Supplement
Fennel is an aromatic plant whose seeds are used as a spice and traditional remedy, and they contain anethole, a compound thought to ease gut muscle spasms and act a little like estrogen. People most often look at it for infant colic, where the evidence is moderate and some research found colic symptoms eased. For breast milk production the evidence is limited, so those findings are much less certain.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 5 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 0101
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Dysmenorrhea
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain Intensity Similar effectiveness to ibuprofen/mefenamic acid (meta-analysis SMD 0.07, no significant difference from drugs) | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 502 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant Growth No effect | NoneNo effect | 78 people |
Key findings
- Pain IntensityImproves (the measure goes down)
- Infant Growth
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Fennel products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
5 studies from PubMed
- Fennel for reducing pain in primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Foeniculum vulgare as valuable plant in management of women's health
- Effect of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Effect of fennel on pain intensity in dysmenorrhoea: a placebo-controlled trial
- Fennel and anise as estrogenic agents