Home
Articles
Q&A

What is the medicinal value of fennel?

Jul 11, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
The main medicinal values of fennel include dispersing cold to relieve pain, regulating qi to harmonize the stomach, warming the kidneys and nourishing the liver, promoting blood circulation to alleviate pain, and expelling wind to remove dampness. The use of traditional Chinese herbs should follow medical advice. Although fennel has various medicinal benefits, its usage should adhere to the principle of moderation, as excessive intake may cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women and patients with specific medical conditions should consult a physician before use.

Generally speaking, the medicinal value of fennel mainly includes dispersing cold to relieve pain, regulating qi to harmonize the stomach, warming the kidneys and liver, promoting blood circulation to alleviate pain, and expelling wind and dampness. The use of traditional Chinese medicine should follow medical advice. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Dispersing Cold to Relieve Pain

Fennel has a warm nature and a pungent taste, and enters the kidney and bladder meridians. It can dispel cold pathogens from the body and alleviate cold abdominal pain and hernia pain caused by cold stagnation. Its pungent and warm properties help to unblock meridians affected by cold stagnation.

2. Regulating Qi and Harmonizing the Stomach

Fennel enters the spleen and stomach meridians. Its aromatic and pungent properties help regulate qi and relieve abdominal distension, poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting caused by stagnation of spleen and stomach qi, thereby promoting digestion by regulating the flow of qi in the spleen and stomach.

3. Warming the Kidneys and Liver

Fennel belongs to the liver and kidney meridians. Its warm nature can nourish yang energy in the liver and kidneys, helping to alleviate cold pain in the lower back and knees and infertility caused by cold deficiency in the liver and kidneys, thus warming and invigorating these organs and dispelling cold.

4. Promoting Blood Circulation to Relieve Pain

By dispersing cold pathogens and resolving qi stagnation, fennel can indirectly improve pain caused by cold-induced blood stasis or qi stagnation-related blood stasis, such as lower abdominal pain in women. However, its main mechanism is not directly promoting blood circulation but rather assisting in pain relief through its warming and penetrating properties.

5. Expelling Wind and Dampness

With its pungent and warm dispersing nature, fennel can expel wind and dampness from the body and provide some relief for conditions such as rheumatic pain and joint cold pain, especially for bi syndrome caused by cold-dampness. It alleviates discomfort by warming the meridians, dispersing cold, and removing dampness.

Although fennel has various medicinal benefits, its use should follow the principle of moderation, as excessive intake may cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women and patients with specific diseases should consult a doctor before use and avoid self-administering large doses.

Related Articles

View All
How much potassium does fennel contain?
Fresh fennel is high in water content and relatively low in potassium, containing approximately 200 to 250 mg per 100 grams. It has a tender, fresh taste and is suitable for use in cold salads or light stir-fries, providing a moderate amount of potassium to the body. Dried fennel, having undergone dehydration, has concentrated nutrients and a higher potassium content—reaching 280 to 300 mg per 100 grams—and is commonly used as a seasoning.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Can Fennel Seed Pill and Keteling be taken together?
In general, there is no clear contraindication for the combined use of Huaixiang Juhe Pills and Keteling, and they may be used together under a doctor's guidance according to the condition. However, it is important to take them at separate times and monitor bodily reactions; self-directed combination use is not recommended. When taking medications routinely, carefully read the instructions, record your physical condition after medication, avoid concurrent use with other drugs containing antihistamine ingredients, and ensure proper and effective medication use.
avatar
Dr. Lu Cheng
View Full Answer
What is the medicinal value of snow water?
In traditional belief, snowmelt water is thought to have effects such as clearing heat, relieving summer heat, alleviating dryness, assisting skin hydration, cleaning wounds, and soothing discomfort. However, modern medicine has not yet clinically confirmed its medicinal value, and hygiene and safety must be carefully considered. If physical discomfort occurs requiring medical treatment, or if any abnormalities arise after using snowmelt water, prompt medical attention is recommended.
avatar
Dr. Yang Ziqi
View Full Answer
Can Bidens pilosa treat appendicitis?
Bidens pilosa cannot treat appendicitis. Although it has a traditional medicinal value for clearing heat and detoxifying, there is no scientific evidence proving its effectiveness in eliminating inflammation of the appendix or controlling infection, nor can it replace standard medical treatments. If symptoms of appendicitis such as right lower abdominal pain and fever occur, immediate medical attention is recommended. Appendicitis is essentially a bacterial infection caused by obstruction of the appendix lumen.
avatar
Dr. Wang Lei
View Full Answer
What are the contraindications for drinking honeysuckle water?
Under normal circumstances, although honeysuckle water has certain medicinal value, it is not suitable for everyone. Precautions and contraindications should be observed when consuming it, including avoiding intake by individuals with deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach, those suffering from wind-cold type colds, pregnant women (who should use with caution), infants and young children, and patients with hypothyroidism. Additionally, even for suitable individuals, prolonged and excessive consumption of honeysuckle water should be avoided.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Which Three Types of People Should Avoid Eating Fennel?
Generally speaking, there is no established saying that specifies "which three types of people should not eat fennel." Individuals who should avoid consuming fennel mainly include those with sensitive gastrointestinal systems, those allergic to fennel, individuals with a hot body constitution, patients with eye conditions, and individuals with hyperthyroidism. In addition, infants and young children should also avoid eating fennel as their digestive systems are not yet fully developed, to prevent possible gastrointestinal discomfort.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Who should not eat fennel?
Fennel is a food with both medicinal and culinary uses. It has a warm nature and a pungent taste, and can warm the kidneys to dispel cold, harmonize the stomach, and regulate qi. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Generally, individuals with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat, those with weak spleen and stomach prone to diarrhea, people allergic to fennel, patients with eye diseases, and individuals with heat-related conditions should avoid consuming fennel to prevent exacerbating discomfort or triggering health issues.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Can fennel effectively treat constipation?
Fennel may help relieve mild constipation caused by intestinal Qi stagnation. Fennel is warm in nature and can promote intestinal motility, regulate Qi, and harmonize the stomach. If constipation is due to indigestion or slow intestinal motility and the symptoms are mild,适量 consumption of fennel, such as in porridge or cooked dishes, may help promote intestinal Qi circulation, improve difficult defecation, and provide auxiliary regulation.
avatar
Dr. Shen Yonghua
View Full Answer
彩牛养生

Your trusted source for health information and wellness guidance.

Quick Links

Resources

Connect

© 2024 HealthPortal. All rights reserved.