Chinese Star Anise

Star Anise - Illicium verum

Aka: star anise seed, chinese star anise

 

Family: Schisandraceae

Genus: Illicium

Species: l. verum

 

Star anise fruits come from the Chinese evergreen tree, Illicium verum. The tree is native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China.

The fruits are picked green and sun dried until their color changes to the beautiful reddish brown. The seeds, which smell and taste like black licorice, can be removed from the pods to store or left in the pods and stored whole.

Medicinal properties:

antibacterial, antifungal,

antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, expectorant, stimulant, analgesic, diuretic, antioxidant

 

Uses: coughs, colds, sore throat, chest colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, digestive issues, nausea, promoting lactation, urinary tract infections, strep throat, ear infections, cancers

 

I just finished making a star anise tincture. When that is ready it will be used in a sore throat spray recipe. The anti-inflammatory and

analgesic properties will aide in soothing the swollen, painful throat tissue associated with sore throats. And that delicious licorice flavor, well, that definitely makes the medicine go down a lot easier.

Antiviral properties: when I first start feeling those symptoms of the flu or a cold I'll make myself a warm cup of star anise tea. I usually add 1 of the whole dried pods, seeds and all. I leave it in while I'm sipping the tea. Depending on how strong you are wanting your tea, you can leave it in as long as you desire. Depending on how I'm feeling, I'll sip on 1 cup throughout the day. This isn't to say that this is going to keep the flu or away, but rather aide my body in regards to lessening the severity of symptoms as well as shortening the duration of symptoms. 👌

 

For some people, they just cannot get past the licorice flavor and smell, especially when they are sick. In that case one could take a star anise tincture. Click ⇒ here to learn how to make tinctures. The dosage depends on several factors. You can read more about that by clicking that link. For my body, I find that 3 drops diluted in 1/8 cup of water 3x a days throughout the duration of my symptoms works well for me.       

 

Shikimic acid - is extracted from Star Anise; Illicium verum. Shikimic acid is one of the main ingredients in the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Resource 

Resource

Antibacterial properties: in the case of bronchitis, or pneumonia, in addition to a tea or tincture one could also apply a cloth that has been soaked in a warm infusion across the chest area. This is a beneficial and soothing way of treating the symptoms both inside and out. To make the infusion add a handful of star anise to a pan of water. Allow this to simmer for 1 hour, stain and use.

For urinary tract infections, I find that sipping the tea as well as taking the star anise tincture to be the most beneficial. Especially if you can catch it in the very beginning stages. The diuretic properties come into play here too as they increase the flow of urine, which in turn aides in flushing out bacteria in the urinary tract. 

Resource

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Precautions and Side Effects

Although linked with many health benefits and generally considered a safe way to add flavor to foods, star anise should be used in moderation to prevent negative side effects.

Make sure that you are using Chinese star anise and not Japanese star anise. The Japanese version is inedible and actually poisonous if consumed by mouth.

Some products containing star anise, such as teas, are believed to be contaminated with small amounts of Japanese star anise. For this reason, this spice is not recommended for infants and children as it has been associated with a number of adverse symptoms, like vomiting and seizures, due to contamination.

There is also not enough evidence to determine the safety of this spice in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Finally, if you experience any negative side effects or food allergy symptoms after consuming star anise, discontinue use immediately and consult with a trusted health care practitioner. ~ Rachael Link, RS, RD

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