ANISE by Alice

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Scientific name is ‘Pimpinella Anisum’ a member of the parsley family.

Anise is an annual growing to a height of about one and-a-half feet tall and is another herb that is easily grown from seed and germination takes about ten days. Plant in the early spring in fairly rich soil in full sun, (here it likes afternoon shade)

It’s very difficult to transplant as it doesn’t like its roots ‘tickled’ so seed where you want to plant it either in a medium pot or in the garden, plant about five inches apart and it matures in about ten weeks. The leaves can be used from there on. Also a caution to potted plants, never allow it to flower or seed as it will die so unless your willing to replant after it has died clip all flower stalks.

The leaves are lacy and gray-green, and deeply notched. Small white flowers which bloom around mid-summer grow in two inch umbels, and begin to turn a grayish-green in early fall, or about one month after they bloom the seeds are fully formed and should be harvested and cured. When the tips of the seeds turn slightly brown, it’s time to cut the seed heads and place on a screen to dry. In about 1-2 weeks rub the seeds between your hands to separate the ‘chaff’ from the seed (this should make your hands smell wonderful!)

Anise is native to the Eastern Mediterranean Region and was first cultivated and used as a spice by the ancient Egyptians. And used as a medicinal herb by 1500 B.C. mention of it is found in clay tablets of the Assyrians. Anise was used as a spice by the ancient Greeks and Romans, in the sixth century B.C. Pythagoras stated that a “sprig of it held in the hand would prevent ‘the falling sickness’ (epilepsy) and it was an antidote for a scorpion bite.”

Hippocrates praised it for coughs, (which is still is in use in today as it’s essential oil ‘Anethole’ is used in many ‘licorice’ tasting cough mixtures.)

The Romans used it as a spice in their food in cakes they called ‘Mustacea’ which were made of meal, cumin, anise, and other spices and served after rich banquets as a digestive.

Pliny of the first century A.D. said: “That anise has the effect of sweetening the breath and removing all bad odors from the mouth if chewed in the morning, and then rinse your mouth with wine.” He also said, “This plant imparts a youthful look to the features, and if suspended to the pillow, so as to be smelt by a person when asleep, will prevent disagreeable (nightmares) dreams.”

The fragrance is relaxing and has the ability to inhibit men from dreaming when they need to cease thinking about things, and so they get a good night sleep.

Anise was also thought able to avert the ‘evil eye’ altogether. Pliny gave more than sixty remedies that included Anise.

Anise was considered so important in Biblical times that it was used to pay taxes . And then the extreme…in the fourteenth century England it was heavily taxed as an imported spice. It was still considered important in colonial America, The first assembly of the Virginia colony, decreed that every man was supposed to plant a few seeds of anise.

In ancient times it was added to ‘flavor’ wedding cakes to start the couple off in the

‘Appropriate’ mood.

The name, Anise comes from the Latin word anisum from the Greek name ‘anison’ meaning ‘for the plant’

Medicinal uses for Anise

Aniseed contains a warming flavor and assists in the assimilation of food and is a good remedy for flatulence, it also has a calming effect on the lungs, and so is good for asthma, bronchial spasms, coughs, and wheezes. Also helps to induce sleep. The oil is used in the production of toothpaste. Aniseed tea is used for settling the digestion and improving overall digestion. Anise water promotes milk production in nursing mothers, and during the 2 a.m. feeding you can use it as a soothing eyewash. Anise is also said to promote the onset of menstruation when taken as an infusion. Anise oil helps relieve cramping and spasms and is good as a stomach tonic. For insomnia, take a few seeds in a glass of hot milk before going to bed. Anise can also be made into a salve to use for scabies or lice. A tea made from equal parts of anise, caraway, and fennel makes an excellent intestinal purifier. Because of its sweetness, anise is a good additive to improve the flavor of other medicines.

Alcohol extracts the medicinal properties of anise more effectively than water.

An infusion: Use 1 tsp. crushed seed to ½ or 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10 min. and strain. Take 1-1 ½ cups during the day, a mouthful at a time.

Decoction: For colic, boil 1 tbsp. seed in ½ pint milk for 10 minutes. Strain and drink hot.

Tincture: To prepare, add 2 oz. seed to ½ qt. brandy. Add some clean lemon peels and let stand in a sunny place for 20 days, then strain. Take 1 tsp. at a time.

Anise Water: Boil ½ tsp seed in a ½ pint water, then strain.

　

Anise (pimpinella anisum) ‘an ancient cure for those who feel a lack of romance in their lives.’ For it contains several estrogenic compounds which in some people produce an androgenic or male hormone effect or in other words…Viagra…and has been known to increase the male libido. Anise oil, seeds, tea, and extract can be taken when needed for a romantic escape…to-fulfill-the –need…

Culinary uses of Anise is as followed:

Use anise leaves chopped then added to stews, veggie soups, fruit salads, or green salads for a delicate licorice flavor.

The French add it to young carrots as well as salads and soups.

The Swedes add it to beet salads, and sprinkle it on canapés, and sausages.

Aniseed pulverized, can be added to cakes, cookies, applesauce, and apple pie (need to try this one) Try adding it to the water with shellfish.

Anise tea; partly crush a teaspoonful of seeds and boil in a cup of water for about five minutes.

If you soak three tablespoons of aniseed in a pint of brandy for six weeks, you will have anisette, a very good liqueur (a recipe follows) and it is said to be good for asthma…in any case it’s good for drinking…

　

Anise or anisette or aniseed liqueur

This produces about sixteen ounces of anisette liqueur

2 tblsp. Crushed aniseed

2 Cinnamon sticks - crushed

1 Nutmeg – crushed

2 tblsp. Honey

7 Oz. good Brandy

1 Cup Spring water

Place all in a glass jar, seal, and macerate (whole seeds) in jar for six weeks. Shake jar at least once a week, after six weeks, filter mix with cheesecloth, then bottle, in a sterilized bottle, seal, and label.

Drink one-two ounces (shots) as a carminative digestive. Or for a ‘sexy night take ¼ cup before bedtime as an aphrodisiac…

Magickal:

A plant of Love, ruling planet is Jupiter and the Moon, Deities are Hermes and Apollo.

Magickal correspondences are purification, protection, youth, vitality, and sleep. The element is… Air. Gender is…Masculine

Use in Protection and meditation incenses. Fresh anise leaves in a room, will drive off evil and can be placed around a Magickal circle to protect from evil spirits. (oooh what a good smelling circle that would be…)

Aniseed is also used to aid in any magickal operation by calling forth good spirits.

Also an herb of deflection, And relates to the Crone and the Hunter of the Dark Moon, Lunar eclipse, and solar eclipse, underworld, otherworld, protection, death, passage, transitions, and rebirth. Anise is one of the Herbs of Imbolc and Samhain.

A pillow of anise keeps away all nightmares.

Anise oil is a great benefit for clairvoyance, thus it is often added to a ritual bath before any attempt at divination. It is also worn during divinatory rituals.