Limited evidenceGut health

Anise Seed

A sweet carminative seed. One well-conducted trial of enteric-coated anise oil improved IBS symptoms; beyond that, its use for indigestion and cramps rests on tradition.

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What the science says

Anise oil for IBS Limited evidence
A three-armed double-blind clinical trial of enteric-coated anise oil capsules reported superiority over both placebo and an active herbal comparator for IBS symptoms over four weeks. It is a single trial from one centre.
Recognised but unreplicated in systematic review Limited evidence
A systematic review of Western herbal medicines in IBS listed Pimpinella anisum oil among preparations showing efficacy in a rigorously designed trial, while stressing that outside peppermint, aloe and asafoetida no positive result had been replicated.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseThe IBS trial used 200 mg of enteric-coated anise oil three times daily for four weeks. As a tea, 1–3 g of crushed seed per cup.

SafetySafe as a food. Anethole has weak oestrogen-like activity, so use caution in hormone-sensitive conditions and avoid concentrated oil in pregnancy. Note that star anise is an unrelated plant and Japanese star anise is neurotoxic — do not substitute.

How to take it

TimingThree times daily with meals, as the IBS trial did.

With food?With food; the enteric coating is what gets the oil past the stomach, so never open or crush the capsule.

Worth knowingStar anise is a different plant and the Japanese species is neurotoxic — check the botanical name, not just the picture on the box.

Frequently asked questions

Does anise help IBS?

Anise seed oil has limited evidence for IBS: one double-blind trial found enteric-coated anise oil capsules superior to placebo and an active herbal comparator over four weeks. It is a single-centre result that has not been replicated.

How much anise should I take?

The IBS trial used 200 mg of enteric-coated anise oil three times daily with meals for four weeks; never open or crush the capsule. As a tea, use 1–3 g of crushed anise seed per cup.

Is anise the same as star anise?

No, star anise is an unrelated plant, and Japanese star anise is neurotoxic, so do not substitute it for anise seed. Check the botanical name (Pimpinella anisum) rather than the picture on the box.

Is anise safe in pregnancy?

Anise seed is safe as a food, but its anethole has weak oestrogen-like activity, so avoid concentrated anise oil in pregnancy and use caution in hormone-sensitive conditions.

Scientific references

Efficacy and safety of enteric coated capsules of anise oil to treat irritable bowel syndrome
Mosaffa-Jahromi M, Lankarani KB, Pasalar M — J Ethnopharmacol, 2016
Western herbal medicines in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Hawrelak JA, Wohlmuth H, Pattinson M — Complement Ther Med, 2020

Related in Gut health

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Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)