Star anise or Chinese badian: characteristics, properties and how to take it

Star anise or badian from China: characteristics and flavor

He star anise (Illicium verum) grows wild in southeast China –in the Kwangsi area–, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Western Ghats area, in India. It is an evergreen tree of modest size, up to 4 meters high, with lanceolate leaves, beautiful white or yellow flowerslonely, and fruits in a hard capsule with six or twelve carpels joined at one end, which gives them their characteristic shape.

One of the jewels of any herbalist are the star shaped fruits of the star anise, also known as Chinese anise or Chinese badian. These fruits have a aniseed flavor even more intense than aniseedwith which it is not related, and they are used in many herbal teas to improve their flavor, although they also have great therapeutic virtues.

Not to be confused with green anise, another plant with digestive properties that is often used as an infusion to eliminate gas.

Star anise medicinal properties

Star anise contains in the fruits a essential oil composed by anethole (in 85%), cineol, estragole and linaloolnext to shikimic acid. This composition makes it highly recommended to prevent and treat various problems, especially digestive.

It is considered an aperitif and carminative, so it facilitates digestion and improves gasesdiarrhea, stomach pains, gastrointestinal spasms and vomiting It is also a good remedy to eliminate bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth. It is also considered antispasmodic, expectorant, diuretic and galactogenic. Like the green anise, recommended for lactating mothers to favor the production of milk. Recent investigations try to demonstrate its antimicrobial action (antiviral, antifungal and above all antibacterial), attributable in part to anethole, to combat Staphylococcus aureus and the Escherizia coli. Shikimic acid extract is one of the components of the drug Tamiflu.

How to take star anise

Nuts are used in infusion or in the form of tincture, liquid extract and capsules. With star anise we can prepare various Natural medicine:

Star anise tea for herpes simplex

A tea can be prepared by combining the star anise with calaguala root and valerian.

How is it prepared: Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per half liter of water for 8 minutes, let it rest overnight and it is taken the next day.

Infusion of star anise to lose weight

It is combined with orthosiphon, birch, fucus and frangulain equal parts.

How is it prepared: A tablespoon of the mixture is infused per cup of water for 10 minutes and taken two glasses a day, fasting.

Tea for gastric and urinary infections

An antibacterial formula is composed by combining star anise in equal parts with cardamom, bay leaf and licorice.

How is it prepared: Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water for 2 minutes, let it rest for 10 and take it after meals.

Infusion of star anise against gas and flatulence

In this digestive infusion, star anise is combined with various umbelliferous plants and enhances its carminative power. This herbal tea also reduces abdominal swelling.

How is it prepared: Mix the star anise in equal parts with green anise, caraway and fennel. A tablespoon of this mixture is enough for a quarter of a liter of water. The mixture is boiled in water for two minutes, allowed to settle, strained and taken after meals.

Contraindications of star anise

In the absence of studies that guarantee its safety, it is not recommended in the pregnancy and in the hyperestrogenism. High doses of the pure essential oil can be toxic. It should not be combined with medications either. that may increase the risk of bleeding, such as aspirin.

Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”