Anise
Pimpinella anisum
T Traditional useAniseed tea is traditionally used for mild digestive complaints such as bloating and wind, and for cough that comes with a cold.
Image: Herbadex Botanik Stüdyosu · Özel Üretim
On this page
At a glance
The EMA classes aniseed (fruit) as a traditional herbal medicine for mild spasmodic digestive complaints and as an expectorant for cough with a cold. It is not recommended under 12 and should not be taken for more than 2 weeks.
Updated: October 15, 2026
✓ This herb record is backed by official European Medicines Agency (EMA HMPC) herbal monographs.
What is it used for?
T Traditional use
Traditional use: Based on at least 30 years of documented traditional use rather than clinical trials.
How do we rate evidence levels? →Traditionally used for mild, spasmodic digestive complaints such as bloating and wind. [1]
T Traditional use
Traditional use: Based on at least 30 years of documented traditional use rather than clinical trials.
How do we rate evidence levels? →Traditionally used as an expectorant for cough associated with a cold. [1]
How is it used?
Tea
Pour 150 ml of boiling water over 1–3.5 g of whole or freshly crushed aniseed.
Amount: 3 times daily
Duration limit: Max 2 weeks
[1]Safety & interactions
Minimum age: 12 years
Duration limit: 14 days
- Do not use for more than 2 weeks.
- Not recommended for children under 12.
- Do not use if you are allergic to the carrot family (caraway, celery, coriander, dill, fennel) or to anethole.
- Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been shown.
Drug interactions
No recorded interactions
Side effects
- Allergic reactions of the skin or airways (frequency unknown)
⚕ When to see a doctor
- If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops
- If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen
- If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs
Did you know?
Aniseed should be crushed just before brewing: its essential oil is lost quickly once crushed. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Can babies have aniseed tea for colic?
The EMA does not recommend aniseed tea for children under 12. Ask a paediatrician about colic.
How do I make aniseed tea?
Pour 150 ml of boiling water over 1–3.5 g of whole or freshly crushed seed; drink 3 times a day for up to 2 weeks.
Does aniseed increase breast milk?
The EMA monograph has no such indication, and it is not recommended while breastfeeding.
Does aniseed help a cough?
The EMA accepts aniseed as a traditional expectorant for cough with a cold.
Sources
- Community herbal monograph on Pimpinella anisum L., fructusEMA HMPC · 2013
Cite This Page
Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/anise/
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