For a long time, I paid very little attention to the world of natural products. I was convinced that they could be comparable to things like astrology, ouija boards and a lot of the new age stuff that seems to have flooded the market in recent times. I’ve always considered myself to be skeptical about nature and I will always question something before I try it, preferring to do my research and ask for opinions before diving in head first. It wasn’t until a close friend of mine gifted me with a vial of pure sweet fennel essential oil that I realized how effective natural products could be. By researching more effective ways to utilize the oil in my day to day life I could actually treat and even prevent most of the common ailments that affect us on a regular basis. Since then, I’ve not only become hooked on sweet fennel essential oil specifically, but a wide range of other natural products including essential oils, herbal shampoos, a huge collection of herbs and spices. I suppose the main point that convinced me to reconsider the naturopathic route was when I started looking into the various effects and hazards that were associated with the pharmaceutical forms of medication and most of the common household products that we use everyday. It’s enough to make your eyes pop out! It was then that I realized, this went far beyond some new age agenda or ‘hippy-like’ lifestyle, but it was actually rooted in bone dry science and could be linked to a greater, overarching societal issue – ignorance. While it may be true that a lot of the conventional products and medications that we use on a regular basis are often highly effective at achieving what they claim to do or at treating the symptoms of various illnesses or diseases, they come at a high price on the quality of our health. When you take a step or two back and try to get an idea of the bigger picture, you can easily be overwhelmed by how large this problem has become. The issue with modern medicine is that it tends to view illness and disease ‘under a microscope’ (both literally and figuratively). It doesn’t always factor in the variables that may be causing a particular illness within the greater scope of society. When you understand that we are willingly exposing ourselves to a barrage of seriously potent and harmful chemicals on an almost daily basis, coupled with the stress of a fast-paced consumer lifestyle and the demands to constantly improve ourselves as a means of keeping up, it’s a bit easier to understand why we are getting sick. That’s why we are finding ways to prevent illness or disease from occurring (not entirely, just less or in a less fatal/drastic form) in the first place. I’ve found that natural products and meditation have helped me keep a clean bill of health for longer periods of time than when I relied on pharmaceutical drugs to do the job. Sweet fennel essential oil has become one of the most prized ‘weapons’ in my arsenal. If you aren’t already living a natural lifestyle – the time to change is now.
What is Sweet Fennel Essential Oil? Where Does It Come From?
Sweet Fennel essential oil is derived from the seeds of the plant
Sweet Fennel essential oil is derived from the seeds of the plant which are crushed and then added to a steam-based distillation mechanism. In this process, the crushed seeds are added to a vat which is filled with boiling water and left to cook or stew for around 5-6 hours. The heat causes steam to form which then extracts the essential oils from the organic matter through the process of evaporation. The steam is then directed through a small pipe to a separate cooling chamber where it gathers and condenses in the cooler temperatures to form liquid droplets. These liquid droplets gather at the base of the chamber where they form the final product that we know as essential oil. The steam distillation process has been around for centuries and is still widely regarded as one of the best means of producing essential oils due to the fact that it produces the clearest form of the oil, free of any bacterial or chemical impurities. Essential oil produced in this method is the best for medicinal use (both topically and internally) as it’s highly concentrated and therefore more effective, cleaner and safer. Sweet Fennel has a long and rich history as a herb and has been used in ancient healing practices and religious ceremonies for thousands of years. The herb is native to the southern parts of Europe and the Mediterranean and played an important part in ancient Greek, Roman and even Egyptian societies. Sweet Fennel was used for both culinary purposes (as a spice to flavor dishes both savory and sweet) as well as in ancient medicine as a treatment for coughs, fevers, wounds, snake and insect bites and treating pain. It was also thought to ward off evil spirits and was frequently hung on the doors of medieval homes and was also included in ancient recipes for perfumes and soaps. It’s no surprise that Sweet Fennel is still such a popular herb in modern times and it’s use in both the culinary world and in medicinal practices is still strong in many parts of the world. It is highly effective and totally safe – not to mention being absolutely delicious at the same time.
Sweet Fennel Essential Oil For Digestion & Weight Loss
Sweet fennel essential oil has been used in aperitif cocktails
In terms of its use for digestive issues and general weight loss, sweet fennel essential oil provides a variety of different benefits. These can be harnessed to help ease digestion and maximize your body’s ability to flush toxins and impurities (ultimately keeping you healthier for longer) as well as aiding in the weight loss process in a variety of ways. But first, digestion! It’s something that we generally tend to ignore or take for granted and, much like health in general, we only tend to notice something once it stops working or we fall ill. So by using sweet fennel essential oil on a regular basis, watching what you eat and taking note of your bowel movements you can actively work to prevent any serious issues from forming in the first place! That way, you can prevent the use of any potentially harmful medications or costly visits to the doctor or hospital. Sweet fennel essential oil has been used in aperitif cocktails or mixtures for a long time, both before and after a meal in order to stimulate the release of the digestive juices and allow for a smoother digestive process altogether. This also enables smoother bowel movements. The aperitif qualities of sweet fennel essential oil help to stimulate the intestinal peristaltic motion without adding to the bulk of the bowel and can help to cure constipation. At the same time, the oil helps to keep the stomach free of infections and ulcers with its tremendous antimicrobial qualities and maintains the normal secretion of digestive acids and bile in the stomach. It also helps to encourage the uptake of nutrients which means you can eat less and still get the same amount of nutrients in your daily diet. However, it’s very important that you dilute sweet fennel essential oil very well before using internally. Be sure to use a very small amount as it can upset your stomach or lead to other side effects when used in unsafe dosages. Generally though, I recommend that you stick to topical use, just to be on the safe side. Sweet fennel essential oil is also highly effective at stimulating urination which is a great way to ensure that you flush out all the unhealthy toxins found in your blood stream. It also acts as a detoxifier for the blood, keeping them free of toxins such as free radicals and preventing infection or unhealthy reactions within our bodies. Studies have also shown that the oil is effective in terms of killing off intestinal worms and their spores which can help to reduce appetite and therefore aid in the weight loss process. Obviously, weight loss is a process that takes time. No product (whether natural or pharmaceutical) will simply make you lose weight. The only way to lose weight is through eating a healthy and balanced diet and getting enough regular exercise, so keep this in mind when using sweet fennel essential oil for weight loss.
Sweet Fennel Essential Oil For Nursing & Lactation
It’s also very important to nurse as often as possible
While using sweet fennel and its essential oil can (and will) help to promote lactation, there are a few techniques and products that I would recommend using in order to increase the amount of milk that you create during the nursing process. When it comes to using sweet fennel, I would recommend keeping the essential oil for topical use, massaging it into your breasts in order to relieve any pain that may come from nursing and to stimulate the production of milk. However, the best (and tastiest) way to utilize this amazing herb is in the form of a tea. There are plenty of fennel tea blends out there – some are even specifically designed to help increase the amount of milk you create during lactation, plus they’re really delicious and easy to include in your diet. It’s also very important to nurse as often as possible and many seem to agree that nursing anywhere from 10 to 12 times within a 24 hour period is the best way to increase the flow of milk and its quality. I suppose practice makes perfect. Finally, I would highly recommend that you switch breasts often during the nursing process and don’t nurse on one breast for more that 2-3 minutes at a time. It’s also important to avoid pacifiers and bottles as often as possible and try and stay away from supplements, as these will all have a direct effect on how your child nurses.
Sweet Fennel Essential Oil For Acne, Scarring & More
The oil has tremendous antiseptic and antimicrobial qualities
While there are more effective essential oils and natural products for treating acne, scarring and general skin related issues, sweet fennel works rather well nonetheless. The oil has tremendous antiseptic and antimicrobial qualities which makes it ideal for topical application and can keep wounds clear of germs and bacteria ultimately providing you with an infection free area for healing to occur. Unlike synthetic or chemical based antiseptic treatments, sweet fennel doesn’t dry the skin out and shouldn’t cause adverse reaction on the surface of the skin. However, I would always recommend patch testing the oil on a small area of skin for a while before using it regularly to ensure that you don’t suffer from any allergies. The oil is also known for stimulating the blood flow and can help to draw blood to the affected area, ultimately allowing for a better healing process. It will allow the wound to clot more effectively and therefore heal a lot quicker. In terms of treating scars, these same natural cicatrisant properties of the oil will help to stimulate the growth of new skin cells and tissue, which can help to reduce the appearance of scars by replacing the affected area with new skin tissue. It’s also effective in treating stretch marks that may occur after weight loss or after pregnancy.
Can You Diffuse Sweet Fennel Essential Oil?
Simply add a few drops to a diffuser
The short answer to this is yes, you can. In fact, many recommend that diffusion is the best way to absorb the healing benefits of this oil internally as it’s less concentrated and will have less of a negative effect on your health and hormonal balance. To diffuse the oil, simply add a few drops to a diffuser, oil burner or in a bath/bowl of boiled water. By breathing in the steam, you introduce the essential oil to your body without running the risk of upsetting your stomach. It also has a calming effect which can help to relieve stress – one of the main causes of almost every health issue we know of today. Sweet fennel essential oil has a sweet, almost liquorice-like odor which blends well with other floral or citrusy scents such as bergamot, geranium, ylang ylang or jasmine essential oils and should always be diluted in a suitable carrier oil such as olive oil, vegetable oil or almond oil before being applied topically to the surface of the skin.
Sweet fennel essential oil is one of my favorites to use and I always have at least one vial of the stuff in my home – not to mention a collection of the seeds which I use for culinary purposes or for experimentation in DIY recipes. It’s the natural product that set me on my course towards leading a more holistic lifestyle and since then, I’ve never looked back. It makes a delicious addition (in small, diluted amounts) to various dishes or baking recipes and can work wonders on your skin. Sweet fennel essential oil is as effective as most of the conventional treatments that you’ll find on the market today (when used correctly and in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet and ensuring that you get enough exercise) and is a lot safer too. Most forms of alternative medicine will not only treat the health issue that you’re dealing with in specific, but will also improve the general quality of your health, which is the exact opposite of what we’ve come to expect from conventional treatments. No holistic home would be complete without sweet fennel essential oil in the kitchen cabinet – so be sure not to miss out on the health benefits waiting inside the vial.
