Star Anise (Illicium verum): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Star anise (Illicium verum) as a spice and traditional herb: one small mouthwash trial, and why star anise tea has caused seizures in infants, partly through toxic look-alike contamination.
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Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first: do not give star anise tea to infants. A report in the journal Pediatrics described 7 infants with adverse neurologic reactions after home-given star anise tea, and concluded that the tea should no longer be given to infants. [1] Many populations use star anise for infant colic, and the same authors found evidence that Chinese star anise had been contaminated with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is documented to cause neurologic and gastrointestinal toxicity. [1] Seizures, breathing trouble or unresponsiveness: call 911. Possible swallowing of a toxic plant: Poison Help 1-800-222-1222 (US). See plant and mushroom poisoning.
Overview
Star anise is the star-shaped fruit of Illicium verum Hook.fil., family Schisandraceae, also called Chinese star anise. [2][3] It is a spice and a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient. [3] It is a different plant from anise and from fennel. Its oil and shikimic acid are the two most widely studied components. [4]The toxic look-alike
Japanese star anise is Illicium anisatum L., a separate accepted species in the same family. [5] Its toxicity is attributed to neurotoxins (anisatin, neoanisatin and pseudoanisatin). [6] Reviews state that Chinese star anise is sometimes contaminated with it. [3][6] A Swiss case report found that the fruits look very similar, especially when broken or ground, so chemical analysis is usually needed to detect the substitution. [6] That is why this page offers no tips for telling them apart by eye, and why you should not gather or identify star anise yourself. See adulteration and substitution of herbs and toxic herbs and plant poisoning.Traditional use (not proof of benefit)
In traditional Chinese medicine, star anise fruit has long been used to dispel cold, regulate the flow of qi and relieve pain. [3] In many cultures it has been given as a tea for infant colic. [1] That traditional use is now associated with documented harm in infants.What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gum inflammation and mouth bacteria | A double-blind randomized crossover trial in 50 people compared an Illicium verum mouthwash with placebo, and the authors reported better gingival, bleeding and microbial measures. [7] | Promising but limited (one small trial, a specific mouthwash) | Mouthwash, adults |
| Influenza | Star anise is the major source of shikimic acid, a raw material for an antiviral flu medicine. [3] Proper evidence not found that star anise spice or tea itself prevents or treats flu (sources searched: PubMed reviews and trials). | Insufficient evidence | Spice, tea |
| Infant colic | Traditional use only; documented neurologic harm in infants. [1] | Evidence of harm | Tea, infants |
| Antimicrobial, antioxidant, sedative and other effects | Reviews describe activity in laboratory and animal studies. [3] | Preclinical (cells or animals) | Extracts, oil, compounds |
Forms and why the form matters
Star anise is sold whole, broken or ground, and broken or ground forms are harder to check. [6] Infants were harmed by tea. [1][6] The mouthwash in the trial is a specific preparation. [7] We give no preparation instructions.Safety
- Infants and children. Do not give star anise tea to infants. [1] A 2-month-old in the Swiss case had episodes of blue skin color and limb spasms after teas; the star anise fruit sample contained 7,800 µg/kg anisatin, against a Swiss maximum tolerance value of 1,000 µg/kg. [6] See children and teens.
- Overdose of the true spice. The Swiss authors warn that harm can come from overdose of Chinese star anise or from contamination of teas with the Japanese species. [6] They also note star anise is generally considered harmless, which is not always so. [6]
- Allergy. A case report links sensitization to star anise with celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome (an allergy pattern), in a patient who had anaphylaxis after a flu medicine. [8] See herbal allergy and cross-reactivity.
- Medicines, pregnancy and breastfeeding, liver and kidney, surgery. Not described in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist, and see pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Quality
The risk documented in the sources is substitution and contamination, which a consumer cannot see. [6] Where tea products are concerned, see product quality and contamination.Official statements
We could not read an FDA, EMA or Health Canada statement on star anise this session. The Pediatrics authors (not a regulator) called for stricter US import regulation of star anise. [1] The Swiss tolerance value cited above comes from the case report. [6]Frequently asked questions
Is star anise tea safe for a baby with colic?
No. A case series reported neurologic reactions in 7 infants, and the authors said the tea should no longer be given to infants. [1] Ask a pediatrician about colic.
Is star anise the same as Japanese star anise?
No. They are two species, Illicium verum and Illicium anisatum. [2][5] The Japanese species contains neurotoxins and has contaminated Chinese star anise products. [6]
Does star anise treat the flu?
Star anise is a source of shikimic acid for making a flu medicine, but we found no evidence that the spice or tea does the same. [3]
Can I cook with star anise?
The sources we read focus on teas and infants and give no cooking guidance. Quality and contamination are the documented concerns. [6]
Is star anise the same as anise?
No. See the anise page; they are different plants.
References
- Ize-Ludlow et al., Pediatrics 2004, neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea. PubMed 15492355. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Illicium verum Hook.fil.. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wang et al., J Ethnopharmacol 2011, Illicium verum: botany, traditional use, chemistry and pharmacology. PubMed 21549817. Read 2026-10-23.
- Zou et al., Molecules 2023, review of pharmacology, chemistry, traditional uses and quality control of star anise. PubMed 37959797. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Illicium anisatum L.. Read 2026-10-23.
- Perret et al., Arch Pediatr 2011, apparent life-threatening event in infants and star anise intoxication. PubMed 21652187. Read 2026-10-23.
- Assiry et al., Biomed Res Int 2021, Illicium verum mouthwash crossover trial. PubMed 34195261. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hirschfeld et al., Allergy 2008, case report title. PubMed 18186817. Read 2026-10-23.