General

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

Pronunciation:
an-is

Trade Name(s)

• anise seed
• sweet cumin
• Pimpinella anisum

Ther. Class.

expectorant

antiflatulent

antispasmodics

Common Uses

• PO Dyspepsia, flatulence
• Rhinorrhea
• PO Topical Lice, scabies, psoriasis

Action

The anethole component of anise is similar in structure to catecholamines and is likely responsible for its therapeutic effects of decreasing bloating and indigestion and as an antispasmodic. May also have estrogenic and insecticidal effects.

Therapeutic Effect(s):

Dyspepsia relief.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption:  PO: Unknown;  Topical: not absorbed systemically.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism and Excretion: Unknown.

Half-life: Unknown.

TIME/ACTION PROFILE

Contraindication/Precautions

Contraindicated in:

• Allergy to anise.

Use Cautiously in:

• OB:  Excessive use not recommended
• Hormone sensitive cancers/conditions (due to possible estrogenic effects).

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Derm: pruritus (topical use)

GI: Nausea, vomiting (toxic amounts of essential oil)

Neuro: SEIZURES (toxic amounts of essential oil)

Misc: Allergic reactions

* CAPITALS indicate life-threatening.
Underline indicate most frequent.

Interactions

Natural Drug Interaction

Excessive doses may interfere with  tamoxifen,  oral contraceptives, and  hormone  replacement therapy.

Natural-Natural:

None known.

Route/Dosage

PO (Adults): 0.5–1 gram of dried seed or 0.05–0.2 mL of essential oil 3 times daily.

Availability

Crude drug (seed) : ^OTC

Essential oil: ^OTC

Assessment

• Dyspepsia: Assess patient routinely for epigastric or abdominal pain and for frank or occult blood in stool, emesis, or gastric aspirate.
• Lice, Scabies, Psoriasis: Assess scalp for presence of lice and their ova (nits) prior to and 7–10 days after application.

Nausea, vomiting, seizures and pulmonary edema have been reported with ingestion of small quantities (1–5 mL) of anise oil. Pseudo-Conn's syndrome (hypermineralocorticism) has been associated with overdoses of anise oil. Treat supportively.

Implementation

• Store in a tightly sealed, light-resistant container at room temperature.
• PO Dilute anise oil in liquid prior to ingestion. Do not take anise oil undiluted.
• Topical Apply to dry scalp and hair and leave on hair 15 minutes. Wash with shampoo and comb to remove lice and nits. Repeat once after 7–10 days.

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patients not to ingest pure anise oil except under the supervision of a health care provider because of the risk of toxicity.
• Caution patients that anise oil should only be taken for temporary relief of epigastric symptoms, and that chronic use of this agent is not recommended. Toxicity has been noted with chronic, long-term use.
• Inform patients that studies have not confirmed any therapeutic effects in humans for this herbal remedy.
• Advise patients with persistent symptoms (e.g., cough, epigastric pain) to seek the advice of their health care provider and not to continue to self-medicate for a prolonged period of time (more than a week). Counsel patients with a productive cough accompanied by a fever to seek treatment from their health care provider before self-medicating with anise oil.
• Inform patients that epigastric pain accompanied by blood in the stool, black, tarry stools or other changes in bowel habits may indicate more serious health problems and to consult health care professional prior to self-medicating with anise oil.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

• Decrease in abdominal pain and/or heartburn.
• Resolution of lice, scabies, or psoriasis.