Fennel Seed
Also known as: Foeniculum vulgare, fennel seed extract, fennel fruit, saunf
Fennel seed is the dried fruit of Foeniculum vulgare, a Mediterranean herb used across cuisines and in traditional carminative blends for bloating and gas. Its essential oil is dominated by anethole. It appears in digestive-comfort, after-meal, and women's health formulas, frequently paired with ginger, peppermint, and caraway. Randomized trials have examined fennel capsules for post-surgical flatulence and for menopausal symptoms, but evidence for everyday digestive use is limited and largely traditional.
Research summary
Anethole and other volatile compounds studied for relaxing intestinal smooth muscle and reducing gas.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 mg | 500–1,500 mg | — | — |
500 to 1,500 mg of seed powder or equivalent extract daily, usually after meals. Trials used fennel capsules over a few days to several weeks; dose range reflects common retail products.
Standardization: Seed powder or extract; essential oil content varies
Source material: dried seed (fruit) powder or extract
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Sweet, anise-like flavor; pleasant in gummies and teas.
Formulation notes
Contains estragole in the volatile fraction; some regulators cap estragole exposure, so review essential-oil content.
Sources
- A comparative study of fennel and dimethicone capsule effects on flatulence rate after cesarean section: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. (Jourshari MS 2024)PubMed
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) for the management of menopausal women's health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (Lee HW 2021)PubMed
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