Teas for Gas and Bloating: Fennel, Caraway, Anise and Blends
Fennel, caraway, anise and chamomile teas for gas and bloating: what EU regulators say, what research tested, why babies need a clinician first, and allergy and blend cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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What research shows, and which form was tested
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do fennel, caraway or anise teas relieve gas or bloating in adults? | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for "fennel tea", "anise tea" and "caraway tea" and screened the titles returned. None was a human trial of these teas for bloating. | None | n/a |
| How does fennel tea act on stomach muscle? | In guinea pig stomach tissue, fennel tea relaxed one part and increased contractions in another. [8] | Preclinical (animal tissue) | Freshly brewed fennel tea on muscle strips in an organ bath [8] |
| Herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia (upper-gut discomfort) | A Cochrane review of 41 trials of 27 herbal medicines found some that may help, on moderate to very low certainty. [9] For Pimpinella anisum it listed one study of 107 participants, low certainty. [9] | Promising but limited | The anise trial gave anise powder, 3 g after each meal, to 47 people and corn-starch powder to 60. This was not tea. [10] |
| Peppermint plus caraway oil for dyspepsia | The same review judged that peppermint and caraway oil probably gave a large improvement in global symptoms over placebo at four weeks. [9] | Promising but limited | An oil combination, not tea. Do not read this as a result for caraway tea. |
Infant colic: what the pediatric sources say
The sources disagree, and the studies they describe are small.- Official advice (NHS): colic is when a baby cries a lot with no obvious cause. Herbal remedies are not recommended and "there's no evidence they help colic". [1] A weak or high-pitched cry is on the NHS list of signs needing urgent care. [1]
- Systematic reviews of trials: a 2011 review of 15 randomized trials found "encouraging results" for fennel extract and mixed herbal tea, but said all trials had major limitations and the evidence did not support any such treatment. [11] A 2017 review of herbal medicines for children's gut conditions found evidence for fennel preparations (oil, tea, herbal compound) in infant colic, from few studies. It reported no serious adverse events and urged careful interpretation. [12]
- One trial, one form: a randomized trial of 125 infants gave a fennel seed oil emulsion or placebo. Colic was eliminated by the trial's criteria in 65% versus 23.7%. [13] That is not a result for fennel tea.
- Our label: mixed. The reviews are mildly encouraging about fennel but call the studies weak, and the NHS says no evidence supports herbal remedies.
- Limits in the EU monographs: the fennel monograph does not recommend fennel tea under 4 years. [2] For chamomile tea, oral use under 6 months has not been established. [3]
- Estragole: fennel contains estragole. In an analysis of 42 fennel teas on the Austrian market, estimated daily exposure for infants was very wide, and some margins of exposure fell below the level the authors used to flag potential risk. The authors noted that fennel teas are usually drunk only briefly. [14]
A baby with colic should be seen by a clinician. Your health visitor, pediatrician or other clinician can rule out other causes of crying and suggest what to do.
Blends: what to watch
- Combined cautions: a chamomile and fennel blend brings both families' allergy cautions. [3][2]
- Lactation teas: LactMed also reports raised liver enzymes in a woman taking a branded breastfeeding tea that contains fennel. [6] Fennel can also cause allergic reactions affecting the respiratory system or skin. [6]
- What is in the cup: blends can list "natural flavors" or proprietary mixes. See Herbal Tea Blends and What Labels Hide.
Frequently asked questions
Does fennel tea relieve gas and bloating?
The EU monograph accepts this as a traditional use, based on long-standing use rather than trials. [2] We did not find a human trial of the tea for bloating, so evidence for the tea itself is Proper evidence not found. Lab work on animal stomach tissue is preclinical. [8]
Can I give fennel or chamomile tea to a baby with colic?
Ask a pediatrician first. The NHS says herbal remedies are not recommended for colic. [1] The EU monograph does not recommend fennel tea under 4 years, and oral chamomile tea under 6 months is not established. [2][3]
Who should avoid these teas?
People allergic to the carrot or daisy families, to anethole, or to mugwort pollen, per the EU monographs. [2][3] The fennel, caraway and anise monographs do not recommend them in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [2][4][5]
Is it safe to drink these teas every day?
The fennel and anise monographs say adults should not take them for more than 2 weeks. [2][5] Longer-term safety is not described in the sources we read.
Is a breastfeeding blend with fennel and anise safe?
Not necessarily. LactMed reports toxicity in two breastfed newborns after excessive maternal use of a tea containing fennel, anise and other herbs. [6] Ask a clinician; see Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety first
- Babies: an NHS page on colic says herbal remedies are not recommended and there is "no evidence they help colic". It advises speaking to a health visitor. [1] Do not give a herbal tea to a baby without asking a pediatrician or other clinician first. See also Children and Teens.
- Allergy: fennel, caraway and anise belong to the carrot family (Apiaceae), and chamomile to the daisy family (Asteraceae). The EU monographs list allergy to these families as a reason not to use them. [2][3] See Herbal Allergy and Cross-Reactivity.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the EU monographs for fennel, caraway and anise say use is not recommended because of insufficient data. [2][4][5]
- Blends: LactMed, a US National Library of Medicine database on drugs and breastfeeding, reports toxicity in two breastfed newborns after a mother's excessive use of an herbal tea containing fennel, anise and other herbs. [6]
What the teas are and what regulators say
This page covers the tea as a drink. Plant profiles are in Fennel, Caraway, Anise and Chamomile. Single-herb tea pages are Fennel Tea and Chamomile Tea.
The EU herbal medicines committee (HMPC) describes each plant's use for gas and bloating as traditional use. The fennel monograph says the product is for use in these indications "exclusively based upon long-standing use". That is a regulatory category, not proof from trials. [2]
| Tea | Plant and part (GBIF accepted name) | What the EU monograph says it is traditionally used for | Notable cautions in the monograph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare Mill.; the dry fruit (LactMed calls these seeds) [7][2][6] | Symptomatic treatment of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence [2] | Adults: not to be taken for more than 2 weeks. Children under 4 not recommended; ages 4 to 12 limited by an estragole guidance value. [2] |
| Caraway | Carum carvi L.; the fruit [7][4] | Symptomatic relief of digestive disorders such as bloating and flatulence [4] | Use is not recommended in liver disease, gallstones and other biliary disorders. [4] |
| Anise (aniseed) | Pimpinella anisum L.; the fruit, called aniseed [7][5] | Mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence [5] | Not to be taken for more than two weeks; under 12 not recommended. [5] |
| Chamomile | Matricaria chamomilla L. (the monograph uses the synonym M. recutita); the flower [7][3] | Minor gastrointestinal complaints such as bloating and minor spasms [3] | Oral use of the tea under 6 months of age has not been established. [3] |
Tea amounts in these monographs are regulatory descriptions, not advice. See EU Monograph Tea Amounts.
Other cautions
- Medicines: the fennel, caraway and anise monographs report no interactions. [2][4] "None reported" is not the same as "none exist". The chamomile monograph notes CYP450-related interactions reported in people after a kidney transplant taking high amounts for about two months. [3] See How Interactions Work and ask a pharmacist.
- Liver: the caraway monograph does not recommend use in liver disease. [4] See Liver Safety.
- Side effects: caraway is usually well tolerated, with mainly stomach side effects such as heartburn and nausea. [15]
- When to see a clinician: the caraway monograph says to consult a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks. [4] Persistent bloating needs a medical check; see Bloating and Gas and Digestive Symptoms: Red Flags. Teas for digestion in general are compared in Herbal Tea for Digestion and Bloating.
References
- NHS (UK). Colic. Page last reviewed 26 April 2022. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce, fructus, EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016, Final Revision 1, 31 January 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Matricaria recutita L., flos, EMA/HMPC/55843/2011, Final, 7 July 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Carum carvi L., fructus, EMA/HMPC/715092/2013, Final, 7 July 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Pimpinella anisum L., fructus, EMA/HMPC/321184/2012, Final, 12 November 2013. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Library of Medicine. Fennel. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), 2006 (record read through PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match service (same service queried for each plant named on these pages: Mentha spicata, Foeniculum vulgare, Carum carvi, Pimpinella anisum, Althaea officinalis, Ulmus rubra, Malva sylvestris, Zingiber officinale, Citrus limon, Matricaria chamomilla). Read 2026-10-23.
- Fennel Tea Has a Region-Specific Effect on the Motility of the Stomach. Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 2025 (guinea pig tissue study). Read 2026-10-23.
- Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Pimpinella anisum in the treatment of functional dyspepsia: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- Perry R, et al. Nutritional supplements and other complementary medicines for infantile colic: a systematic review. Pediatrics, 2011. Read 2026-10-23.
- Herbal Medicines for Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics, 2017. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2003. Read 2026-10-23.
- Levels of estragole in fennel teas marketed in Austria and assessment of dietary exposure. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2017. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Library of Medicine. Caraway. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), 2006 (record read through PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.