Star Anise, Vietnam

Description

The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening.

Characteristics

 It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, in Indian cuisine. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking.

Tamiflu  Shikimic acid, a primary feedstock used to create the anti-flu drug Tamiflu, is produced by most autotrophic organisms, but star anise is the industrial source. In 2005, there was a temporary shortage of star anise due to its use in making Tamiflu. Late in that year, a way was found of making shikimic acid artificially. Roche now derives some of the raw material it needs from fermenting E. coli bacteria.

Oils to Blend with
Forcare purposes see Care For Easy Breathe

Properties.  As a warm and moving herb, Ba Jiao is used to assist in relieving cold-stagnation in the middle jiao, according to TCM.

Latin Name
Illicium verum hook

Plant Family
illiciaceae

Extraction Method
Distillation

Country of Origin
Vietnam

Chemical Constituents
Anethole (85%)

Precautions
Not to be used internally.