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Not only heal but also restores appetite

With the sweet taste and pleasant aroma anasonat is an herb that not only cures but also restores appetite. Besides being one of the main ingredients of the popular drink, it has many other applications - not only in the culinary arts but also in folk medicine.

Did you know ...

The anise is a herbaceous annual plant with cylindrical, slightly ribbed at the top of branching stems. His homeland is southern Europe, and warmer areas in Asia. The herb is a family of caraway and fennel. Its colors are white, the stem is higher than 30 to 60 cm of its gray-green fruit - long, ovate or oblong, up to 5 mm in length, have a characteristic smell and taste sweet and are particularly rich in oils and fats. The period of bloom in June and July, and its fruits are collected in early autumn, in their early ripening and then dried. In Bulgaria, anise is cultivated mainly in Bourgas, Haskovo and Chirpan.

Regular Anise is mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder back in the first century, but often appears on the list of Charlemagne for the cultivation of medicinal plants in the ninth century, while in the eleventh anasonat began to be used for the extraction of essential oil.

What is its chemical composition?

Fruits contain 2-3% (and in some varieties even to 6%) essential oil with the main constituent anethole (80-90%). Anethole addition, they contain small amounts metilhavikol, anizaldehid, anizketon and anozova acid. Fruits are rich in fatty oil (8-28%), protein levels (30%), mucus substances and about 10% mineral salts. It should be noted that improper storage in dvuanetol dimerised anethole, which is supposed to have estrogenic properties. The initiation of this essential oil product is poisonous. Therefore anasonat must be kept in the dark and cool place in airtight container up to two years. Under the influence of light, it gradually acquired a dark color and unpleasant taste.

Health benefits

Fruits of anise (in the form of tea or in combination with the herb milk) are used most often as a means to treat coughs from different backgrounds. They help to release the bronchial secretions (called sekretolitichno action) and unblock the nose. Applied successfully as an aid funds coming into therapy for treatment of angina, laryngitis, pharyngitis, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma.

Anasonat has antibiotic action, quite effectively deal with certain bacteria. A seed of anise with its gentle action are particularly suitable for small children.

Folk medicine recommends aromatic herb to treat various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, enterocolitis with painful cramps, flatulence and for others. Anasonat significantly improves appetite and digestion. Because disinfection and antibiotic action, it effectively protects the body from infectious diseases attacking the digestive system. Often applies in diseases of the urinary system - inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, kidney stones and others.

Anasonat be used to stimulate milk secretion in lactating women. He is known for its aphrodisiac qualities - some even herbalists claim that anasonat improves fertility in men.

Rich content of essential oil makes very good herb potogonno and temperature decreasing means. Many herbalists even think anasonat appropriate aid for gout, headache, boils and swellings.

This herb has two very specific properties: aromatic and soothing. Light flavor and sweet-spicy flavor makes it especially suitable herb for combating bad breath. Today, various pharmaceutical companies use anise extract of the production of toothpaste and mouthwash. On the other hand, of anise tea calms the nerves and is recommended for people suffering from insomnia. The same effect has essential oil of anise, placed in a fragrance lamp.

Essential oil of anise improves blood flow to the skin.

Health risk

Caution should be people with known allergy to the herb or essential oil of anise.

Create a delicious tea of anise

Reference is infusion of 1 teaspoon of chopped fruits with ½ liter of boiling water. After one hour the infusion is strained and taken in ½ cup before eating.

What else is used herb

The listed properties of aniseed makes it a suitable ingredient for various perfumes, as well as improving the taste and smell of some medications. As a spice it is used for processing meat, pastries, pasta, the preparation of various sauces, and the leaves can be successfully used for salad. China cuisine herb used for preparing soups and dishes of root vegetables. Well be combined with spices such as cloves, nutmeg and ginger. With aromas of anise is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Greece - ouzo and pastis in France.

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