What is Anise Essential Oil?
Star anise comes from the Illicium verum, an evergreen tree with shiny leathery leaves, white to deep red flowers and star-shaped fruits.
The licorice-like smell and taste of the Illicium verum is very similar to the herb Anise (Pimpinella anisum), but they are not related.
Star anise contains large amounts of anethole, which makes the taste and aroma much more intense and powerful than that of the anise plant.
Anise Essential Oil is extracted by steam distillation of the fruits and seeds of the Illicium verum.
Where is it from?
The illicium verum originally comes from South China, but is now also grown in Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia and Laos, among others.
Fragrance description
The scent of Anise Essential Oil is often compared to that of licorice. It has a sweet, spicy, intensely powerful and licorice-like aroma.
Benefits of Anise Essential Oil
Calming
Anise Essential Oil has a positive effect on your state of mind. It helps to cheer you up and drive away gloomy thoughts and negative feelings.
The sweet aroma has a calming effect on anxiety and nervousness and promotes sleep and mental and physical health.
Cramp relief
Anise Essential Oil has strong antispasmodic properties. It relieves stomach and intestinal cramps and helps with abdominal and menstrual pain. In addition, it can also be useful for rheumatic complaints and lower back pain and has a soothing effect on bloating and flatulence due to gas formation.
Beneficial for respiratory complaints
Anise Essential Oil has an anti-inflammatory effect and is therefore often used in anti-flu remedies and cough syrups. It works as an expectorant for persistent coughs and widens the airways, allowing you to breathe more easily and freely.
Refreshes the breath
Due to its intense taste and aroma, Anise Essential Oil is often used as an additive to toothpastes and mouthwashes to treat bad breath.
It is a natural breath freshener that you can of course also add to your own toothpaste and mouthwash.
How do you use Anise Essential Oil?
In a diffuser
Add 3 drops of Anise Essential Oil, 2 drops of Pine Essential Oil and 4 drops of Orange Essential Oil to the water reservoir of a diffuser. Turn these on to dispel negative thoughts and improve your mood.
As fragrance sticks
Add 20 drops of Anise Essential Oil, 20 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil, 10 drops of Cinnamon and 30 ml of alcohol (90%) to 50 ml of base oil. Pour the liquid into a bottle and insert 6 to 8 bamboo sticks. Let stand for 30 minutes and then turn the sticks over.
As a skin oil for cramps and colds
Mix 5 drops of Anise Essential Oil, 8 drops of Fennel Essential Oil, 4 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil and 5 drops of Basil Essential Oil with 50 ml of base oil (e.g. Argan oil) and massage your abdomen with it for cramps.
Cold balm
Heat 25 grams of Organic Coconut Oil and 5 grams of beeswax in a bain-marie. Add 15 ml Argan oil and stir well. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Add 6 drops of Anise Essential Oil, 5 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, 5 drops of Fennel Essential Oil and 2 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil.
Let it cool until it hardens and apply to the chest for colds, flu and shortness of breath!
NB! Avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Do not use in combination with paracetamol. Can have an anesthetic effect at high doses and can slow blood circulation.
