STar Anise
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
Based on the very limited primary, secondary and tertiary evidence, the use of star anise as a tea to treat infantile colic is not recommended.
There have been no studies done to evaluate its efficacy, but it has been used traditionally, especially in Central American countries, for treating colic in infants. The Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is considered generally safe for
ingestion unless high doses are used, whereas Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is associated with
potent toxic effects on the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. There have been several case reports of neurotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity associated with ingestion of star anise tea among both infant and adult populations. Although the exact causes of its toxic effects are not known, it is suspected to be due to either ingestion of high doses of Chinese star anise, adulteration of the Chinese star anise with the poisonous Japanese species or the combination of the two. Unless one can be certain that only the Chinese star anise is present in the product, its use should be discouraged, especially in the infant population.
References:
1. Ize-Ludlow D, Ragone S, Bruck IS et al. Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea.
Pediatrics 2004;114(5):e653-6.
2. Herman M, Le A. The crying infant. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2007; 25:1137-1159.
3. Star anise (Illicium verum). Natural Standard 2013. Accessed from
http://www.naturalstandard.com/databases/herbssupplements/staranise.asp?#mechanism.
4. Archived – Health Canada advises consumers not to ingest teas or health products containing star anise unless it is identified as Chinese star anise. Healthy Canadians. Product Safety, Health Canada, 2004. Accessed from
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2004/13109a-eng.php.
5. Herbal Tea for Infant Colic Unsafe. WebMD Health News, 2004. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20041112/herbal-tea-for-infant-colic-unsafe.
6. Licensed Natural Health Products Database. Health Canada, 2011. http://webprod3.hc-sc.gc.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/index-eng.jsp.
Based on the very limited primary, secondary and tertiary evidence, the use of star anise as a tea to treat infantile colic is not recommended.
There have been no studies done to evaluate its efficacy, but it has been used traditionally, especially in Central American countries, for treating colic in infants. The Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is considered generally safe for
ingestion unless high doses are used, whereas Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is associated with
potent toxic effects on the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. There have been several case reports of neurotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity associated with ingestion of star anise tea among both infant and adult populations. Although the exact causes of its toxic effects are not known, it is suspected to be due to either ingestion of high doses of Chinese star anise, adulteration of the Chinese star anise with the poisonous Japanese species or the combination of the two. Unless one can be certain that only the Chinese star anise is present in the product, its use should be discouraged, especially in the infant population.
References:
1. Ize-Ludlow D, Ragone S, Bruck IS et al. Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea.
Pediatrics 2004;114(5):e653-6.
2. Herman M, Le A. The crying infant. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2007; 25:1137-1159.
3. Star anise (Illicium verum). Natural Standard 2013. Accessed from
http://www.naturalstandard.com/databases/herbssupplements/staranise.asp?#mechanism.
4. Archived – Health Canada advises consumers not to ingest teas or health products containing star anise unless it is identified as Chinese star anise. Healthy Canadians. Product Safety, Health Canada, 2004. Accessed from
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2004/13109a-eng.php.
5. Herbal Tea for Infant Colic Unsafe. WebMD Health News, 2004. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20041112/herbal-tea-for-infant-colic-unsafe.
6. Licensed Natural Health Products Database. Health Canada, 2011. http://webprod3.hc-sc.gc.ca/lnhpd-bdpsnh/index-eng.jsp.