Botanical Index No. 978

Star Anise

illicium verum

Medicinal Actions

Allergenic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Bronchosecretolytic, Carminative, Digestive, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Expectorant, Fungicide, Insecticide, Lactagogue, Mutagenic, Pediculicide, Piscicide, Stimulant, Stomachic, Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Anemia Anorexia Arthrosis Bacteria Bronchosis Catarrh Cholecystosis Congestion Constipation Cough Cramp Dysentery Dyspepsia Enterosis Extrophy Favus Frigidity Fungus Gas Gastrosis Halitosis Hemopareisis Hernia Infection Insomnia Lumbago Morning Sickness Mycosis Nausea Otosis Pain Paralysis Parturition Respirosis Rheumatism Scabies Spasm Stomach Distress Toothache Water Retention

General Dosage

0.5–1 g powdered fruit; 0.5–1 g seed/cup tea; 3 g herb or equivalent of 0.3 g EO.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. None known at proper dosage. 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 neuro- logical toxic picture,” which must be considered in diagnosis. They advise against its use in infants. 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.

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