STAR ANISE ILLICIUM VERUM

STAR ANISE (Illicium verum Hook. f.) ++ (raised from CRC)

Activities (Star Anise) :
Allergenic (1; LAF); Analgesic (f; CRC; EFS); Antibacterial (1; APA); Antiseptic (f; CRC); Antispasmodic (2; DEP; KOM; LAF; PH2); Bronchosecretolytic (2; KOM); Carminative (1; APA; CRC; DEP; PNC); Digestive (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC; EFS); Estrogenic (1; APA; LAF); Expectorant (2; APA; CRC; HHB; PH2); Fungicide (1; LAF); Insecticide (1; APA; LAF); Lactagogue (1; APA; CRC); Mutagenic (1; LAF); Pediculicide (1; APA; CRC); Piscicide (f; CRC); Stimulant (f; CRC; PNC); Stomachic (f; DEP; EFS; CRC).

Indications (Star Anise) :
Anemia (1; APA); Anorexia (2; PHR; PH2); Arthrosis (f; PH2); Bacteria (1; APA); Bronchosis (2; APA; PHR; PH2); Catarrh (2; KOM; PHR; PH2); Cholecystosis (f; CRC); Colic (1; APA; CRC); Congestion (1; APA); Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (2; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cramp (2; APA; DEP; KOM; LAF; PH2); Dysentery (f; CRC; DEP; PH2); Dyspepsia (2; APA; CRC; KOM; PH2); Enterosis (1; PH2); Extrophy (f; CRC); Favus (f; CRC); Frigidity (f; APA); Fungus (1; LAF); Gas (1; APA; CRC; DEP; PH2; PNC); Gastrosis (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Halitosis (f; APA; CRC); Hemopareisis (f; PH2); Hernia (f; CRC); Infection (1; CRC; LAF); Insomnia (f; CRC); Lumbago (f; CRC); Morning Sickness (f; APA); Mycosis (1; LAF); Nausea (f; APA); Otosis (f; CRC); Pain (f; CRC; EFS; PH2); Paralysis (f; PH2); Parturition (f; APA); Respirosis (2; KOM; LAF; PHR; PH2); Rheumatism (f; CRC; PH2); Scabies (1; APA; CRC); Spasm (2; CRC; LAF); Stomach Distress (1; APA); Toothache (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CRC; EFS).

Dosages (Star Anise) :
0.5–1 g powdered fruit (1 teaspoon = ~3.2 g) (BIS); 0.5–1 g seed/cup tea (HHB); 3 g herb or equivalent of 0.3 g EO (KOM; PHR; PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Star Anise) :
Class 1 (AHP). None known at proper dosage (KOM; PH2). While I consider star anise, properly identified, as safe as coffee, there are papers dealing with anethole intoxication in infants, relating the following symptoms to excess anethole ingestion: continuous crying, irritability, hypertonia, atypical ocular movements, twitching, cyanosis, and occasionally vomiting and refusal to take nourishment. They “conclude that the infusion of Illicium verum incorrectly administered, or in high doses, produces a neurological toxic picture,” which must be considered in diagnosis. They advise against its use in infants (USDA abstract). One group has really analyzed star anise, in reporting three new toxins, that’s three strikes against star anise. Possibly they were analyzing Illicium anisatum, namesake of the toxin anisatin. Dentifrices containing anise and/or star anise oil may cause cheilitis (dry bleeding, cracking, and peeling lips) (RIN).