Fennel - a perennial plant with a pleasant aroma, covered with yellow flowers. Originally this herb from the Mediterranean, but now it grows around the world. Dried fennel seeds are widely used in cooking as a spice with the aroma of anise. But do not be confused fennel and anise despite the fact that they are very similar in appearance and smell. Ripe Dried fennel seeds and oil are used to prepare medicines.

Application

Fennel is used for digestive problems such as heartburn, intestinal gas, bloating, loss of appetite and the appearance of intestinal colic in infants. In addition, it is used to treat infections of the upper airways, cough, bronchitis, cholera, back pain, enuresis Enuresis or urinary incontinence - how not to run a disease?   and ocular diseases.

Sometimes Fennel is used to improve lactation in nursing women, to normalize the menstrual cycle, ease childbirth, and increase libido.

Fennel powder used for poultices after being bitten by snakes. The food and drink fennel is added as a flavoring agent.

In the production of Fennel oil is used as a component of laxatives, as well as an aromatic additive in soaps and cosmetics.

Effect

This herb relaxes the intestines and reduces the formation of mucus in the airways. Fennel has a therapeutic effect for colic in infants: clinical studies have shown that infants who took drugs containing fennel, lemon balm Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness   and German chamomile (Colima), colic are faster than other babies.

Insufficient data on the effectiveness of fennel at:

• stomach upset and indigestion
• swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract
• bronchitis
• cough
• not strong spasms in the stomach and intestines
• intestinal gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• upper respiratory tract infections
• other health problems

Nevertheless, to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment of the fennel disorders more research is needed for plausibility.

The safety and side effects

There is reason to believe that in the quantities in which fennel is found in foods, it is perfectly safe. But in most cases, there is insufficient evidence that the plant is safe for children and adults to the extent in which it is contained in medicaments. However, a study was conducted of the drug Colima, helping to ease colic and combining components such as fennel, mint and lemon German chamomile. This drug is considered safe for infants when it is received within the period of up to one week.

There are people who have in the use of fennel an allergic skin reaction. Allergy to fennel is more likely in people who have been allergic to celery, carrots and tarragon. Additionally, fennel can affect the skin, making it unduly sensitive to sunlight, resulting in increased risk of sunburn. Therefore, people with fair skin should be before going out to use sunscreen.

Special precautions and warnings

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding

At the moment, there is insufficient evidence of safety fennel during pregnancy, so this period is necessary to give up its use.

There is a possibility that during feeding fennel use is unsafe. Two infants, nursing mothers who drank herbal tea with fennel, have been reported damage to the nervous system.

• Allergy to celery, carrots and tarragon

Fennel may cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to the action of these plants.

• Diseases associated with hormonal imbalance

For example, fennel can act as estrogen at risk of developing breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis Endometriosis - a serious problem with serious consequences   fibroids and uterine. In the presence of disease progressing with increasing amounts of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health Should renounce the use of fennel.

A small tree, which once brought people cross with orange citron, is sonorous name "bergamot". Essential oil for which the plant and steel plant, has several unique advantages. Fragrance oils reminiscent of the smell of bitter orange, it is refined, fresh, exciting. The use of this oil helps to normalize brain activity, to cure many skin diseases, strengthen hair How to strengthen the hair, so as not to get lost:-tested recipes Reduce heat.

Bergamot: bitter orange citron +

Bergamot - a hybrid resulting from the crossing of evergreen woody plants and shrubs orange citron. Bergamot is a plant family Rutaceae, it is considered the birthplace of South-East Asia. His name Bergamot received the title of a small Italian town of Bergamo, where he first began to be cultivated in order to obtain valuable essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? . But this is only one version of the origin of the name.

Another option of naming school name originates in the Turkish words and directly translates as «beyarmudu», that is "pear Prince" or «beg armudy», «master's pear". This version is more plausible, since the shape reminiscent of a pear fruit bergamot, and color are pale yellow, which makes them look like a pear varieties of bergamot. However, to the pear fruit plants are irrelevant, moreover, they are inedible and are only for the production of valuable essential oil.

From a botanical point of view of bergamot is an evergreen tree that grows sometimes up to ten meters. During flowering a strong fragrant smell spreads for many kilometers around. The fruits have a sour taste of bergamot. The area of ​​distribution of bergamot is very small: in Calabria (Italy), he is a symbol of the area, as cultivated mainly on the Ionian coast of the peninsular state. Besides, bergamot planted in the State of Georgia (USA), in Brazil and Argentina.

Essential oil of bergamot and its application

Bergamot essential oil is produced from the flowers, leaves and rind of the fruit. This is the "big" output (from one to three per cent) of the use of bergamot peel, so the value of the product is very high. Essential bergamot oil - oily liquid yellowish-green color, which during storage may acquire shades of brown and olive.

The main component of bergamot oil linalyl acetate, also in oil contains linalool, citral, nerol, camphene, α-pinene, geraniol. It is these components shall bergamot with its fresh, light aroma. The oil has anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and soothing effect. It is used to treat many diseases, it increases the body's resistance to bacteria and viruses, helps normalize the functioning of sweat, sebaceous glands (in cosmetology), they successfully treat many skin diseases - dermatitis, psoriasis, abrasions, eczema. Aromatherapy with bergamot oil are actively struggling with depression, improves digestion.

Recipes using bergamot oil

To apply oil of bergamot in aromalampe Aroma - create an atmosphere   it is added just two to five drops per session for aromamedalona - just one drop. These procedures will help to concentrate before an exam or important life decision problems will increase brain activity.

For flavoring of cosmetic products in the base cream mixed one to three drops of essential oil of bergamot is one hundred milliliters of the base. Such reinforced cream, lotion, mask and tonic helps to quickly get rid of pimples, acne and rashes.

For flavoring of steam in the sauna is used no more than five drops in the steam room at a time. This steam will remove waste and toxins, soothes and harmonizes the nervous system moving.

If you drop a single drop of oil to massage comb or hairbrush and comb your hair in different directions, eventually they will become shiny, fragrant and healthy.

For cosmetic body massage ten milliliters of massage oil add five to seven drops of bergamot.

On a note

Contraindications to the use of bergamot oil can serve only idiosyncrasy. During pregnancy and lactation, the use of any oils requires special care. Avoid contact with eyes bergamot oil. Oil phototoxicity, because it is not used on a sunny day for cosmetic purposes, or, conversely, to get a quick tan bergamot oil is added to the oil for tanning Suntan oil - the natural beauty of your skin   in the proportion of three drops per hundred milliliters of base money. It applied to the skin a composition no later than one hour before sunbathing. In pure form, bergamot oil promotes easy skin lightening.

Jeanne Pyatirikova