Food Therapy: Fennel or Its Composition as Laxative Agent for Treatment of Chronic Constipation

Kyle J. Norton

Fennel may have a therapeutic effect for treatment of chronic constipation, some scientist suggested.

Chronic constipation is condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements in passing stool for weeks at a time.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species of genus, belongings to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), native to the Mediterranean, used in traditional and herbal medicine as warming, carminative, antispasmodic, antidepressant agent and to stimulate the appetite, ease indigestion, soothe coughing, reduce intestinal spasms, to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve PMS,...

Nutrients
1. Carbohydrates
2. Fiber
3. Protein
4. Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
5. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
6. Niacin (Vitamin B3)
7. Pantothenic acid (B5)
8. Vitamin B6
9. Folate (Vitamin B9)
10. Vitamin C
11. Calcium
12. Copper
13. Iron
14. Magnesium
15. Molybdenum
16. Phosphorus
17. Potassium
18. Zinc
19. Etc.

According to the study of 24 patients with chronic non-specific colitis conducted by Dr. Chakŭrski I, and colleagues, oral administration of traditional combination of peppermint, licorice and fennel exerted a significant activity in reduced spontaneous and palpable pains along the large intestine disappeared and induced daily defecation in the patients with obstipation syndrome.

Further differentiation suggested that the herbal formula demonstrated a potential effect in inhibited the colitis expression in reduced the colon function in reabsorbed fluids and processed waste products from the body and prepared for its elimination.

Some researchers suggested chronic constipation may be an intestinal microbiota imbalance related disease as herbal feed additive including fennel exerted significant effects in digestive disorders of  weaning rabbits' intestinal microbiota, accoridng to the study in compared the differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in constipated patients and healthy controls.

In fact, further analysis also found that patients with chronic constipation expressed alterations of intestinal microbiota composition characterized by decreased obligate bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides spp.) and a parallel increase of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Campylobacter jejuni).

Long term imbalance of  intestinal microbiota composition may associate to the prevelence of chronic constipation as increased pathogenic microorganisms may reduce intestinal motility and secretory functions by changing the amount of available physiologically active substances and the metabolic environment of the gut in the breakdown of food products into absorbable nutrients.

The above differentiation of fennel composition effect was supported by illustration of the study of  formula Smooth move, a herbal tea used in some nursing care for residents with chronic constipation.

According to Dr. Bub S and colleagues in a total of 86 nursing home residents with chronic constipation randomly assigned to receive Smooth Move (n = 42) or a placebo (n = 44), once daily, in addition to standard treatment for chronic constipation for 28 days, oral administration of the formula showed a statistically significant increase in the number of bowel movements in compared to placebo group.

More precisely, participants treated with Smooth Move in compared to non treatment group experienced an average of 4.14 more bowel movements during the 28-day study period versus the 28-day pre-study period.

Interestingly, in the investigation of the laxative efficacy of composition of Pimpinella anisum L., Foeniculum vulgare Miller, Sambucus nigra L., and Cassia augustifolia used in Brazil for treatment of chronic constipation, researchers at the institution of conducted a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled, single-blinded trial included 20 patients presenting with chronic constipation according to the criteria of the American Association of Gastroenterology, found that patients received the formula composition exert a strong improvement of bowel function in compared to control.

However, the application fails to improved quality of life in participants in reduced some symptoms associated to chronic constipation, excepted for a small reduction in serum potassium levels during the active treatment.

Dr. Picon PD, the lead author, after taking into account of other con founders, said, "phytotherapic compound assessed has laxative efficacy and is a safe alternative option for the treatment of constipation".

Taken together, fennel used alone or combined with other herbal medicine may be considered as a therapeutic treatment in patients with chronic participation without inducing any intolerable side effects.

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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrients, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published on line, including world wide health, ezine articles, article base, healthblogs, selfgrowth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bio science, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) [Treatment of chronic colitis with an herbal combination of Taraxacum officinale, Hipericum perforatum, Melissa officinaliss, Calendula officinalis and Foeniculumvulgare].[Article in Bulgarian] by Chakŭrski I, Matev M, Koĭchev A, Angelova I, Stefanov G.(PubMed)
(2) Efficacy of an herbal dietary supplement (Smooth Move) in the management of constipation in nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Bub S1, Brinckmann J, Cicconetti G, Valentine B.(PubMed)
(3) Randomized clinical trial of a phytotherapic compound containing Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, and Cassia augustifolia for chronicconstipation by Picon PD1, Picon RV, Costa AF, Sander GB, Amaral KM, Aboy AL, Henriques AT.(PubMed)
(4) Intestinal microbiota and chronic constipation by Ying Zhao and Yan-Bo Yu(PubMed)
(5) Performance, digestive disorders and the intestinal microbiota in weaning rabbits are affected by a herbal feed additive by R. Krieg, Wageha Awad, W Vahjen and Wilfried Vahjen(Research gate)