the Latin name foeniculum, which was a diminutive of the word for hay, faenum. So fennel literally means “little hay” because of its hay-like appearance! However, the English believed fennel to be of use to humans as well as livestock: fennel was one of the nine herbs in the Anglo Saxon Nine Herbs Charm used to ward away evil, along with wormwood and thyme.

Modern therapeutic applications for fennel oil are based on the past history of the essential oil as well as established medical reports, phytochemical investigations, and various other studies [2]. The results of those studies have made fennel oil a mainstream component in cough syrups, and carminative component in bowel and stomach remedies. Some people use fennel oil as a diuretic and a treatment for hypertension [2].

The first society to recognize the slimming attributes of fennel oil was ancient Greece. The Greeks drank a cup of fennel tea fifteen minutes before eating a meal and noticed a definite difference in their appetite. They decided that fennel oil fine tuned the digestive system so that food was turned into energy instead of fat.

That thought process is not a myth or old wives’ tale: fennel essential oil does remove blockage that impacts the liver, spleen, gall bladder, kidneys, and stomach [2]. The antimicrobial properties of fennel oil promote weight loss in aromatherapy treatments, and it treats gas, bloating, and indigestion at the same time [2]. Fennel oil may also be beneficial in treating the pain and discomfort associated with dysmenorrhea [3].

The expectorant qualities of the oil thin out excess mucus, which helps treat respiratory issues that reduce energy levels and slow down normal cell regeneration [2]. When energy is not converted to action of some kind, it is stored in adipose cells as fat. Fennel oil stimulates those cells and converts the fat back to energy.

In order to be effective in the fat-burning process, fennel oil impacts the metaphysical portion of the self as well. Fennel essential oil has the ability to enhance personal courage and strength. Those thoughts help the body burn fat [4].

The metaphysical explanation for this fat-burning process is that fennel oil keeps negative energy at bay so that positive energy manifests. The body reacts to positive energy by burning fat stored in cells in the stomach, thighs, and legs. Modern medicine is slowly recognizing metaphysical beliefs, and is using modern tools to measure fennel oil’s effectiveness in promoting weight loss.

REFERENCES

1. “Fennel”. Wikipedia. Last modified August 2nd, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel.

2. “Health Benefits of Fennel”. Organic Facts. Accessed August 5th, 2014. http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-fennel.html.

3. Namavar Jahromi B, A Tartifizadeh, S. Khabnadideh. February 2003. “Comparison of fennel and mefenamic acid for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea”. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 80 (2): 153-7.

4. Zappia, Anthony. “Reducing Weight with the Help of Essential Oils”. WellBeing. Last modified July 17th, 2013. http://www.wellbeing.com.au/blog/reducing-weight-with-essential-oils/.

 

The allspice tree is one of those finicky members of the plant family that only grows in certain areas of the world. Jamaica is well known for allspice tree growth, so much that at one time it was believed that allspice trees grew only on Jamaica! But some South American countries including southern Mexico, the greater Antilles, and areas of central America have also been successful in growing and harvesting allspice berries. Different types of allspice berry oil are made using not only the berries, but the stems and leaves as well.

Allspice is Pimenta dioica, a tropical mid-canopy tree with broad shiny green leaves, white flowers, and tiny round green allspice berries that look like large brown peppercorns when dried [1]. Allspice was the name English settlers gave to the tree based on their belief that the dried fruits tasted like a mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, three very popular spices from the Moluccas in Indonesia [1]. Allspice is also called Jamaican pepper, English pepper, pimento, myrtle pepper, and newspice [1].

While ground allspice can be bought in most grocery stores, gourmands often prefer grinding their own whole allspice berries just before using them in recipes, in order to preserve the flavorful essential oils in the dried fruit. With its complex, clove-like flavor, allspice is a staple when it comes to flavoring classic desserts such as pumpkin pie, gingerbread, and pastries [1]. In Middle Eastern countries, allspice is used to flavor curries, and it imparts its sweet-spicy essence to classic Mexican and Caribbean dishes such as molé sauce and Jamaican jerk seasoning [1].

Allspice essential oil is made from the green allspice berries, which are gathered just before they are ripe and then sun dried. When allspice berries are steam distilled, very light and very heavy chemicals emerge, including eugenol, methyl eugenol, cineol, phellandrene, and caryophyllene [2].  Those chemicals are combined in allspice berry oil. Leaves and stems are also used to produce allspice oil, but the berry distillation process produces better oil. The end product doesn’t contain as much eugenol, so it’s kinder to sensitive skin.

The initial harvest of green allspice fruit takes place when the trees are eight years old. Ripe fruit loses its scent, so there is a time element involved in producing quality allspice essential oil from the soon-to-be-ripe fruit. Essential allspice berry oil can be combined with leaf and stem oil as well as clove oil. This mixture produces a fiery oil, and it should be used with care.

For centuries allspice berry oil has been used to treat insect bites, headaches, colds, muscle distress, aching joints, indigestion, and sinus issues [2]. It’s well known for its antioxidant value [3], so long-term users stand behind the claims that the oil reduces the signs of aging. Allspice berry oil is used to improve vision, to stop hair loss, improve hearing, and to relieve nervousness and mild anxiety [2]. The analgesic and anesthetic properties provided by the tannins in allspice berry oil [4], as well as the warming, cheering, and comforting effects of the oil, make it a rock star in the aromatherapy world.

The warm, spicy-sweet aroma, and balsamic body note of allspice cultivate a scent of pepper, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. Allspice berry oil is frequently combined with lavender, ginger, geranium, ylang-ylang, neroli, sweet orange, bergamot, and patchouli to enhance its healing properties, improve sleep patterns and to bring a sense of euphoria to each moment in the now.

The possible cancer-preventing as well as the carcinogen-inhibiting qualities of the oil [3], plus the antibacterial, digestive, and circulation benefits of allspice essential oil [2] puts it in a unique class of aromatherapy oils that have an impact on the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the human psyche.

Allspice berry oil is used in a mist spray form as well as a massage oil and an inhaler. Steam inhalation and adding the oil to a bath are also popular ways to use this versatile oil that can reduce cellulite, relax the body, relieve cold symptoms, and reduce annoying flatulence. Care should be used when working with allspice oil topically, as the eugenol content means it can be irritating to sensitive skin as well as mucous membranes [5]. Allspice oil should always be diluted in a carrier oil before use. People with hemophilia or liver disease should consult a doctor before using allspice berry oil [5].

In this modern age, allspice berry oil tops the list of natural aromatherapy essential oils that can help the cells regenerate without frustrating side effects.

REFERENCES

1. “Allspice”. Wikipedia. Last modified June 11th, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allspice.

2. “Allspice Essential Oil (Pimento Berry/Leaf)”. AromaWeb. Accessed August 13th, 2014. http://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/allspice-oil.asp.

3. Zhang, Lei, and Bal L. Lokeshwar. December 2012. “Medicinal Properties of the Jamaican Pepper Plant Pimenta dioica and Allspice”. Current Drug Targets 13(14): 1900-1906.

4. Millehan, Jan. “What Are the Health Benefits of Allspice?” Livestrong.com. Accessed August 13th, 2014. http://www.livestrong.com/article/408917-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-allspice/.

5. Tisserand, Robert, and Rodney Young. 2013. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Professionals. 2nd Edition. Churchill Livingstone.