Fennel Tea

Overview

Fennel tea is made from the dried fruit (often called seeds) of sweet fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce. [1]

What EU regulators concluded

The EU monograph describes sweet fennel fruit as a traditional herbal medicinal product for symptomatic treatment of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence, based on long-standing use. [1] In the EU, the herbal medicines committee (HMPC) accepts this kind of use as "traditional use": the effectiveness is considered plausible and the product has been used safely for at least 30 years (at least 15 within the EU), although clinical trial evidence is insufficient. That is a regulatory category, not proof from trials. [1]

What the EU monograph describes for the tea (not a recommendation)

For adults and adolescents it describes 1.5 g of the herb in 250 ml of boiling water, steeped for 15 minutes, 3 times daily (4.5 g a day), for no more than 2 weeks. The monograph also lists amounts for children aged 4 to 12 for short-term use only, and says use is not recommended in children under 4. [1] Because of the estragole concern below, ask a pediatrician before giving fennel tea to a child.

Safety

• Allergy: contraindicated in hypersensitivity to fennel, to plants of the Apiaceae family (aniseed, caraway, celery, coriander and dill), or to anethole, and in people with hypersensitivity to mugwort pollen because of cross-reactivity. Allergic reactions affecting the skin or the respiratory system may occur. [1]
• Estragole: use in children aged 4 to 12 is not recommended if the daily estragole intake exceeds the guidance value of 1.0 microgram per kg of body weight, unless justified by a risk assessment. [1] The monograph says exposure to estragole from fennel preparations should be considered. [1]
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: safety has not been established and use is not recommended; trans-anethole is excreted in human breast milk. [1]
• Interactions: none reported at the time of the monograph. [1]