Anise
Pimpinella anisum
Aniseed is a sweet, anethole-rich carminative and expectorant with promising small trials in IBS, menopausal hot flashes and cough, tempered by estrogenic activity and allergy potential.
At a Glance
- Best known for
- Relieves bloating, cramping and IBS symptoms (enteric-coated oil), Loosens phlegm and soothes cough (traditional expectorant), Reduces hot flash frequency in a small menopause trial
- Evidence
- Preliminary
- Typical dose
- 1–3 g crushed seed in 150 mL hot water, up to 3x daily
- Type
- Herb
What is Anise?
Anise (aniseed) is an annual herb native to the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia, cultivated since ancient Egypt for its intensely sweet, licorice-flavored seeds. It flavors ouzo, pastis, sambuca, raki, Italian biscotti and many cough syrups. Medicinally it belongs to the same family as fennel and caraway and shares their carminative use, but anise has a stronger tradition as an expectorant for coughs and bronchitis and as a flavoring to mask bitter medicines. It should not be confused with star anise (Illicium verum), a botanically unrelated spice with similar flavor.
Known Health Benefits
How It Works
Anethole relaxes gastrointestinal smooth muscle through calcium channel blockade and anticholinergic-like actions, reducing spasm and allowing gas to pass. In the airways, anise oil increases mucociliary clearance and thins secretions, and anethole has shown bronchodilator activity in animal tissue, which supports its expectorant use. Anethole is a weak estrogen receptor agonist and polymerizes in the body into compounds (dianethole, photoanethole) with stronger estrogenic effects, explaining the traditional galactagogue use and the menopause data. Anise oil also inhibits a range of bacteria and fungi, including Candida species, in laboratory studies, and anethole has anti-inflammatory activity via NF-κB inhibition in cells.
What Research Says
Human evidence for anise is limited but growing. A 2016 randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 120 IBS patients found enteric-coated anise oil capsules (200 mg three times daily for 4 weeks) significantly improved abdominal pain, bloating, reflux and quality of life compared with both placebo and peppermint oil. A small Iranian trial of 72 postmenopausal women found 330 mg anise extract three times daily reduced hot flash frequency and severity over 4 weeks. One trial of a multi-herb syrup containing anise improved cough, but anise alone has no modern cough trials. Several small studies report benefit in depression and dysmenorrhea when anise was part of combination products, which cannot be attributed to anise itself. Laboratory and animal work is extensive. Overall, the IBS trial is the most convincing single study; the rest is preliminary.
Active Compounds
Trans-anethole (80–95% of essential oil), estragole, anisaldehyde, coumarins, flavonoids, fixed oil
Forms & Bioavailability
Anethole is readily absorbed, with peak blood levels within 1–2 hours, and is largely metabolized and excreted in urine within 24 hours. Whole seeds release little oil; crush or grind them just before steeping. Enteric-coated capsules bypass the stomach to reduce belching and deliver oil to the intestine. Anise oil is also absorbed through skin, so topical use is not negligible.
Dosage Guidance
| Use Case | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Gas, bloating (tea) | 1–3 g crushed seed in 150 mL hot water, up to 3x daily |
| IBS | 200 mg enteric-coated anise oil 3x daily for 4 weeks |
| Cough / expectorant | 0.5–1 g crushed seed as tea 3x daily, or 0.05–0.2 mL essential oil in syrup |
| Menopausal hot flashes | 330 mg seed extract 3x daily |
Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dosing.
Natural Food Sources
- Aniseed (biscotti, pizzelle, springerle, Indian mukhwas)
- Anise-flavored spirits (ouzo, pastis, sambuca, raki, absinthe)
- Anise tea
- Flavoring in cough syrups, lozenges and toothpaste
Potential Side Effects
Generally safe in food amounts; allergic reactions (skin, respiratory) especially in those sensitive to Apiaceae or mugwort; essential oil may cause nausea, seizures or pulmonary edema if taken in large amounts; contact dermatitis
Who Should Avoid It
- Hormone-sensitive cancers or conditions (breast, uterine, ovarian cancer; endometriosis; fibroids)
- Allergy to Apiaceae plants or mugwort/birch pollen
- Infants and young children (essential oil; weak tea only with pediatric advice)
- Bleeding disorders or upcoming surgery (coumarin content)
- Epilepsy — anethole-rich oils have triggered seizures in overdose
Pregnancy & Lactation
Culinary amounts are fine in pregnancy. Medicinal doses and the essential oil should be avoided because of estrogenic activity and lack of safety data. Anise is a traditional galactagogue and moderate tea use while breastfeeding is common, but anethole passes into milk and reports of infant irritability and, with very heavy maternal intake, neurological symptoms exist, so limit to 1–2 cups daily.
Known Drug Interactions
May reduce effectiveness of tamoxifen and interact with oral contraceptives and hormone therapy (estrogenic); may slow blood clotting slightly (coumarins) — caution with anticoagulants; may enhance sedatives; may inhibit CYP enzymes at high doses
Evidence Classification
Based on in vitro studies, animal models, pilot trials, or traditional use documentation. Clinical evidence is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anise the same as star anise?
No. Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a small Mediterranean herb in the carrot family; star anise (Illicium verum) is an Asian evergreen tree. Both owe their flavor to anethole, but star anise is the industrial source of shikimic acid for the flu drug oseltamivir and has a toxic look-alike (Japanese star anise) that has contaminated teas. The evidence on this page refers to Pimpinella anisum only.
How did anise oil compare with peppermint oil for IBS?
In the one head-to-head trial, enteric-coated anise oil outperformed both placebo and a peppermint oil comparison on overall IBS severity and quality of life after 4 weeks. Peppermint oil has far more trials overall, so it remains the better-established option, but anise oil is a reasonable alternative for people who get heartburn from peppermint.
Can anise help with a cough?
Anise is a traditional expectorant and appears in many European cough syrups, often with thyme or ivy leaf. Animal studies support its ability to thin mucus and relax airways, but there are no controlled trials of anise alone for cough in humans. It is a pleasant, low-risk addition to a cough tea rather than a proven therapy.
Does anise have estrogen-like effects I should worry about?
Yes, mildly. Anethole and its polymers act as weak estrogens, which is why anise has been studied for hot flashes and used as a galactagogue. For most people, food amounts are irrelevant. If you have an estrogen-sensitive condition or take tamoxifen, avoid concentrated anise extracts and essential oil.
References
- Efficacy and safety of enteric coated capsules of anise oil to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Mosaffa-Jahromi M, Lankarani KB, Pasalar M, Afsharypuor S, Tamaddon AM. J Ethnopharmacol (2016)
- Review of Pharmacological Properties and Chemical Constituents of Pimpinella anisum. Shojaii A, Abdollahi Fard M. ISRN Pharm (2012)
- The effect of anise (Pimpinella anisum) on hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Nahidi F, Kariman N, Simbar M, Mojab F. Iran J Pharm Res (2012)
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This entry is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement regimen, especially if you take medications or have health conditions.