Parsi Teb Physical and Mental Health Journal 
Fennel is an aromatic and flavorful herb, which categorized in a medicinal plant. It is able to help weight loss and It grows in northern parts of Iran and hillsides of Alborz mountain. It is an endemic plant for Mediterranean areas. It could be seen in Syria, India, Mexico, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and China. It was used for weight loss in ancient Greece and Roman.
In addition to its popular use as a breath freshener, it helps relieve a number of ailments and facilitates better health due to its stomachic, carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, expectorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, depurative, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties.
It contains vitamin C, potassium, manganese, iron, folate, and fiber. It is also rich in phytonutrients and has a high concentration of volatile oils.
Nature of fennel
Nature of this plant is warm and dry and seed, leaf and root in this plant have therapeutic properties. Total daily dose of fennel is 5 grams or 1-3 cup of the decoction. Gurgling and chewing fennel seeds, In order to eliminate bad smell of the mouth and treat sore throat can be used. If you want to use it as purgative, it is favorable to use it with the mixture of honey, vinegar and mint, which is called Serkehangabin in Iranian culture. This mixture can decrease the hotness of the body. It reinforces gastrointestinal tract and it is a good carminative. It is helpful in treatment of indigestion, cold stomach, stomach ache, problems of respiratory tract and asthma.
It increases the lactation in breastfeeding mothers, also it is diuretic and disinfectant and helpful for dysuria. It is effective for treatment of sore throat and larynx inflammation, menstrual disorders, peptic ulcer, kidney diseases, colic and whooping cough, eyes inflammation and aging eyes. Researchers at the Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research have found that fennel may help reduce eye pressure and promote the dilation of blood vessels. Thus, it may help prevent or treat glaucoma, a vision-impairing disease. However, further research and evaluation is needed in this regard. You can derive these benefits by drinking fennel tea daily. Also, you can prepare an infusion of one-half teaspoon of fennel seeds boiled in one cup of water until half the water evaporates. Strain and cool the solution and then use it as eye drops to relieve eye strain and irritation.
It is suggested to mix fennel decoction with maidenhair and fig, in order to relieve headache and migraine.
Breastfeeding mothers must use high amount of fennel decoction, because it is carminative and increases the lactation. In addition, mixture of fennel decoction and honey eliminates face wrinkles.
Fennel can reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It is a good source of potassium that helps lower high blood pressure as well as folate that is needed for converting potentially dangerous homocysteine molecules into a benign form.
