Is star anise poisonous?

Star anise is a common condiment and a must-have spice for every family. It has many uses and ways of eating. Whether it is used to make sesame oil, stir-fry or make cold dishes, it will make the food very fragrant. Since the price of star anise is usually very high, many unscrupulous merchants sell fake star anise to consumers. If you buy fake star anise, eating it will be harmful to your health.

Is star anise poisonous?

Star anise is actually poisonous under high temperature conditions. Under normal circumstances, star anise is not toxic. However, under high temperatures, star anise will produce harmful substances such as toluene or ethylbenzene. As the oil temperature continues to rise, the concentration of harmful substances increases.

The efficacy and function of star anise

The fruit of star anise can be used as medicine; it is warm in nature and spicy in taste; it has the effects of warming yang and dispersing cold, regulating qi and relieving pain. It is used to treat vomiting due to cold, abdominal pain due to cold hernia, low back pain due to kidney deficiency, dry and wet athlete's foot, etc.

In addition, its fruit contains volatile oils, the main components of which are anise oil, aisole, anisaldehyde and aniseone, which can stimulate the gastrointestinal nerves and blood vessels, promote the secretion of digestive juices, increase gastrointestinal motility, have the effects of strengthening the stomach and promoting qi, and help relieve spasms and reduce pain. It also contains anethole, which can promote the maturation of bone marrow cells and release them into the peripheral blood. It has a significant effect on increasing white blood cells, mainly neutrophils, and can be used for leukocytopenia.

What are the taboos of eating star anise?

First of all, in terms of population, it is edible for the general population. It is also particularly suitable for people with spasmodic pain and leukocytopenia; however, it is not suitable for people with yin deficiency and excessive fire. Star anise belongs to the liver, kidney, spleen and stomach meridians; it has the effects of dispelling cold, regulating qi and relieving pain. In daily diet, it is not recommended to eat too much star anise, especially for people with dry constitution. Excessive intake of star anise will cause excessive heat accumulation in the body and cause harm to the body. People with poor liver should also use star anise with caution.

Since eating too much star anise can cause side effects such as damage to eyesight, it is not suitable for short-term and large-scale consumption. The daily limit should be 10 grams. It is hot in nature and more suitable for people with weak and cold constitution. The amount consumed each time should not be too much.