How to Treat Flatulence With Fennel

An embarrassing and uncomfortable gastrointestinal malady, flatulence can cause us to avoid some of the healthier choices in our diet. Beans, soy and cruciferous vegetables frequently cause flatulence. Fennel is a natural flatulence treatment described in ancient Roman texts and recognized by the medical community today. You can use fennel whenever flatulence strikes without worrying about side effects or building up tolerance.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh fennel seeds
• Fennel bulbs
• Mortar
• Pestle

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Instructions

• 1

  Use fresh fennel bulbs and seeds for cooking and tea. The volatile oils that help the body to expel gas dissipate as fennel ages. The efficacy of the 6-year-old jar of fennel seeds on your spice rack is low.

• 2

  Add fennel to your stews, salads and casseroles to reduce their gassy effects on you. Fennel imparts a sweet flavor to dishes akin to licorice. It pairs especially well with Italian dishes and sausage entrees.

• 3

  Chew on a fresh stalk of fennel after your meal. An amount the size of a postage stamp contains enough volatile oils to prevent gas.

• 4

  Prepare hot tea with whole fennel seeds. Crush the seeds briefly with a mortar and pestle to express the volatile oils. Add ½ tsp. of crushed seeds to 1 cup boiling water. Strain after steeping for 10 minutes. You can drink this tea after each meal.

• 5

  Ask the doctor about offering fennel tea to a colicky infant. People have used fennel for centuries to produce "gripe water" to calm gassy babies.