Star Anise: Benefits & Uses

Star Anise Elixir  

Benefits & Uses
Star anise has a long history of use as a culinary and medicinal herb. In herbal medicine, it’s a carminative — meaning that it aids digestion by combating gas. It’s used to stimulate appetite, soothe indigestion, and fight flatulence.

Star anise is a major source of shikimic acid, a potent antiviral. This compound is a precursor to the pharmaceutical medication oseltamivir, better known as Tamiflu, used to treat and prevent influenza infections.

For this reason, it’s also often included in home remedies for teas to ease cold and flu symptoms.

The herb also contains the compound anethole, which is antifungal, and various antibacterial chemicals. Some studies have found that extracts of star anise are able to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Borrowed from Terravara.com