Another ingredient that is found in our detoxifying tea blends is the spice anise.  Anise is a spice that many people are familiar with as it is found in alcoholic beverages like anisette or ouzo.  It is often used in baking cookies or pizzelles but it is used in our detox teas for a much greater purpose.  It has many medicinal benefits which help the body deal with a wide variety of problems.

For centuries, many civilizations have used the anise seeds to relieve indigestion, colic, bloating, bad breath, abdominal cramps and nausea.  The anise seeds are mild diuretics and will increase urination as well as sweating when ingested.  In addition to being an effective diuretic, anise seeds work well as an expectorant to help remove mucus in people with conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and your everyday common cold.  Because of this it is often found as an active ingredient in many cough medicines and throat lozenges.

Anise seeds contain substances called diantheole and photoantheole which help with lactation in women who are breast feeding.  It is also believed that these substances provide relief for premenstrual symptoms and also increase the libido.  Anise is very effective in treating oily skin so it is often found in many acne medications.  It is also poisonous to many insects so it is found in treatments for lice infestation as well.

Anise should be used carefully because it is not without side effects.  If taken in large doses, anise oil may cause nausea, vomiting and in some cases seizures or pulmonary edema.  Some people may become allergic to anise and develop skin irritation or swelling of the skin or tongue and difficulty breathing.  People who suffer from high blood pressure should avoid ingesting anise as it may cause complications with this condition.  As with all natural products, consultation with a health care provider is recommended to determine if the product is safe for consumption by the user.  Pregnant women and nursing mothers should consult their doctors before using anise.

(To Be Continued)