Anise stellato

Plant description

Extracted by steam distillation from the fruits (stellette) dried of Illicium verum Hook.f. (anise stellato, badiane, star anise), small evergreen tree of the Schisandraceae native of the China southern (Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan) and of the Vietnam northern, cultivated from millenni as spice fundamental in the medicina traditional Chinese and in the cucine asiatic. L'anise stellato and notorialy the main fonte industrial of acid shikimic, the materia first for the sintesi enzimatic of the oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the farmaco antiinfluenzal of riferimento. The phytochemical profile is dominated by trans-anethole (80-95%), the main responsible of the characteristic aroma anisato, with foeniculina, anisaldeide and limonene in traces. The trans-anethole has documented properties estrogenic (debole fitoestrogeno), antispasmodic on the muscolatura liscia gastrointestinal, powerful carminative and anti-inflammatory. Studies recenti document also activity antiviral diretta against flu TO and B. In aromatherapy and used as antispasmodic and carminative digestive powerful, antitussive and broncodilatatore sweet, secretolitic for the mucous membranes respiratory. Contraindicated during pregnancy, children small and epilepsy. Photosensitizing to concentrations high. Top note sweet, anisata and warm.

Origin

China

Part used

Fruits fresh or parzially dried

Extraction method

Steam distillation

Main uses

Digestive and antispastic, the essential oil of anise stellato esercita benefic effects on the disorders of the system gastrointestinal.
Promotes the regolarity intestinal and the espulsione of the gas addominal.
IS effective against the alitous.
Blandamente sedative, is useful for counteract the diarrea of origin nervous.
Grazie to the sue anti-inflammatory properties and emollient, is used in the care of the conditions respiratory.
Has astringent properties, utili for the care of skin and hair grassi.

Recipes & blends

Antispasmodic digestive powerful

3 drops Anise stellato + 2 drops Fennel + 2 drops Cardamom in 15 ml of almond oil. For colic, spasms gastrointestinal and sindrome of the irritable bowel with gonfiore.

Expectorant and broncodilatatore

3 drops Anise stellato + 3 drops Eucalyptus radiata + 2 drops Thyme white in the diffuser. L'anethole has activity broncodilatatrice and expectorant documented for the cough spasmodic.

Carminativo post-prandial

3 drops Anise stellato + 2 drops Coriander + 1 drop Ginger in 10 ml of almond oil. Massage on the abdomen after the pasti for the bloating and the flatulenza ostinata.

Emmenagogue menstrual cycle

2 drops Anise stellato + 2 drops Sage + 2 drops Geranium in the diffuser. L'anethole has action estrogenic: regulates the menstrual cycle and relieves the premenstrual syndrome. Not during pregnancy.

Blend culinario oriental diffuser

3 drops Anise stellato + 2 drops Cinnamon + 1 drop Clove of clove in the diffuser. Evokes the kitchen Chinese and the speziatura oriental with a fragrance warm and enveloping.

Harmonization

Blends well with:

Lavanda Bergamotto Arancio dolce Ylang Ylang Finocchio dolce Cardamomo Zenzero

Contraindications

Nonostante the high content of anethole, to differenza of the anise green, not irritates the skin. In doses high has effects narcotic, rallenta the circulation and may cause disorders cerebral. Use with moderation.