Star Anise

Buy Star Anise
Buy Star Anise Essential Oil

Scientific Name:  Illicium verum


Parts Used:  Pods (fruit)


Cautions:

• Avoid if pregnant or nursing.

Healing Properties

• Relieves gas, cramping (including menstrual cramps), bloating and indigestion, as well as colic in babies.
• Used in traditional Chinese medicine for clearing mucus from the respiratory tract
• Fights influenza, bronchitis, respiratory tract infections, coughs, flu.
• Wards off viral, bacterial and fungal infections including Hepatitis B., Herpes simplex 1, HIV, Stept bacteria, Epstein-Barr virus and more.
• Can increase sex drive as well as boost heart health and regulate blood sugar.

How to Use: 

• Add full pod to cooking, or grind it and add to food or beverages.
• Can be taken in store-bought capsule or extract form.
• Tea/Infusion (best consumed immediately, but can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours):
  • Cover 2-3 pods with 1 cup boiling water.  Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain & drink.
• Essential oils: Apply externally, or add 1-2 drops to drinks or directly on tongue.
• Syrup (Can be stored longer - up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or frozen indefinitely): 
  • Make 2 cups of the tea.  Add to cast iron or stainless-steel pan.  Add 2 cups sugar or honey and heat the mixture on med-low heat until the sugar/honey is dissolved and it thickens into a light syrup.  Remove from heat and let it cool.  Store in a glass bottle (cork top, not screw, because syrups can ferment and explode if sealed too tightly).  Take in 1-2 teaspoon doses every 3-4 hours. 
• Tincture (Can be stored longer - generally last for 2+ years and some say potency increases with age):
  • Add 2 cups water to 1 quart of vodka or rum that is approximately 37.5% alcohol).  Put this in a clean bottle, clearly labeled (not all will be used for the tincture and you can use the remaining for additional batches).  Put 1/4 pound of dried herb (or 3/4 pound fresh) into a large wide-mouthed glass jar.  Add 2 cups of the diluted alcohol mixture to the jar, screw lid on tight and shake well.  Leave jar in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, shaking well every couple of days.  After 2 weeks, strain the mixture and store the liquid in a clean, dark glass bottle.  Add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon tincture to juice or warm water  3-4 times daily.  
• Steam Inhalation: 
  • ​Put a large handful of fresh herbs, 1.5 Tablespoons dried herb, or up to 10 drops essential oil  into a large bowl.  Add 2 cups boiling water.  Lean over the bowl and cover your head completely with a towel.  Inhale steam for 10 minutes (or as long as you feel comfortable).   Make sure to stay in a warm room for 30 minutes after to allow your airways to return to normal.  
• Oil Infusions (Can be stored longer - generally will last for at least a year, often longer): 
  • Hot Infusion:  Use a large double boiler.  Fill lower pan with water and put 1/4 pound dried herb (or 1/3 pound fresh) and 2 cups of base oil (sunflower or similar) to the top pan.  Heat on medium-low heat for 3 hours (check water level of bottom pan often and add boiling water as needed). Strain the oil into a pitcher.  Cool completely, then pour oil into glass bottles and store in a cool dark place.
  • Cold Infusion: Pack a medium sized jar with dried or fresh herb (1 inch from the top).  Cover herb with safflower or walnut oil.  Leave the jar in a sunny indoor location for at least 3 weeks.  Strain the mixture and repeat process again using more herb and the oil from the first infusion.  Leave it in a sunny indoor location again for an additional 2-3 weeks.  Strain the oil again, place in glass bottles and store in a cool dark place. 

Grow  It/Harvest It Yourself: 

• Buy Star Anise Seed
• The star anise tree takes at least 6 years to fruit if grown from seeds. Fruits are picked unripe while they are still green, then sun-dried until their color changes to reddish-brown.
• Zone: 9-11
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
• Humus, compost rich soil that is loamy and well drained
• Part sun to partial shade

*I am not a doctor.  The information on this platform is not a claim to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any illness.  These remedies are intended to aid the healing process within your body (in correlation with existing traditional treatments).  Please talk to your family doctor before trying any natural remedies (especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on prescription medication).  ​