Foeniculi a amari aetheroleum

Official essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the fennel fruits of the bitter fennel(see below Foeniculi fructus).

Quality is laid down in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC - Monograph: traditional-use: mild cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints, flatulence, flatulence. also mild menstrual cramps, also expectorant for coughs with colds. to be noted:

Due to recent findings on the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of estragole, a component of the essential oil of bitter fennel, the HMPC has withdrawn its monograph on bitter fennel oil!

ESCOP monograph: dyspeptic complaints, mild, cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints, flatulence, but also catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. only bitter fennel for the relief of menstrual cramps.

Commission E-monograph: dyspeptic complaints, mild, cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints, bloating, flatulence, also catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

Empirical medicine: loss of appetite, infant dyspepsia with diarrhea, promotion of lactation, externally as eyewash for symptoms of fatigue

The main active ingredients are 55-75% trans-anethole (sweet taste), 12-25% D-fenchone, max. 6% methyl chavicol, 1-10% alpha-pinene. Also D-limonene, anisic acid, anisaldehyde, estragole and others.

Promotion of gastrointestinal motility, secretolytic, spasmolytic. Experimental: antimicrobial.

Indications according to the specifications of Commission E for dyspeptic complaints, bloating, flatulence. Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.
Recent studies show relief of menopausal symptoms: hot flushes, insomnia, dryness of the vagina, anxiety.

Daily dose /TD) 0.2-0.6 ml essential oil, equivalent to 0.2-0.6g of the drug. Alternatively (especially for children) 10-20g of a 0.5% fennel honey (preparation 100g honey with 0.5g fennel oil)

Rare allergic reactions

Pregnancy and infancy

High doses of fennel oil can have estrogen-like effects.

1. Schilcher H et al (2010) Guide to phytotherapy. 124-125
2. Rahimikian F et al. (2017) Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill (fennel) on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Menopause 24:1017-1021
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/fenchel.php