This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.

Fennel seeds are a common cooking spice worldwide, popular with fish and curries. Fennel is an element of Chinese five spice powder, and is part of innumerable traditional Mediterranean, Arabic, Iranian, Indian and European recipes. Fennel's sweet earthy taste enhances meat dishes, fish, breads, pickles and vinegar.

The herb is also traditional in Chinese, Arab, Indian and Western pharmacopoeias. After meals, fennel seeds are used in several cultures to prevent gas and upset stomach.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Fennel seed for 'Dyspepsias such as mild, spastic gastrointestinal afflictions, fullness, flatulence. Catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. Fennel syrup, fennel honey: catarrh of the upper respiratory tract in children.'

'Side Effects: In individual cases allergic reactions of skin and respiratory tract.'

'Daily dosage: 5 - 7 g herb; 10 - 20 g fennel syrup or honey (Erg. B. 6); 5 - 7.5 g compound fennel tincture; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Crushed or ground seeds for teas, tea-like products, as well as other galenical preparations for internal use. Duration of Administration
Fennel preparations should not be used on a prolonged basis (several weeks) without consulting a physician or pharmacist.'

'Actions: Promotes gastrointestinal motility, in higher concentrations acts as an antispasmodic. Experimentally, anethole and fenchone have been shown to have a secretolytic action in the respiratory tract; in the frog, aqueous fennel extracts raise the mucociliary activity of the ciliary epithelium.'

The main active constituents, which include the terpenoid anethole, are found in the volatile oil. Anethole and other terpenoids may have mild estrogen-like activity, and inhibit spasms in smooth muscles, such as those in the intestinal tract.

Recent studies have found fennel to possess diuretic, choleretic (bile-producing), pain-reducing, fever-reducing, and antimicrobial actions.

Fennel was formerly an official drug in the United States and was listed as being used for indigestion and possibly for stimulating milk flow in women. Whole seeds may be chewed or used in tea.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'On account of its aromatic and carminative properties, Fennel fruit is chiefly used medicinally with purgatives to allay their tendency to griping and for this purpose forms one of the ingredients of the well-known compound Liquorice Powder.'

'Fennel water has properties similar to those of anise and dill water: mixed with sodium bicarbonate and syrup, these waters constitute the domestic 'Gripe Water,' used to correct the flatulence of infants.'

'Volatile oil of Fennel has these properties in concentration. Fennel tea, formerly also employed as a carminative, is made by pouring half a pint of boiling water on a teaspoonful of bruised Fennel seeds. Syrup prepared from Fennel juice was formerly given for chronic coughs.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Carminative, stimulant, galactagogue, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Used in flatulent colic, and as a corrigent of unpleasant medicines. May be used in amenorrhoea and in suppressed lactation. Dose of powdered seeds, from 10 to 30 grains; infusion (grs. xl. to aqua Oss), 1 teaspoonful (infants) to wineglassful (adults).'

Eclectic Materia medica, 1922 (Felter): 'A splendid carminative and stimulant for flatulent colic in babies. It should not be sweetened with sugar, as it is sufficiently sweet in itself, while added sugar defeats the purpose for which it is being administered.'

'Hot fennel tea is not an unpleasant remedy for amenorrhoea, and for suppressed lactation. Fennel is often used as a corrigent of unpleasant medicines. It is an ingredient of Compound Licorice Powder.'