What are the functions and benefits of fennel seeds?
Under normal circumstances, the effects and benefits of fennel seeds include warming the kidneys and spleen, promoting qi circulation to relieve pain, regulating qi to harmonize the stomach, moistening the intestines to relieve constipation, and nourishing the kidneys to enhance yang energy. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Warm the kidneys and spleen: Fennel seeds are warm in nature and can warm the kidneys and spleen. They can help regulate cold symptoms caused by kidney and spleen yang deficiency, such as cold intolerance, cold limbs, and abdominal cold pain, thus improving visceral cold conditions.
2. Promote qi circulation and relieve pain: Fennel seeds can help unblock the body's qi flow and alleviate pain caused by qi stagnation, such as hernia pain and abdominal distension pain, thus reducing discomfort by regulating qi circulation.
3. Regulate qi and harmonize the stomach: Fennel seeds can regulate gastrointestinal qi and improve symptoms caused by disharmony of stomach qi, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric fullness, making the functions of the stomach and spleen more coordinated.
4. Moisturize the intestines and relieve constipation: Certain components in fennel seeds can promote intestinal peristalsis, helping to alleviate constipation caused by intestinal dryness, keeping the intestines unobstructed, and reducing difficulty in defecation.
5. Nourish the kidneys and enhance yang energy: In traditional use, fennel seeds help replenish kidney yang. They may have an auxiliary effect on improving symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the waist and knees and diminished sexual function caused by kidney yang deficiency.
Fennel seeds may interact with certain medications, such as anticoagulants and blood pressure-lowering drugs. During medication use, if fennel seeds are needed, it is best to consult a physician or pharmacist first.