Many of you have read my interview with Stephanie Fritz, licensed midwife and certified professional midwife.(If you haven’t, you can find it here.)
I spoke with her about the different types of infertility and the recommended essential oils (EOs) for each condition and she provided us with a blend that can be rubbed on the belly daily. Over this blog series I am going to give you a general overview of each of the oils in this wonderful blend.
Let’s start with Sweet Fennel.
Plants that have the ability to increase, stimulate and regulate certain hormones are known to be phytohormonal – which means that they contain plant hormones that mimic some of our own. Fennel is one of these plants.
The magic of fennel comes from the essential oil obtained from the crushed fennel seed and is packed with fertility-friendly plant estrogens.
Fennel is known as one of the most effective phytoestrogenic oils you can find. According to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, these estrogen-like plant compounds have a long history of use as a treatment for lactation problems, infertility and pregnancy complications.
What are some of the main benefits of this herb?
Fennel is considered to be an emmenagogue: an herb that stimulates menstrual flow.
Not only does it help to regulate your period, but it will also help to clear flow obstruction. It’s the perfect herb for use during the first part of your cycle to regulate menstruation and improve hormonal functioning.
Fennel has an antispasmodic property – which means it has a relaxing effect on nerves, muscles, intestines and the respiratory system.
Fennel can actually provide relief of menstrual cramps, mood swings, dizziness and headaches.
Fennel is great for our digestive system.
As a carminative and stomachic, it helps bring relief for indigestion, nausea, stomach and chest pain.It helps keep the stomach healthy.
It’s also a great laxative for both chronic and acute constipation and can be used regularly with no side effects.
Fennel Oil acts as an antiseptic and can protect wounds or incisions from becoming septic; something to keep in mind if you find yourself having general surgery … or a c-section.
And lastly, for this article at least, fennel is a galactogogue and can increase the amount of milk production in a lactating mother.
The milk also inherits some of the carminative and digestive properties and according to recent research conducted by the Department of Pediatrics at St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postdoctoral Education in Russia, fennel seed oil has been shown to protect infants from flatulence, indigestion and gas – – colic be gone!
A few words of caution:
There is an organic element in Fennel EOs called Trans Anethole that boosts the production of the estrogen hormone. Although this is beneficial for lactating mothers, it is harmful for pregnant women – so this oil is not safe to use during pregnancy.
You should also avoid this oil if you have a history of seizures or are allergic to plants such as celery, carrot and mugwort. Fennel can also make skin extra sensitive to sunlight, so wear sun protection if you are light-skinned.
When looking to purchase this oil, you may run across common naming variations such as Florence Fennel, Large Fennel, Sweet Fennel, Wild Fennel, Large Cumin, Sweet Cumin, Bronze Fennel or just plain Fennel.
So it’s always important to check the botanical name when you are purchasing oils.This particular oil is called Foeniculum Vulgar.
Sarah Clark empowers couples to discover how lifestyle and diet can dramatically impact their chances of conceiving. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure at 28 and had both her kids with donor eggs. Not until years later did she discover that the root cause of her infertility was a food intolerance. Join the Free Fab Fertile Support Group on Facebook for mini-challenges, motivation and inspiration!
References:
- http://www.aromaticscience.com/comparison-of-fennel-and-mefenamic-acid-for-the-treatment-of-primary-dysmenorrhea/
- https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-fennel-essential-oil.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4122825/
- http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-311-fennel.aspx?activeingredientid=311&activeingredientname=fennel
- https://draxe.com/fennel-essential-oil/
- http://theepicentre.com/spice/fennel/
