Star anise, there is only one kind, which is the fruit of star anise tree, named after its fruit has eight horns. Also known as star anise and anise, it is a seasoning. Southerners used to call it Illicium verum, while northerners used to call it aniseed.

As a seasoning, star anise is often eaten by people. Even if it is not eaten directly, its taste is distributed to the dining table of every household. Illicium verum as seasoning is also a traditional Chinese medicine.

The fruit of Illicium verum can be used as medicine; Its nature is warm and pungent; It has the effects of warming yang and dispelling cold, regulating qi and relieving pain. It can be used for treating cold vomiting, cold hernia, abdominal pain, lumbago due to kidney deficiency, dry and wet beriberi, etc.

In addition, its fruit contains volatile oil, and its main components are fennel oil, namely anisole, anisaldehyde and anisone. It can stimulate gastrointestinal nerve and blood vessels, promote the secretion of digestive juice, increase gastrointestinal peristalsis, have the effects of invigorating stomach and promoting qi circulation, and help to relieve spasm and pain.

It also contains anisene, which can promote the maturation of bone marrow cells and release them into peripheral blood, and has obvious effect of increasing white blood cells, mainly neutrophils, and can be used for leukopenia.

Extended data:

Star anise is aniseed, which is a common cooking seasoning in life. But the commonly used star anise is also fake and highly toxic.

"False star anise"-wild grass: wild grass, also known as false star anise or wild star anise, is similar in appearance to star anise. Highly toxic. Eating by mistake will cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting; Eating too much will produce convulsions of limbs, foaming at the mouth and other epilepsy-like symptoms, which will cause heart failure and death in severe cases.

1, shape discrimination

Illicium verum is usually plump, with exposed fruit and 7- 10 rounded horns, usually 8 horns; Generally, the fruit of Illicium verum will not be exposed, and the fruit petals will not open. There are 1 1- 13 sharp corners, and the tip of each corner will be upturned, like an eagle hook.

2. Color discrimination

True star anise is brownish red and shiny; The fake eight characters are shallow and khaki.

3. Taste discrimination

The real star anise has a strong fragrance and tastes sweet; The fake star anise has the smell of toilet water or camphor, which makes the taste sour and numb the tongue.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-aniseed

Baidu encyclopedia-mangcao