What is it and what do I do with it????

Farway

Whilst I am not an expert regrding fennel & babies, it sounds like it is not true

Ref
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_the_doctor/babycolic.shtml

near bottom of page
"Herbal teas: these haven't been studied much either but one study did show that a tea made from chamomile, vervain, liquorice, fennel and balm-mint might help"

and
http://houseofstrauss.co.uk/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=75
again near bottom of page
"Western herbalism herbal teas made from either chamomile, dill, fennel or catmint after feeding for the baby may be helpful. Alternatively offer a teaspoon of warm herbal tea every hour. If the mother is breastfeeding, she could drink a cupful 30-45 minutes before each feed. Adult colic sufferers should drink a cup full of the infusion three times a day or try mixing a teaspoon each of fennel seed, aniseed and caraway seed in a cup of boiling water - cover the cup and infuse for ten minutes then strain and drink while the tea is still hot"

sproggi

From the link that Sooz provided:

'Some people employ it as a diuretic; while others have used it to improve the milk supply of breastfeeding mothers, it has proven fatal in certain cases where the mother ingested it as an herbal tea to enhance her breast milk'

I am not trying to scaremonger (I love using herbs) but caution is needed

Sproggi

sproggi

liz545 wrote: »

Hi Sproggi - I didn't know this :eek: I'm making a gift hamper for my SIL who's expecting, and I got some samples of Fennel Tea from Hipp organic, that's supposed to soothe colicky babies. Now I'm not sure if I should include it in the box, if it can be dangerous! Is it safe for older babies?

Liz,
This is produced for babies and as Hipp is what I would consider a trusted, responsible company, you are fine to give her these samples.

Sproggi

odds-n-sods

Fennal salad:

Cut fennel in half width-wise, cut core out, slice very thinly. Slice 1 small red onion thinly. Cut 1 apple in to 1/4's and core, slice thinly. Pour about 3 tbsp orange juice into a bowl, add 1 tsp sugar, whisk in 6 tbsp olive oil. Mix veg together with a handful of coriander, chopped, + a little salt + pepper. Pour over dressing just to coat, stir, leave for 30 minutes to 1 hour to blend flavours, eat! Dressing will keep a couple of days in the fridge and will make enough for salad with 2 fennel. Can sub. orange segments for the apple as well.

scuzz

Personally I can't stand fennel - very aniceedy
But I've heard people putting them in salads, or using it as a veg with dinner.
Let us know if you like it!

Seakay

liz545 wrote: »

Hi Sproggi - I didn't know this :eek: I'm making a gift hamper for my SIL who's expecting, and I got some samples of Fennel Tea from Hipp organic, that's supposed to soothe colicky babies. Now I'm not sure if I should include it in the box, if it can be dangerous! Is it safe for older babies?

Fennel is an ingredient in gripe water, and cold fennel tea has been used in India as well as this country to soothe colicky babies for gnerations.

Herbaholic

Just so everyone's clear the sort of fennel they use for making fennel tea and take the seeds from is Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and the sort that turns up in veggies boxes and is used as a vegetable is Bulb or Florence Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare azoricum). Fennel the herb has tap roots and doesn't bulb up like florence fennel does. Florence fennel used to be used to make absinthe which is believed to have psychoactive properties and when the mix wasn't right it can be lethal! Not sure what the medicinal difference is between the two though.

Normal fennel tea is good for digestion and helping ease windy (parp ) and colicy conditions. Anybody that is pregnant or breastfeeding should always check with their GP and do the research themselves, there is an article on herbs and breastfeeding here but its always best to talk to your doctor or practice nurse. You should definately avoid using fennel essential oil and anything containing fennel during pregnancy though as fennel is a natural purgative with emmenagogue (abortive) properties. Dill and caraway are also used to help with windy miller syndrome

hilstep2000

Fennel is fine for babies. My daughter used to drink fennel diluted by Milupa. Don't know about pregnancy tho.
One thing, if you are pregnant, don't drink Raspberry leaf tea, unless you want to bring on labour!

Justamum

hilstep2000 wrote: »

Fennel is fine for babies. My daughter used to drink fennel diluted by Milupa. Don't know about pregnancy tho.
One thing, if you are pregnant, don't drink Raspberry leaf tea, unless you want to bring on labour!

Raspberry leaf tea is ok in the final 3 months. Apparently it helps to condition the cervix for labour, but doesn't actually bring on labour. I tried it with my last baby. It's not too bad tasting (sort of peppery) and I'm not normally a fan of herb teas.

I have heard that you need to be careful with peppermint in pregnancy.