Effect of Fennel seed: On women health
D. Divya*
Ph.D. Scholar, Malvalchal University, Indore.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: divyabhilai31@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Fennel seeds, or saunf, have been related to a variety of health benefits and have been used to treat a variety of ailments. It contains several essential nutrients, making it an important spice for weight loss. Fennel seeds are high in fibre, antioxidants, and minerals, all of which are beneficial to fat burning and overall health. Traditionally, the plant was thought to serve as a carminative (helping to control flatulence) and increase breast milk production. (1). It has been reported that this plant can also enhance libido, facilitate birth, alleviate the symptoms of the male climacteric, promote menstrual flow, and soothe indigestion and cough (1). According to herbalists, fennel seed is an effective aid to digestion. It may help the gastrointestinal system's smooth muscles relax, reducing gas, bloating, and stomach cramps. In fact, tinctures or teas made from fennel seeds can be used to treat stomach muscle spasms caused by irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system. Fennel can also be combined with other herbal medicines to reduce the side effects of herbal formulations used as laxatives or other digestive treatments. Fennel is considered fairly mild, although some people may be allergic to it. It is also possible to overdose on the extracted oils found in fennel. (6) Some studies have found that fennel has an estrogenic effect, which means that it mimics the effects of estrogen. Fennel tea should not be drunk by pregnant or breastfeeding women. People with cancers that are sensitive to estrogen should also avoid the use of fennel.6 Since escarole, a key component of fennel, has been reported as a possible carcinogen, people who have cancer or are at high risk for cancer can restrict or stop drinking fennel tea.
KEYWORDS: Foeniculum vulgare, Food and Drug Administration, Estrogenic agent, Herbal medicines.
INTRODUCTION:
Foeniculum vulgare (FVE), known as Fennel, is a well-known medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean area (2). It cultivated in different regions of Europe and Asia, and much is imported from India, China and Egypt (3). Food and medicine have long been associated with the FVE fruit. Traditionally, the plant was thought to serve as a carminative (helping to control flatulence) and increase breast milk production. (1) It has been reported that this plant can also enhance libido, facilitate birth, alleviate the symptoms of the male climacteric, promote menstrual flow, and soothe indigestion and cough (1).
Fennel has a long history as an estrogenic agent with low toxicity and lack of documented carcinogenicity (4), therefore it can be re-introduced into modern medical usage. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, and many other activities of this plant have been revealed in different studies (1). Taking care of health is an important part of taking care of yourself and those you love. Women health refers to the branch of medicine that focus on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affects a woman’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Although women have a longer life expectancy than men in most countries, a number of health and social factors combine to reduce women's quality of life. Unequal access to information, care and basic health practices further increases the health risks for women. Fennel seeds, or saunf, have been related to a variety of health benefits and have been used to treat a variety of ailments. It contains several essential nutrients, making it an important spice for weight loss. Fennel seeds are high in fibre, antioxidants, and minerals, all of which are beneficial to fat burning and overall health.
Health Benefits of Fennel Seeds:
India happens to be the largest exporter of fennel seeds, widely known as saunf. A common practice in most Indian households is to have few fennel seeds or saunf at the end of every meal. This practice you might think is to freshen the mouth, but think again. The age-old practise, which is a concentrated source of minerals like Copper, Potassium, Calcium, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin C, Iron, Selenium, and Magnesium, does much more than simply fight bad breath. Fennel seeds have a variety of nutrients that make them a must-have in your kitchen, from balancing blood pressure to water retention. They resemble cumin or zeera in size and form, but fennel is a distinct spice. Having sad that, without much ado, let's learn about fennel seeds benefits.
1. Helps Regulate Blood Pressure:
A study published in the Journal of Food Science, found that chewing on fennel seeds helped increased the nitrite content in saliva, making it a great natural way to keep a check on blood pressure levels. Aside from that, fennel seeds are a good source of potassium, which is a vital component of cells and body fluids and helps to regulate the heart rate and blood pressure.
2. Reduce Water Retention:
As a diuretic, drinking fennel tea on a daily basis aids in the removal of excess fluids. Fennel seed also assists in the elimination of toxins and decreases the risk of urinary tract problems. It also has diaphoretic properties, which cause perspiration to increase.
3. Fennel Tea for Constipation, Indigestion, IBS and Bloating:
The tea is considered very useful to help indigestion, bloating and constipation because of the oils found in these seeds. Fennel seeds contain estragole, fenchone and anethole, which contribute to the plant's antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. For those with IBS, the volatile oils found in fennel seeds can help kick start digestion by promoting the production of gastric enzymes. For its multitude of gastrointestinal benefits, fennel tea is sure to help the digestive tract be healthy and happy.
4. Fennel Seeds Reduce Asthma Symptoms:
The phytonutrients in fennel seeds help to clear sinuses. Sinusitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the cavities around the nasal passages. Since they have expectorant properties, they make a perfect tea to help with bronchitis, congestion, and cough.
5. Helps Purify Blood:
The essential oils and fibre in these seeds are thought to be helpful in flushing toxins and sludge from our bodies, thereby assisting in blood washing. To ensure smooth absorption of nutrients, it is important to include foods in your diet that help cleanse your blood.
6. Improves Eye Sight:
A handful of these seeds may also improve your vision. Vitamin A is found in fennel seeds, which is essential for eye health. Extracts of these seeds were used to treat glaucoma symptoms in ancient India.
7. According to Ayurveda:
Fennel seeds, according to Ayurveda, reduce all three Trodoshas (Vata, Pita, Kapha). The seeds provide a refreshing sensation to the body. It is a good idea to drink a fennel seed drink during the hot summer months to help the body cool down. The carminative oil contained in the seeds is used in massage blends, especially in Ayurveda, to relax the nerves and promote mental clarity.
8. Great for Acne:
When fennel seeds are eaten on a regular basis, they provide the body with valuable minerals like zinc, calcium and selenium. These minerals are very helpful to balance hormones and in helping up the oxygen balance. When consumed, fennel has a cooling impact on the skin, hence giving a healthy glow.
9. Keeps Cancer Away:
The seeds also have very powerful free radical scavenging properties that help beat oxidative stress and protects the body from various cancers of the skin, stomach and breasts. Fennel seeds have a very potent chemo modulatory effect too.
In Ayurveda, fennel seeds are considered very auspicious. They were extensively used in various recipes in ancient India. The age-old secrets of health can be found in our kitchens' most common ingredients. All we have to do now is reveal them.
According to herbalists, fennel seed is an effective aid to digestion. It may help the gastrointestinal system's smooth muscles relax, reducing gas, bloating, and stomach cramps.
In fact, tinctures or teas made from fennel seeds can be used to treat stomach muscle spasms caused by irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system.
Fennel can also be combined with other herbal medicines to reduce the side effects of herbal formulations used as laxatives or other digestive treatments.
1. Painful periods:
Many women suffer from painful cycles, also known as dysmenorrhoea, which they treat with over-the-counter medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
However, roughly 10-20 percent of women who suffer from severe cramping and discomfort during their period do not find relief through this approach.
Many people opt for alternative or complementary therapies instead, and a 2012 study found that fennel can help.
Fennel can prevent the uterus from contracting, which causes the pain experienced by women suffering from dysmenorrhea, according to researchers.
Fennel has anti-spasmodic properties, which is one of its key advantages. As a result, some people claim that fennel tea will help to relieve the effects of colic in babies.
Fennel tea is recommended by many herbalists and complementary healthcare practitioners as a way to control blood sugar.
A study in Bangladesh, in which mice were treated with an extract made from mentholated fennel seeds, found that, at some dosage levels, this extract reduced blood glucose levels at a levels comparable to that of traditional antihyperglycemic drugs
Fennel is also thought to help with pain relief. The same Bangladeshi research discovered that fennel extract decreased pain symptoms at a level comparable to aspirin.
One of the more direct benefits of fennel tea is that it provides individuals with a delicious, caffeine-free beverage, which is vital for overall health.
Also, some people simply find fennel tea delicious.
Risks:
Fennel is considered fairly mild, although some people may be allergic to it. It is also possible to overdose on the extracted oils found in fennel6.
Some studies have found that fennel has an estrogenic effect, which means that it mimics the effects of estrogen. Fennel tea should not be drunk by pregnant or breastfeeding women. People with cancers that are sensitive to estrogen should also avoid the use of fennel6.
Since escarole, a key component of fennel, has been reported as a possible carcinogen, people who have cancer or are at high risk for cancer can restrict or stop drinking fennel tea.
CONCLUSION:
F. vulgare known as fennel is a famous umbelliferous plant, which is being used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, analgesic, and laxative effects in folk medicine8. Fennel oil contains different ingredients such as anol or dimethylatedanethole, which may have some estrogenic activity9. Flavonoids, a type of phytoestrogen, are another component of this seed oil. Phytoestrogens have been shown to have estrogenic properties in both in vivo and in vitro studies. 10. In another study, it has been reported that fennel can reduce the severity of dysmenorrheal and in another study reported that fennel has the same effect as Mefenamic acid in dysmenorrheal pain relief 11.
REFERENCE:
1. Khazaei M, Montaseri A, Khazaei MR, Khanahmadi M. Study of Foeniculum vulgare Effect on Folliculogenesis in Female Mice. Int J FertilSteril 2011; 5: 122-
2. Senatore F, Oliviero F, Scandolera E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Roscigno G, Zaccardelli M, et al. Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of anethole-rich oil from leaves of selected varieties of fennel [Foeniculum vulgare Mill. ssp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell]. Fitoterapia 2013; 90: 214-9.
3. Namavar JB, Tartifizadeh A, Khabnadideh S. Comparison of fennel and mefenamic acid for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Int J GynaecolObstet 2003; 80: 153-7.
4. Albert-Puleo M. Fennel and anise as estrogenic agents. J Ethnopharmacol 1980; 2: 337-44.
5. Christa. (2013, December 5). Fennel http://www.herbaleducation.net/fennel
6. Gori, L., Gallo, E., Mascherini, V., Mugelli, A., Vannacci, A., andFirenzuoli, F. (2012, June 20). Can estragole in fennel seed decoctions really be considered a danger for human health? A fennel safety update. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/860542/
7. Goswami, N., and Chatterjee, S. (2014, July 23). Assessment of free radical scavenging potential and oxidative DNA damage preventive activity of Trachyspermumammi L.(Carom) and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) seed extracts. BioMed research international https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2014/582767/
8. Kaur, G. J., and Arora, D. S. (2009, August 6). Antibacterial and phytochemical screening of Anethumgraveolens, Foeniculum vulgare and Trachyspermumammi. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 9(30) https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-9-30
9. Monalisa, M. N., and Rahmatullah, M. (2015). Antihyperglycemis, analgesic activity, and acute toxicity studies with methanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare seeds. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(9), 198-206 http://wjpps.com
10. Omidvar, S., Esmailzadeh, S., Baradaran, M., and Basirat, Z. (2012). Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: A placebo-controlled trial. Ayu, 33(2), 311-313 http://www.ayujournal.org/article.asp?issn=0974-8520;year=2012;volume=33;issue=2;spage=311;epage=313;aulast=Omidvar
11. Rahimi, R., and Ardekani, M. R. S. (2012, December 29). Medicinal properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. In traditional Iranian medicine and modern phytotherapy. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23275017
12. Rather, M. A., Dar, B. A., Sofi, S. N., Bhat, B. A., and Qurishi, M. A. (2016). Foeniculum vulgare: A comprehensive review of its traditional use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and safety. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 9, S1574-S1583 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878535212000792?via%3Dihub
13. Bokaie M, Farajkhoda T, Enjezab B, et al. Oral fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) drop effect on primary dysmenorrhea: effectiveness of herbal drug. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2013; 18: 128–132
14. Omidvar S, Esmailzadeh S, Baradaran M, et al. Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: a placebo-controlled trial. Ayu 2012; 33: 311–313.
15. Moslemi L, Bekhradi R, Galini Moghaddam T, et al. Comparative effect of fennel extract on the intensity of primary dysmenorrhea. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol 2012; 6: 1770–1773.
16. ModaressNejad V and Asadipour M. Comparison of the effectiveness of fennel and mefenamic acid on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea. East Mediterr Health J 2006; 12: 423–427.
17. Alexandrovich I, Rakovitskaya O, Kolmo E, et al. The effect of fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. AlternTher Health Med 2003; 9: 58–61.
18. Ramjee G, Daniels B. Women and HIV in Sub–Saharan Africa. AIDS Res Ther. 2013;10:30. 3. Onarheim KH, Iversen JH, Bloom DE. Economic Benefits of Investing in Women’s Health: A Systematic Review. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0150120. Shipra arora-food.ndtv.com
19. Speroff L, Class RH, Kase NG. Clinical gynecology, endocrinology and infertility, 6th ed. Baltimore, Lippincott Williams and Willkins, 1999:557–75.
20. Di Girolamo G et al. [Menstrual prostaglandin and dysmenorrhea: modulation by non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs]. Medicina (B Aires), 1999, 59(3)259–64 [in Spanish].
21. Harel Z. A contemporary approach to dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Paediatric drugs, 2002, 4(12):797–805.
Received on 12.04.2021 Modified on 16.11.2021
Accepted on 23.03.2022 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2022; 10(2):95-98.
DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2022.00024