1. Alias
Fennel, star anise, seasoning, star anise beads.
2. Plant morphology
Evergreen trees. The bark is gray green to reddish brown with irregular cracks. Single leaves alternate or 3-6 clusters grow at the top of branches. The leaves are thick leathery, long elliptical or ovate lanceolate, with a pointed or acute tip, a narrow wedge-shaped base, entire margin, slightly rolled inward, dark green on top, glossy and with oil spots, and sparsely covered with soft hairs below. Flowers are bisexual, solitary in leaf axils or near the top, with short flower stems and 7-12 carpels arranged in multiple whorls in a tile like pattern. The inner whorls are pink to dark red, with 11-12 stamens arranged in 1-2 whorls, and the carpel is 8-9. They are free. The style is slightly shorter than the ovary or nearly equal in length to the ovary. The fruit is mostly composed of eight radiating follicles arranged in an octagonal aggregate, reddish brown in color, and woody. The follicles are flat, with blunt or blunt tips, and when mature, they crack through the abdominal sutures. One seed, flattened ovate, bright brown in color. The flowering period is spring and autumn, and the fruiting period is from autumn to the following spring.
3. Origin distribution
Born in mountainous areas with warm, humid climate and loose soil, cultivated or wild. Distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places.
4. Harvesting and processing
Harvesting fruits in autumn and winter when they turn from green to yellow, blanching them in boiling water and then drying them directly or directly.
5. Characteristics of medicinal herbs
Aggregate fruit, mostly composed of 8 follicles arranged radially on the central axis, with follicles measuring 1-2 cm in length, 0.3-0.5 cm in width, and 0.6-1 cm in height; The outer surface is reddish brown with irregular wrinkles, and the top is beak shaped with many cracks on the upper side; The inner surface is light brown, smooth, and glossy; Hard and brittle in texture. The stem is 3-4 centimeters long, connected to the center of the base, curved, and often falls off. Each follicle contains one seed, flattened and oval in shape, about 6 millimeters long, reddish brown or yellowish brown, shiny, with a seed navel at the tip; The endosperm is white and rich in oil. Fragrant aroma, pungent and sweet taste.
6. Sexual Taste Returning to the Classics
Sexual warmth. It tastes spicy. Return to the liver meridian, kidney meridian, spleen meridian, and stomach meridian.
7. Effect and Function
Warm yang and dispel cold, regulate qi and relieve pain. Belonging to Wenli medicine.
8. Clinical application
Take 3-6 grams and decoct; Or into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, apply after grinding. Used to treat cold hernia abdominal pain, kidney deficiency back pain, stomach cold vomiting, and abdominal cold pain.
9. Pharmacological research
Has antibacterial, leukocyte boosting, estrogen like, and stimulating effects. Animal experiments have shown that it has the effects of increasing white blood cells and eliminating phlegm. Alcohol extract has anti histamine effect on isolated trachea; In vitro experiments have inhibitory effects on various bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.
10. Chemical composition
Contains volatile oil, with the main components being trans anise ether and para allyl phenyl isopentenyl ether. It also contains components such as Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, Quercetin, Hydroxycinnamic Acid, Trans Anisole, and Folin.
11. Usage taboos
Those with yin deficiency and excessive fire should take it with caution.
12. Compatibility prescription
① The treatment for small intestinal gas pain is irresistible: 30g almonds, 15g scallions (mashed with roots and baked), and 30g star anise. Finally, take 9 grams per serving, hollow, and mix with warm walnut wine. (Continued Techniques)
② Treatment for hernia: Poria cocos, Atractylodes macrocephala, Hawthorn seeds (stir fried), star anise (stir fried), Wu Zhu yu (stir fried), 30 grams of lychee seeds, 24 grams of Fructus Aurantii, and 90 grams of orange seeds (stir fried). Finally, refine honey into pills, each weighing 4.5 grams, chew them carefully in a hollow container, and add ginger soup. (From "The Mastery of Photography" Fen Zi Wan)
③ Treating bladder prolapse hernia: star anise and white morning glory (stir fried), divided equally into two parts. For fine powder, adjust the hollow wine. (Zhu's Collection and Verification Formula: Fennel Powder)
④ Treating back pain like thorns: star anise, stir fried and ground. Take 6 grams each time and add salt to the soup before eating. Add one or two liters of glutinous rice to the outside, stir fry until hot, put in a bag, and tie it to the sore spot. (Simple and Convenient)
⑤ Treating constipation, bloating, and shortness of breath: 15 grams of sesame seeds (stir fried, shelled) and seven star anise seeds. At the end of the previous preparation, three seven pieces of raw scallions and white onions were boiled together in a decoction and mixed with Wuling powder. (Eternal Seal Formula)
⊙ The content of the article is for clinical reference only. Non TCM professionals are not allowed to test drugs.