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BRONZE FENNEL
Foeniculum vulgare
A highly decorative herb plant, growing tall, with ferny, frothy
bronze-green leaves. It is either a self seeding annual, or a
perennial/biennial. It is not suitable for growing indoors.
Fennel is one of the longest-used cultivated plants, valued by the Romans.
Their warriors took it to keep in good health, and the ladies used it to
control their weight. In 812 A.D.
Charlemagne declared that, because of its usefulness as food and medicine,
fennel is essential to every Imperial garden.
USES:
CULINARY - Every part of it is edible. Seeds are used in sauces, fish dishes
and breads. Sprout them for winter salads. Leaves are chopped and added to
salads and cooked veggies, and make a great addition to soup, stuffing and
oily fish dishes. Young stems can be added to salads.
DECORATIVE - Fennel is attractive planted in gardens. The leaves are used as
’filler’ in flower arrangements.
COSMETIC - Seeds: Make a tea to use as an eye bath for reducing
inflammation. Chew to make the breath sweet. Seed and leaf: In baths and
facial steams for deep cleansing.
MEDICINAL - An excellent intestinal and stomach remedy, the seed is made
into tea for alleviating constipation and digestive troubles. Chew to reduce
hunger and aid digestion. Recent research indicates fennel reduces the toxic
effects of alcohol on the body.
It helps calm bronchitis and coughs. Use tea as an eye bath for
conjunctivitis. The essential oil is useful for helping with nausea,
digestion, constipation, oily skin, cellulite and menopause, especially when
combined with one or more of the following: geranium, lavender, lemon, rose
or sandalwood essential oils. Used externally, the oil eases muscular and
rheumatic pains.
For cellulite, combine 2 ounces of hazelnut oil with 8 drops each of the
following essential oils - oregano, fennel, rosemary and rub into affected
area.
(some information obtained from "The Complete Book of Herbs“,
by Leslie Bremness,
and from "Holistic Herbal" by David Hoffmann)
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