STAR ANISEHealth Benefits & Uses |
Take your body type quiz to see how Star Anise affects you
Match foods that have helped me.SERVING SIZE: 1/4 tsp SPECIES: Illicium verum
How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?
AYURVEDIC ANALYSISStar Anise is a warming aromatic herb that moves blood, reducing cold-stagnation in Chinese medicine. It's known to have powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties and is also one of the five spices in traditional Chinese five-spice mixture. It's been used in both Ayurveda & Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Shikimic acid which is the active ingredient in flu medications such as Tamiflu, is extracted from star anise making it a great spice to use during cold and flu season. Digestive HealthStar anise is commonly used as a digestive aid helping to relieve an upset stomach with its antispasmodic properties. It's also used to relieve gas & bloating and to stimulate appetite. Women's HealthStar anise is known to promote reproductive health in women, and also support lactating mothers by increasing the secretion of breast milk. It's also used for menopausal discomforts, as directed by a practitioner or physician.
ABOUT STAR ANISE
Star anise is a small evergreen tree native to China that closely resembles anise in flavor. Its licorice-flavored start shaped fruit is also grown in Japan and Vietnam. It has a dark brown color and contains six to eight seeded petal-like segments. It's harvested just before it ripens and its highly fragrant oil is used in cooking, perfumery, soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes and skin products.
COOKING STAR ANISE
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Star anise has become more popular in the West in recent years and is used as a less expensive substitute for anise in baked goods as well as in the production of liquor. It is a key spice in preparation of biryani and masala chai throughout all of the Indian subcontinent. It enhances the flavor of meat and is widely used in Chinese cuisine as well as in Malay and Indian cooking. It's also a major ingredient in the making of pho, a Vietnamese soup, and is used in the French recipe of mulled wine, called vin chaud (hot wine).
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WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is
tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with
at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what
should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you
are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive
tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you
experience optimal health.
LEARN MORE
Is Star Anise Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz.
You'll learn your body type, and whether Star Anise is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.
AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS
What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?
INCREASES
Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)
Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick.
Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.
Learn More
| HOT ![Hot]( "Hot") ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT | TASTES
The 6 Tastes
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Learn More
| PUNGENT ![Pungent]( "Pungent") ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC
Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT | DOSHAS
The Three Doshas / Body Types
According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine,
people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person.
Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness.
Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency.
Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses.
The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.
The 3 functional body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy.
Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy.
Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass.
Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry.
Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed.
Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.
Learn More
| | HAS THE FOLLOWING | EFFECT:
Alkalizing ALKALIZING
An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALKALIZING
TYPE:
Spices
ELEMENT:
SUBTASTE:
Aromatic AROMATIC
Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AROMATIC
COLOR:
Brown |
MEDICINAL PROPERTIESExperiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition. Here are the herbal actions of Star Anise:
Digestion: , Spleen Tonic SPLEEN-TONIC
An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SPLEEN-TONIC Cleanse and Detox: Burns Toxins BURNS-TOXINS
An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BURNS-TOXINS , Heart & Circulation: Cardiac stimulant CARDIAC-STIMULANT
Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CARDIAC-STIMULANT 
Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.Star Anise Research & Clinical Trials
In each clinical research trial below, students from the
Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects.
See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Star Anise affect your temperature?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your sweat quantity?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the color of your tongue body?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the swelling of your tongue body?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your appetite/hunger?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your digestion speed?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)TOXINS
How did Star Anise affect the amount of gas & bloating?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your stool smell?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)Tongue: How did Star Anise affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the color of your tongue coating?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your urine smell?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your sweat smell?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)HYDRATION
How did Star Anise affect your urine frequency/quantity?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the cracks on your tongue?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Star Anise affect your energy levels?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your muscle tension?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your anxiety?
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| | Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the stillness of your tongue?
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| | More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)DIGESTION
How did Star Anise affect your appetite/hunger?
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| | Much less hungry | Slightly less hungry | Same | Slightly hungrier | Much hungrier |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your digestion speed?
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| | Much faster | Slightly faster | Same | Slightly slower | Much slower |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the amount of gas & bloating?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)TONGUE
How did Star Anise affect the swelling of your tongue body?
7
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3
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15
| | More Swelling | Less Swelling | No Change |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the color of your tongue body?
2
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14
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1
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8
| | Paler | Redder | Bluer | No Change |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the stillness of your tongue?
2
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17
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6
| | More still | No Change | More Trembling / Jittery |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the color of your tongue coating?
0
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4
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2
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2
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17
| | Yellower | Browner | Grayer | Whiter | No Change |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the cracks on your tongue?
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5
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15
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| | Larger/longer/more cracks | Slightly more | Same | Slightly less/smaller/shorter | Much less |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)Tongue: How did Star Anise affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
2
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9
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1
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1
| | Much smaller | Slightly less | Same | Slightly larger coating | Much larger |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)STOOL
How did Star Anise affect your stool lightness?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your stool smell?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your stool consistency?
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| | Much softer | Slightly softer | Same | Slightly harder | Much harder |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your stool frequency/quantity?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your stool color?
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| | More yellow | More gray | More green | More orange | Same |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)URINE
How did Star Anise affect your urine clarity?
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| | More cloudy | Same | More clear |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your urine smell?
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6
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| | Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your urine lightness?
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| | Much lighter | Slightly lighter | Same | Slightly Darker | Much Darker |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your urine frequency/quantity?
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| | Much less | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)SWEAT
How did Star Anise affect your sweat quantity?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your sweat smell?
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Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)SYSTEMIC
How did Star Anise affect your energy levels?
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| | Much less energy | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more energy | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your muscle tension?
0
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| | Much less tension | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more tension | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your anxiety?
2
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| | Much less anxiety | Slightly less | Same | Slightly more anxiety | Much more |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)How did Star Anise affect your temperature?
0
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7
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16
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| | Much colder | Slightly colder | Same | Slightly warmer | Much warmer |
Total Responses: 25 Study ID:43 (2021-01-20 - 2021-01-31)
HEALTH & WELLNESS PRACTITIONERS!
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We've got a ton of resources for you to check out below!
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HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when
right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in
Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire
reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once
you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
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![About John Joseph Immel]()
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda.
His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda
, which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition.
John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.
John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
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