Fennel Seed – 1 lb (454 g)

Fennel Seed, known in Chinese as 小茴香 (Xiǎohuíxiāng) and scientifically as Fructus Foeniculi, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Fennel Seed carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Fennel Seed helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Fennel Seed provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Fennel Seed has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Fennel Seed, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Hui Xiang Zi, Tu Hui Xiang, and Ye Hui Xiang. It is the mature fruit of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., a plant of the Apiaceae family. It is cultivated throughout various provinces and regions of China. The fruit is harvested in autumn when it begins to mature by cutting the whole plant, drying it in the sun, threshing to obtain the fruit, and removing impurities.

[Properties] Pungent in taste, warm in nature. Enters the Liver, Kidney, Spleen, and Stomach meridians.

[Actions] Disperses cold and relieves pain; regulates Qi and harmonizes the stomach.

[Applications]
1. Used for cold hernia abdominal pain and testicular sagging. For hernia abdominal pain, often combined with Wu Yao, Qing Pi, Gao Liang Jiang, etc., as in the formula Tiantai Wuyao San (天台乌药散). For liver Qi stagnation with testicular sagging and distending pain, combined with Ju He and others, as in Xiang Ju San (香橘散). For scrotal hardness and swelling in collapsing hernia, can be combined with Che Qian Zi and Gan Sui, ground into powder and taken with wine.
2. Used for cold pain in the lower abdomen and dysmenorrhea, often combined with Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Rou Gui, etc.
3. Used for middle Jiao deficiency cold, cold congealing Qi stagnation, epigastric, abdominal, and hypochondriac pain, vomiting, and poor appetite, often combined with Gan Jiang and Mu Xiang.
4. Used for kidney deficiency low back pain, frequent nocturnal urination, and enuresis. For low back pain, can be combined with Du Zhong, Hu Tao Li Rou, and Hu Lu Ba; for frequent urination and enuresis at night, can be combined with Sang Piao Xiao.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 3–6 g; or incorporated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied topically or heated and used as a warm compress. Raw herb is more inclined to regulate Qi and harmonize the stomach, suitable for middle Jiao deficiency cold, vomiting, and poor appetite. Stir-fried herb directs the medicine to the lower Jiao, enhancing warming of the liver and kidneys, promoting Qi movement, and dispersing stagnation, suitable for cold hernia abdominal pain and kidney deficiency low back pain.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases of Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The fruit contains volatile oil, with the main component being trans-anethole, followed by limonene and fennel ketone. It also contains estragole, γ-terpinene, α-pinene, coumarin, methyl chavicol, anisaldehyde, dihydrosafrole, parsley phenol, psoralen, calamus coumarin, vanillin, quercetin, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol.
2. Pharmacological effects: Fennel fruit promotes gastrointestinal motility and inhibits gastric acid secretion; it has choleretic effects, promoting bile secretion and increasing bile solids. The volatile oil relaxes guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle and increases tracheal fluid secretion. The volatile oil also promotes liver regeneration in rats and has bactericidal effects against fungal spores, Mycobacterium avium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Polysaccharides extracted from fennel have antitumor effects.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Incarcerated small intestine hernia: Fennel fruit 10–15 g (reduced for children), taken with boiling water. Among 26 patients treated within 2 hours to 3 days, 22 were cured and 4 ineffective. [Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1996, 15(12):569]
2) Infantile colic: Fennel fruit and Mu Xiang 30 g each, Rou Gui 15 g, ground into powder, stir-fried until fragrant (not burnt), wrapped in cloth and applied to the navel with gentle massage repeatedly. Among 68 cases, 42 cured after 3 days, 20 effective, 6 ineffective; total effective rate 90%. [Shandong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1992, 27(8):349]
3) Dysmenorrhea: Fennel fruit 10 g, fresh ginger 10 g, one dose daily, decocted and taken in two doses, for 3–5 days, starting 3 days before menstruation and during menstruation. Results: 45% cured after 1–2 menstrual cycles, 30% cured after 2–3 cycles, 14.9% cured after more than 3 cycles; total effective rate 89.9%. [Chinese Folk Therapy, 2001, 9(6):50]
4) Temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome: Fennel fruit 50 g, coarse salt 100 g, stir-fried and wrapped in cloth, applied warm to the temporomandibular joint area 1–2 times daily, 10 treatments per course. Among 23 cases, 8 cured, 12 improved; total effective rate 86.96%. [Anhui Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical, 1999, 11(6):383]
5) Postoperative abdominal distension: Fennel fruit 250 g, stir-fried and wrapped in cloth, applied locally without burning sensation. The herbal bag was placed on the patient’s upper abdomen at acupoints Zhongwan, Shentian, and Tianshu for warm compress, twice daily for 30 minutes each. Among 40 cases, patients experienced relaxation, bowel sounds, and peristalsis within 30 minutes to 2 hours after compress; after 2–4 treatments, abdominal distension was significantly relieved, with anal gas passage and ability to sleep quietly; total effective rate 90%. [Chinese Journal of Rural Medicine, 2003, 10(5):26]
6) Toxic intestinal paralysis: Fennel fruit 250 g, stir-fried to 40–50°C, wrapped in cloth, used to warm and massage the abdomen for 30 minutes, every 1–2 hours. Among 14 children with severe pneumonia complicated by toxic intestinal paralysis, 10 were cured and 4 died. [Guangxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1991, 14(3):106]