Aniseed or Anise Essential Oil

Aniseed oil, or anise oil, has tremendous skin and beauty benefits. Here are anise oil benefits, properties and uses.

Quick Glance at Aniseed Essential Oil

Pros: Aniseed oil is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, insecticidal, and relaxing.

Cons: Aniseed oil, if ingested, causes nausea, vomiting, and seizures.

Precautions: Never ingest this oil. And aniseed oil may interact with certain drugs so check with your doctor before using it.

Aniseed Essential Oil Properties

Here are the properties of aniseed (or anise) essential oil.

Name

The botanical name for anise is Pimpinella anisum.

You should know that anise and star anise aren't the same. Star anise is actually a spice with the botanical name: Illicium verum. Be sure to check these names before buying anise oil.

Color & Smell

Anise essential oil is colorless and has a strong licorice smell.

Components

About 48 compounds have been identified in anise oil. The main ones include: anethole (which makes up at least 60% of the oil), gamma-himachalene, limonene, p-allyl anethole, beta-selinene, and estragole.

Aniseed Essential Oil Benefits

Aniseed essential oil has amazing health and beauty benefits. Here are just a few.

1. Aniseed essential oil relaxes

Aniseed oil is a wonderful relaxant and can help you breathe better. A 2001 study proved these effects. The study tested the oil on constricted windpipes of guinea pigs. And the results showed aniseed acted as a muscle relaxant and bronchodilator.

That means aniseed is just like ajowan essential oil. So use these oils to feel more relaxed and help you breathe better.

2. It is anti-inflammatory

Aniseed oil is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. In fact, a 2006 study proved the oil has the same anti-inflammatory effects as indomethacin.

Now, you may know indomethacin is a prescription, anti-inflammatory drug used for pain, fever, headaches, arthritis and swelling. And aniseed oil is just as strong! So use aniseed oil to ease your aches and pains.

3. Aniseed oil is antioxidant

There are several studies (detailed in this review) proving the antioxidant effects of aniseed essential oil. In fact, researchers suggest aniseed is a potent free radical scavenging oil.

4. It is antibacterial

Aniseed is pretty powerful against bacteria. A 1999 study tested more than fifty essential oils on multi-drug resistant bacteria. The results showed aniseed oil was highly effective.

I mean, it wasn't as potent as lemongrass or bay essential oils, but it did show great antibacterial effects.

5. It's also antifungal

A 2012 study looked at the effects of seven essential oils (including clove, garlic and sweet orange) on four fungi species. And aniseed oil was one of the best!

6. Aniseed kills lice

A 2002 study tested a natural remedy containing aniseed oil on lice. The remedy (which contained aniseed and ylang ylang essential oils in a coconut oil carrier) was applied to children with lice. The results showed the essential oil mix was just as effective against lice as over-the-counter products. And there were no side effects!

So try this mix to keep lice away from your kids.

7. It kills other bugs too

There are quite a few studies proving aniseed's insecticidal properties. A 2014 one showed aniseed and its main compound, trans-anethole, were effective against mosquitoes and water fleas. The study went on to recommended aniseed as a possible botanical insecticide.

Another study (2004) showed aniseed oil was very effective against house dust mites. In fact, the oil was tested alongside benzyl benzoate and DEET. And guess what? Aniseed oil was far more potent than these synthetic, commercial insecticides.

The benefits of aniseed essential oil are awesome indeed!

Uses of Aniseed Essential Oil

You have seen the properties and benefits of aniseed oil. So now let's take a look at some uses of aniseed essential oil.

Inhaling

Add a few drops of aniseed essential oil to your diffuser for a nice licorice scent. It's also a great relaxer and a known bronchodilator. So use it to calm your nerves and ease your congestion, coughs and colds.

Aniseed oil also pairs well with spicy oils like caraway, cardamom, cedarwood and mandarin essential oils.

Massaging

Before applying aniseed oil to your skin, do a skin patch test. This test checks for allergies to the oil. If you are not allergic, then add 2-3 drops of the oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oils.

Also, before massaging the oil, make sure you are not using any of the drugs described below.

More Precautions

You really have to be careful with aniseed essential oil. You cannot ingest this oil at all! Taking in as little as one to five milliliters can cause nausea, vomiting, seizures and pulmonary edema. So you have to be cautious. And definitely keep out of the reach of kids and pets.

That's not the only major precaution for aniseed essential oil. A 2012 study showed that aniseed interacts with certain drugs. So if you use codeine, diazepam, midazolam, pentobarbital, imipramine and fluoxetine, you should not use aniseed oil as the essential oil can either increase or decrease certain effects the drugs have on your body and central nervous system.

This makes it even more important to check with your doctor before using aniseed essential oil.

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