Star anise is mainly distributed in provinces and regions such as Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Taiwan, and Zhejiang. It is the fruit of the plant Illicium verum Hook. f. belonging to the family Illiciaceae. It has the effects of warming the middle and dispelling cold, regulating qi and relieving pain, strengthening the stomach and stopping vomiting, antibacterial, promoting white blood cell production, and expelling parasites. It can be used to treat conditions such as cold hernia abdominal pain, cold and damp foot odor, kidney asthenia hernia, small intestine spasm pain, epigastric pain, reverse flow vomiting due to qi counterflow, and cold vomiting.
Warming the middle and dispelling cold
Star anise has a warm and pungent taste, enters the spleen and kidney meridians, and has the effect of warming the middle and regulating qi. It can be used to treat conditions such as cold hernia abdominal pain, cold and damp foot odor, and other diseases.
Regulating qi and relieving pain
Star anise has a strong and pungent aroma, enters the liver and spleen meridians, and has the effect of regulating qi and relieving pain. It can be used to treat conditions such as kidney asthenia hernia, small intestine spasm pain, epigastric pain, and can also regulate dry and damp foot odor.
Strengthening the stomach and stopping vomiting
Star anise has a pungent aroma, enters the spleen and stomach meridians, and has the effects of strengthening the stomach, stopping vomiting, and stimulating appetite. Star anise contains volatile anethole, which can promote intestinal peristalsis and relieve abdominal pain. Therefore, star anise can be used to treat conditions such as reverse flow vomiting due to qi counterflow, and cold vomiting.
Antibacterial
The volatile oil in star anise has inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus. The decoction of star anise has inhibitory effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bacillus subtilis. The alcohol extract of star anise has inhibitory effects on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as common pathogenic fungi.
Promoting white blood cell production
The anethole in star anise has the ability to increase white blood cell count and promote faster recovery after a decrease. It has a good therapeutic effect on leukopenia in chemotherapy patients.
Expelling parasites
Star anise has a pungent aroma, and it contains volatile camphor, which can expel parasites. Dried star anise can be placed in breathable bags and used to expel pests in wardrobes and rice containers.
