You're at an Indian restaurant waiting to be seated when you notice a small bowl of fennel seeds on a table by the door. Pssst, they're to relieve gas, says Ayra H. DerMarderosian, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy and medicinal chemistry at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.
Contemporary herbalists recommend fennel to aid digestion, and yes, it does help expel gas.
It works by relaxing muscles in the digestive and reproductive systems. It's been used traditionally to boost mothers' milk production and promote menstruation. Studies have shown that fennel is effective in relieving infant colic. However, not all of fennel's uses have been supported by scientific research. Allow the tea to cool sufficiently if you're giving it to an infant.