Wild fennel essential oil : properties, uses in aromatherapy, benefits for massages and skin care. Where to find it and how to make the most of it for personal care.
The fennel is one of the ‘plant of the same family anise and coriander ( Umbelliferae ), and just like anise and coriander includes a good number of properties beneficial and shows off a pleasant aromatic scent.
Wild fennel, botanically known as Foeniculum vulgare, is a plant that grows in many parts of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean of which it is native. Although it is a spontaneous plant, its cultivation is very widespread due to the many applications in the herbal field. Wild fennel is also used in herbal medicine and aromatherapy through the use of its essential oil .
The essential oil of fennel is extracted through a distillation process in a vapor stream using its ground seeds.
Wild fennel essential oil: recommended uses
The essential oil of fennel is known as a tonic for the skin thanks to wraps and massages, can help improve the appearance and health of skin nourishing deep.
Fennel essential oil packs are used to soothe bags under the eyes.
In aromatherapy, this essential oil is considered useful in improving mood: it is possible to diffuse it in the bedroom in difficult times to increase fortitude.
Not only to improve mood: its stimulating properties – exercised on the central nervous system – can make thinking more fluid; for this reason, in aromatherapy, it is recommended during meditation, especially for people who tend to ruminate or with obsessive thoughts.
To aid digestion 3 drops can be added to a tablespoon of carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil or a simple olive oil). This ointment can be used to massage the stomach and belly, it promotes digestion and counteracts aerophagia and bloating.
To take a restorative bath that improves blood circulation, 10 drops of this essential oil can be added to a warm water bath. Emulsify the essential oil with coarse salt: add the drops on the coarse salt and then dissolve it in water, shaking with your hands.
For a relaxing bath, after an intense workout in the gym that has caused muscle fatigue, designed legs or even contractures, you can take advantage of the properties of fennel essential oil by emulsifying it with epsom salts, rich in magnesium, very useful for muscle pain.
Wild fennel essential oil : properties and active ingredients
Wild fennel essential oil is rich in anethole (up to 50 – 60%). It has other active ingredients such as tarragon, phencone and fellandrene. It is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids useful for nourishing the skin.
Its aromatic compounds give the fennel essential oil a herbaceous, sweet and anise-like scent.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, this essential oil has digestive, diuretic, expectorant, emmenegogic, tonic, stimulant properties… it can help counteract water retention and disorders related to menopause.
Against bronchial catarrh, the expectorant properties of this essential oil can be useful: do a chest massage or inhalation with fumigations. Against acute cough and winter ailments, it has an antispasmodic action, also useful in case of asthma and colds.
Contrasts water retention by carrying out a decongestant action on the lymphatic system. It is an excellent diuretic: to counteract cellulite you can use it for draining massages, diluted in a carrier oil such as borage or avocado oil .
Thanks to the presence of phytosterols, it facilitates menstrual flow by exerting an estrogen-like action. For the same reason, the vaporization of this essential oil, in aromatherapy, is recommended to soothe the ailments caused by menopause.
Fennel essential oil : where to buy it
This essential oil can be bought in the most well-stocked herbalist’s shops or by taking advantage of the online purchase.
Whichever product you choose, be sure to buy 100% pure, undiluted essential oil. It will be you, at home, to make the most appropriate dilutions based on the use you want to make of it.
