Anise Essential Oil Benefits: 5 Uses, Safety & Estragole

QUICK SUMMARY

Anise essential oil, distilled from the dry ripe fruits of true anise, Pimpinella anisum, is a strongly aromatic oil dominated by trans-anethole. Its best-supported uses are digestive and respiratory support rooted in traditional medicine, while modern research also points to pain-modulating, antifungal, antibacterial, and nausea-support potential. Much of that evidence is still animal, laboratory, isolated-tissue, or preliminary human research, so the type of evidence matters.

Anise essential oil can be used through inhalation, properly diluted topical application, and carefully formulated internal use. Culinary use is different from medicinal internal use. Because the oil is highly concentrated and contains estragole, use batch-specific GC/MS information, avoid casual or long-term internal use, and take extra care with pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, seizure disorders, and medications.

With its licorice-reminiscent flavor and scent, anise oil brings a refreshing and unique element to your single-oil use or combination blends. Here, we'll learn how to differentiate true anise oil uses and incorporate them into your wellness routines.

Anise Plant Profile

When a common name is shared between plants, we often make the mistake of assuming they are related, similar, or even interchangeable. None of the above are necessarily true. Anise and star anise are examples of this, sharing the common name of anise, but they are entirely different plants. Latin names help us narrow down exactly which plants we are dealing with and understand how to use them.

True anise, Latin name Pimpinella anisum, is the plant of focus today. It is an annual herb in the Apiaceae family, the same broad family as dill, fennel, and parsley. The part commonly called the “seed” is botanically the dry ripe fruit, and this is the material used to produce anise essential oil by steam distillation. (1)

Anise oil is usually rich in trans-anethole, the compound responsible for much of its familiar black-licorice aroma. The European Medicines Agency assessment report lists trans-anethole as the dominant constituent and estragole as a much smaller constituent, while also noting that chemistry varies by origin and batch. That is one reason a current GC/MS report matters when you are choosing an oil. (1)

Star anise, on the other hand, is Illicium verum, a spice derived from the star-shaped fruits of an evergreen tree. It is not interchangeable with Pimpinella anisum simply because the two plants share an anise-like scent.

Whole Herb Use

Anise seeds are usually the part of the plant used and have been for generations. Traditional medicine has valued anise as a carminative and aromatic herb for digestive comfort, and historical uses have also included menstrual complaints and lactation support. The EMA recognizes traditional medicinal use of anise fruit and anise oil for mild indigestion, including bloating and flatulence, and for coughs associated with colds. (1)

Here is where preparation matters. Whole anise seed, seed powder, aqueous preparations, and anise essential oil are not the same thing, so research on one should not automatically be treated as proof for another.

A 2015 double-blind randomized clinical trial studied Pimpinella anisum seed powder, not essential oil, in 107 adults with postprandial distress syndrome, a form of functional dyspepsia. Participants in the anise group used 3 grams of seed powder after meals three times daily for four weeks and had greater symptom improvement than the cornstarch placebo group. A 2023 Cochrane review later rated the evidence for Pimpinella anisum in functional dyspepsia as low certainty because it rested on a single small trial. (2, 3)

The older 2007 World Journal of Gastroenterology study often cited for anise and ulcers also needs an important clarification. Researchers gave rats an aqueous suspension of anise before experimentally induced gastric injury. The preparation reduced gastric mucosal damage in that animal model, but this was not a human trial and did not test anise essential oil. (4)

There is some human research on anise essential oil itself. A three-arm double-blind randomized trial evaluated a specially formulated enteric-coated anise oil capsule in 120 people with irritable bowel syndrome for four weeks. Symptoms improved more in the anise-oil group than in the placebo and peppermint-oil comparator groups, but the authors called for additional research. This was a standardized medicinal product designed to release in the intestine, so it should not be translated into a do-it-yourself capsule dose. (5)

Like its relatives dill and fennel, anise remains one of our favorite plants to consider for digestive relief for gut issues. Just be clear about which preparation you are using and what the evidence actually studied.

5 Health Benefits of Anise Oil

Now that we know what anise oil is, why should we use it at all? Here are five potential benefits of anise essential oil and the research behind them, with the evidence type clearly separated so you know what is established and what is still emerging.

1. Anti-inflammatory Pain Relief

A major constituent of anise seed oil, trans-anethole, was tested in several animal models of pain in 2014. In mice, isolated anethole reduced responses in several peripheral nociception models without producing a sedative effect. The researchers proposed reduced production or release of inflammatory mediators as a possible explanation. (6)

That is encouraging mechanistic evidence, but it tested isolated anethole in animals, not topical anise essential oil in people. It supports the traditional use of anethole-rich plants for discomfort, but it does not prove that rubbing anise oil on a sore muscle will produce the same clinical result.

For topical use, dilution is essential. Carrier oils dilute and disperse essential oils, reduce evaporation, improve topical safety, help penetration, and can amplify the overall therapeutic effect by keeping the blend in contact with the skin. Because estragole content varies by batch, use a professionally calculated low dilution rather than applying anise oil neat or assuming one percentage fits every bottle.

Indications: Properly diluted topical massage on intact skin for occasional muscle and inflammatory discomfort. See our guide to pain and inflammatory discomfort for broader natural support.

2. Bronchodilator

In a 2001 laboratory study, researchers tested aqueous and ethanol extracts of Pimpinella anisum along with its essential oil on isolated guinea pig tracheal tissue that had been precontracted with methacholine. The essential oil produced a significant smooth-muscle relaxing effect in that tissue model. (7)

This is where the old wording needs an important boundary: an isolated tracheal chain is not the same as a person breathing anise oil. The study helps explain a possible mechanism, while the EMA's accepted indication is based on traditional use of anise oil as an expectorant for coughs associated with colds, not on modern human bronchodilator trials. (1)

Indications: For inhalation, start conservatively because anise has a strong aroma. Use one drop as part of a larger diffuser blend and diffuse intermittently for a brief session in a well-ventilated room, or use a personal inhaler for a few gentle breaths. Add it to respiratory-support inhaler blends or essential oil diffuser blends. Stop if the aroma triggers coughing, wheezing, headache, nausea, or dizziness. Do not put essential oils into a CPAP, nebulizer, or medical respiratory device unless the manufacturer and qualified clinical guidance specifically permit it.

3. Antifungal Options

Anise essential oil has shown antifungal activity against several fungi in laboratory testing. A 2023 study of Pimpinella anisum essential oil found in vitro activity against Candida albicans as well as several bacterial strains. The oil tested in that experiment contained 72.49% trans-anethole. (8)

These findings are useful for understanding antimicrobial potential, but a laboratory dish is not a human fungal infection. In vitro activity does not prove that diffusing or applying anise essential oil treats candidiasis, and suspected systemic yeast or a persistent fungal infection deserves appropriate medical evaluation.

Indications: Carefully formulated diluted topical blends on intact skin when anise is appropriate for the person and the condition. Do not use diffusion as a treatment for systemic fungal disease.

4. Antibacterial Powerhouse

Antibacterial essential oil blends are useful for everything from natural cleaning to carefully formulated skin treatments. Anise belongs in the conversation, but the details matter.

The older oral-health study cited in this article tested a decoction of whole anise seed, not anise essential oil. That means it cannot be used as proof that anise essential oil works as a mouthwash or as a substitute for prescription antibiotics. More recent laboratory research has tested the essential oil directly and found antibacterial activity against organisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes. (8)

Anise also has interesting blend research. In a 2008 in vitro study, anise and thyme essential oil combinations showed enhanced or additive antibacterial activity against several tested pathogens. That is a good example of why we love thoughtful blending, but it is still laboratory evidence, not a clinical infection-treatment trial. (9)

If you want an oral-care preparation, use an established formula such as our homemade mouthwash and follow that recipe as written. Do not swallow an essential-oil mouth rinse.

5. Nausea Relief

If you think back to the last bout of nausea you struggled with, you'll remember sensitivity to smells. The right, or wrong, scent can have a bigger impact during nausea than under normal circumstances.

A 2005 case study evaluated an aromatherapy blend containing anise, fennel, Roman chamomile, and peppermint in 25 hospice and palliative-care patients with nausea. A majority reported improvement, but every participant was also using other treatments, and the blend contained four oils. We cannot credit anise alone or treat this case series like a controlled clinical trial. (10)

Still, inhalation is noninvasive and scent preference can matter when someone feels queasy. If anise smells soothing to you, a brief personal-inhaler session may be a practical option. If the aroma makes nausea worse, stop. Your body is giving you useful feedback.

Indications: Personal inhaler or brief intermittent diffusion in a well-ventilated space.

Anise Essential Oil Interactions

Anise essential oil deserves more careful interaction language than a generic warning that it “interacts with medications.” Human interaction studies are very limited, and most of the specific evidence comes from animals.

In one mouse study, five days of oral anise essential oil changed the effects of several central nervous system drugs, including codeine, midazolam, diazepam, pentobarbital, imipramine, and fluoxetine. The authors specifically noted that these potential interactions still require clinical confirmation. (11)

A separate mouse study found changes in the pharmacokinetics of orally administered acetaminophen and caffeine after five days of oral anise essential oil. Again, that is a signal worth respecting, but it is not proof that occasional inhalation or a properly diluted topical application produces the same interaction in people. (12)

The older article also listed blood thinners as a common interaction. The EMA assessment found no documented clinical case reports establishing an anise-specific anticoagulant interaction and concluded that the coumarins present in anise do not justify that claim by themselves. That does not mean medicinal internal use should be casual if you take anticoagulants. It means we should describe the evidence accurately instead of calling an interaction proven when it is not. (1)

High-concentration laboratory and animal research on trans-anethole has also reported estrogenic activity. EMA's assessment concluded that these findings were not considered relevant to short-term adult exposure under the conditions it reviewed, but prolonged or concentrated medicinal internal use has not been settled by strong human data. If you use hormone therapy or have a hormone-sensitive condition, get individualized guidance before medicinal internal use. (1)

Always discuss concentrated medicinal internal use with a qualified health professional or pharmacist if you take prescription or over-the-counter medication. Route, amount, duration, and the actual chemistry of your bottle all matter.

Our book, The Essential Oils Apothecary, explores potential drug interactions so if you're on prescriptions or over-the-counter medications, add that to your wellness library.

Estragole Essential Oil Content

It's important to talk about estragole, which we've discussed with fennel and tarragon essential oils as a compound that deserves extra attention.

First, one significant correction: true anise essential oil is not usually a “strong source” of estragole compared with its dominant constituent, trans-anethole. The EMA assessment lists trans-anethole at roughly 87% to 94% in the European Pharmacopoeia specification and estragole at about 0.5% to 5%. Other batches can differ, which is why current GC/MS testing matters. (1)

Estragole itself has raised toxicology concerns because animal studies have demonstrated genotoxic and carcinogenic effects at sufficient exposure. Safety guidance therefore focuses on keeping exposure as low as reasonably practical, especially with concentrated medicinal products and repeated use. (13)

At the same time, context matters. The older EMA anise-oil assessment concluded that the amount of estragole in anise oil was not considered a concern for short-term adult traditional medicinal use under the specific conditions evaluated at that time. It also cautioned that this conclusion should not simply be extended to high doses, prolonged use, or children. (1)

This is an active area of review. In 2025, EMA reopened the anise-oil monograph for periodic review, and HMPC meeting minutes from November 2025 specifically noted concern that estragole exposure implied by the older anise-oil posology could exceed newer guidance. The review was still ongoing, so this is not a final replacement monograph, but it is a strong reason not to copy old medicinal dosing into a DIY protocol. (14)

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid unsupervised medicinal internal use of anise essential oil. Do not use medicinal anise essential oil internally in children unless a qualified clinician familiar with essential oils has reviewed the exact product and protocol. Multiple-milliliter ingestion of anise oil has been associated with serious toxicity, including seizures, so never treat infant colic or another childhood complaint with undiluted anise essential oil. (1)

If you have a seizure disorder, serious liver disease, a complex medication regimen, or an upcoming surgery, get individualized guidance before medicinal internal use.

DIY Anise Oil Uses and Preparations

You can utilize anise in several practical ways without turning one oil into a magic bullet.

• Culinary internal use: Anise essential oil can add its distinct licorice flavor to food when the exact oil is labeled for culinary use and a tested recipe ties the drop count to the full batch and yield. Do not free-pour it, swallow it neat, or add a drop casually to plain water. Remember that less is more when it comes to cooking with essential oils.
• Inhalation: Use one drop of anise as part of a larger respiratory-support diffuser blend with oils such as eucalyptus or cinnamon, then diffuse briefly and intermittently in a well-ventilated space. When using the homemade cough drops, follow that established recipe exactly rather than adding extra anise oil.
• Oral care: Create an antimicrobial mouthwash with cinnamon, myrrh, and peppermint using the established formula. Swish and spit rather than swallowing the rinse.
• Topical application: Dilute anise into a carrier oil for an occasional massage blend on intact skin. Because estragole content varies, use a low, professionally calculated concentration based on current batch chemistry rather than applying the oil neat.
• Digestive wellness: Start with the whole herb when practical, and reserve essential-oil culinary use for recipes specifically formulated for it. Explore additional essential oils for digestive wellness here.

Can I ingest essential oils?

Do not casually ingest essential oils in water or neat (undiluted). Internal use of essential oils requires proper dilution, product quality, dosing knowledge, and safety guidance. Learn more about how to ingest essential oils here.

Medicinal internal use is different from culinary use. The human IBS trial used a purpose-built enteric-coated anise-oil product for a defined duration, not drops placed into a homemade capsule. A medicinal internal protocol should identify the exact oil or product, amount, edible carrier or dosage form, timing, frequency, duration, stopping rule, medication interactions, and audience cautions. Do not improvise those details from a clinical study. (5)

Become familiar with the safe uses of anise, as well as the GC/MS analysis from your essential oil source, which can tell you how much trans-anethole, estragole, and other major constituents are in your anise essential oil. As with all of God's plant-based gifts, concentration matters. Then have fun experimenting with the distinct licorice flavor and scent as you blend it with more familiar essential oils.

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