What is the most important information I should know about fennel?
Do not take fennel without first talking to your doctor if you have epilepsy or another
seizure disorder or if you take any medication to treat seizures. Fennel may increase the risk of seizures.
Fennel has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks
and/or advantages of fennel may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing
standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements
have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements
should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
What is fennel?
The use of fennel in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by
current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary
health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of
herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care
providers involved may be advantageous.
Fennel is also known as Foeniculum vulgare, large fennel, sweet fennel, wild fennel, fenkel,
bitter fennel, carosella, Florence fennel, finocchio, and garden fennel.
Fennel has been used to treat cough, bronchitis, stomach discomfort, flatulence, and sinus
congestion. Fennel has also been used to stimulate lactation.
Fennel has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks
and/or advantages of fennel may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing
standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements
have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements
should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Fennel may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using fennel?
Do not take fennel without first talking to your doctor if you have epilepsy or another
seizure disorder or if you take any medication to treat seizures. Fennel may increase the risk of seizures.
Before taking fennel, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have
allergies (especially to celery or other plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other
medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Fennel may not be recommended in some situations.
Do not take fennel without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant
or could become pregnant. It is not known whether fennel will harm an unborn baby.
Fennel has been used to stimulate lactation. Talk to your doctor or other health care
professional before taking fennel if you are breast-feeding a baby.
There is no information available regarding the use of fennel by children. Do not give any
herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
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