Bitter fennel essential oil, an ancient panacea that clears the eyes

In ancient Egypt, papyri almost 5,000 years old indicate the presence of fennel at that time. It is the same for Mesopotamian tablets from Babylon or from Assyria. Quoted and widely used by the Greeks, Arabs and Chinese, fennel also appears in certain botanical literary works of the Middle Ages. This plant has therefore long been considered a panacea .

A little bit of mythology

Prometheus “one day entered Olympus with the help of Athena , lit a torch in the chariot of the Sun and detached an ember from it, which he introduced into the hollow stem of a giant fennel. Then he fled and thus brought fire to men ”who, like us, from an obscure situation, achieved clarity of mind. Now, less than fire, fennel is at least its flame-holder, and without being a single ophthalmic remedy, fennel, when it is said to clear up the sight, indeed makes clear the spiritual vision.

Fennel thrives where the vine thrives. The Greek god Sabazios , whose main emblem is the serpent, a deity to whom we worshiped, maintained mysteries to which the followers surrendered adorned with white poplar and fennel. Sometimes assimilated to Dionysus , “god of ecstatic visions”, he shares, with this more famous deity, fennel. Dionysus is particularly associated with the vine, but, as spring comes, he crowns himself with fennel, as well as those who worship him, carrying on them the plant “which makes the eyes shine.” Moreover, the nod to Athena will undoubtedly not have escaped your sagacity. Although to my knowledge the fennel is not dedicated to this deity, Athena nonetheless bears as an emblem the owl whose keen sight we are not unaware of.

A little history

Known since Antiquity, fennel is mentioned in particular in the papyri of ancient Egypt and in Chinese and Indian medicine treatises. The Greeks considered it to be a galactogen, stomachic, emmenagogue and diuretic . Cultivated in the gardens of monasteries, its use spread in Europe in the Middle Ages.

From the Hippocratic Collection , we can thus consider that the medicinal properties of fennel are becoming bloated . This therefore explains why Charlemagne was a big consumer to pass his plethora of meals… and “not to put on weight”: it was moreover he who developed its cultivation on a large scale.

In aromatherapy, essential oil has been known as a remedy since the 16th century. Valnet (20th century) recommends it in digestive ailments, flatulence, aerophagia, nervous vomiting, inappetence and intestinal parasitosis . It is traditionally used as a digestive, antispasmodic and also known to stimulate the production of breast milk and fight against the symptoms of menopause .

What are the pharmacological properties of bitter fennel essential oil ?

Antispasmodic and digestive properties:

Fennel essential oil greatly reduces smooth muscle contractions and also stimulates gastric secretions and intestinal motility .

Antispasmodic , it is number 3 in spasm, after Ocinum basilicum and Artemisia dracunculus. Also neuromuscular antispasmodic , fennel oil is a reflex modifier of the central nervous system and the spinal cord (muscle resolution and analgesia, mild narcotic, psychoactive, analgesic…). Fennel actually reduces the spasm induced by acetylcholine or carbacol , just like atropine.

Stomachic, aperitif and carminative tonic , it generates a slight increase in digestive secretions.

Estrogenic properties:

Estrogen-like , by analogy with diethylstilbestrol, the essential oil of fennel has a demonstrated estrogenic hormonal action . It is also emmenagogue and stimulates milk production.

Antimicrobial property:

Fennel is an anti-infective against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. It is also antifungal against the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum , Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Mucolytic and expectorant properties:

Mucolytics and expectorants , the frenchone and anethole contained in fennel stimulate in vivo the volume of bronchial mucus excreted and reduce the production of bronchial secretions.

Anti-inflammatory properties:

Anti-inflammatory , the essential oil of fennel is cortison-like and therefore stimulates the pituitary-adrenal cortex. Which makes it an interesting oil in prolonged inflammatory conditions.

Other properties:

Choleretic and cholagogue
Diuretic, decongestant of the small pelvis
Lipolytic and antihyperlipidic
Autonomous nervous system sedative
Lymphotonic and decongestant
Hepatoprotective
Antioxidant, comparable to tocopherol
Antithrombotic, broad spectrum antiplatelet activity, and vasorelaxant action
Acaricide

Does bitter fennel essential oil require precautions for use?

Contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women
Caution in hormone-dependent pathologies ; do not combine with estrogenic treatment (including estrogen-progestogen)
Risk of neurotoxicity which may induce epileptic seizures at high doses
Do not combine with cortisone, risk of drug interaction
Dermocausticity, do not use pure, dilution required
Cytochrome P450 inhibitor, risk of drug interactions, ask your pharmacist for advice
Caution in people with autoimmune diseases, epilepsy, asthma, the elderly or with Parkinson’s, as well as people with neurosensitivity
Unless the ketone level on your product is indicated to be less than 5%:
- Do not diffuse, inhale, or put in the bath
- Do not swallow
- Cutaneous use only recommended
- Prohibited for internal use
- Contraindicated in non-pubescent children
Reserved for adults
Drug interactions with essential oils containing sesquiterpenes at more than 10%
Caution in case of hypothyroidism
Avoid association with anticoagulants or antiaggregants
Prohibited in animals

Bitter fennel essential oil, an ancient panacea that clears the eyes

A little bit of mythology

A little history