FENNEL 
Foeniculum vulgare

---

Fennel can be useful as a digestive tonic and liver cleanser. It is helpful for gas and slow elimination, cramps and fluid retention.  It is though to have mild estrogenic-like qualities due to the presence if anethole, making it useful for regulating menses in postpartum, supporting PMS symptoms and water balance, and stimulating the adrenal glands to produce estrogen in perimenopause.  My favorite uses include topical application in postpartum for increasing milk production and relieving gas in infants. Emotionally, fennel can give you the courage to change.

People often ask how to use fennel essential oil to increase milk supply.  The topical application of fennel to the breasts is usually an effective method for increasing breast milk production.  To try it at home or in your midwifery practice, use only pure fennel essential oil (EO's cross biological barriers and to a small extent turn up in breast milk.  It is important that fragrance or other low-quality oils are not used for therapeutic purposes, especially when dealing with infants.)

• Apply topically to breasts toward the nipples, but not on the nipples) AFTER nursing (to avoid contact with infant's eyes or face).
• Dilute to one drop of essential oil per Tablespoon massage oil.  Increase to one drop per teaspoon, if necessary.
• Do not use for more than 10 consecutive days.  Alternate with geranium, clary sage, or basil.
• Do not use internally.  (All of the scary internet feed refers to concentrations that are in line with internal use than diluted topical use.)
• Apply up to five times a day.

PRECAUTIONS:​

Fennel may interfere with diabetic and anti-convulsant medications or hormones when used internally.  Avoid following major surgery, with peptic ulcers, or with bleeding disorders. Avoid with epilepsy, high blood pressure, and with children under five years, useless properly diluted and applied topically. It is prudent to avoid this oil during labor; one study showed it to reduce the intensity of contractions.

​Retail $20/ Wholesale $15

Order Fennel

Customers who place wholesale orders through this website qualify to receive one-to-one support and free access to our online education, including hundreds of hours of education for general use, specialized training for use during childbearing and with babies, and optional business coaching for essential oil educators or venders.