Saunf: Do we really need fennel seeds after a meal?

Abstract

It is customary in India to offer fennel seeds after a meal. Eating saunf after meals is considered a healthy practice, primarily because of its ability to keep the digestive system healthy. Foeniculum vulgare Mill commonly called fennel has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments related to digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and respiratory systems and has presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids. It is also used as a galactagogue agent for lactating mothers and remains to be the most widely used herbal plant used for treatment of more than forty types of disorders. Fennel maybe consumed daily, in the raw form as salads and snacks, stewed, boiled, grilled, or baked in several dishes and even used in the preparation of herbal teas or spirits. Consumption of fennel seeds lead to increase in breast size and are extensively used as galactagogues for improving the milk flow of breastfeeding mothers. Sugar coated and uncoated fennel seeds are used in Mouth freshener. Fennel tea may aid healthy digestion and is used for various digestive problems including heartburn, bloating, loss of appetite, and colic in infants. It has anxiolytic action and is used as an anti-stress agent and is believed to enhance memory and intelligence. Fennel seeds may be used in treating bronchial and bronchopulmonary afflictions and have an anti-spasmodic action and chewing the seeds can help to relieve hunger pangs. It possesses significant oculohypotensive activity and has been proved to be effective in reducing the severity of dysmenorrhea. Saunf has powerful anti-aging properties that protects our skin from premature wrinkles and lines and is effective in treatment of moderate hirsutism.