Star anise, belongs to a special product of our country, generally in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, Guizhou and other places rich in production, the color is purple-brown, shape like a star, there is a sweet taste and a strong aromatic smell, its fragrance comes from the volatile fennel products inside, its role is other spices can not reach, while the star anise is also the main raw material for processing five-spice powder.
Star anise plants generally grow in a humid, warm semi-shaded environment, is an evergreen tree, common plants up to 20 meters high, generally in the autumn and winter picking fruit, the harvested fruit after drying appears reddish brown or yellow brown. It is possible to use it directly or grind it into a powder. Star anise can also be used as a raw material for the production of perfumes, toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, etc. in industry, and can also be used as a wind repellent and stimulant in medicine.
The efficacy and function of star anise
1. Introduction to the composition of star anise
The star anise contains volatile oil, which mainly contains anise brain, anisaldehyde, p-propenylphenyl isoprene ether, etc., and also contains flavonoids and organic acids. Volatile oils and anise brains have a stimulating effect, can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, relieve abdominal pain, and can enhance respiratory secretion for expectorant. Ethanol extract can inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococcus, diphtheriae, Escherichia coli, Typhoid and Paratyphibacterium, Dysentery bacillus in test tubes, etc., and also has a certain inhibitory effect on fungi. Anise also has the effect of elevating white blood cells.
2. Pharmacological effect of star anise
Star anise contains volatile oils, the main ingredients of which are anisole, anisaldehyde and anisone.
(1) Promote gastrointestinal peristalsis
The main ingredient of star anise is fennel oil, which can stimulate gastrointestinal nerve vessels, promote the secretion of digestive juices, increase gastrointestinal peristalsis, have the effect of strengthening the stomach and qi, help relieve spasms, reduce pain;
(2) Increase white blood cells
Fennel can promote the maturation of bone marrow cells and release peripheral blood, has a significant role in elevating white blood cells, mainly elevating neutrophils, and can be used for leukopenia.
(3) Inhibit bacteria
After taking the octagon decoction water, it has an inhibitory effect on humanoid tuberculosis bacteria and subtilis. Ethanol extract has a strong inhibitory effect on common pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumococcus pneum, Diphtheriae, Escherichia coli, Typhoid and Paratyphibacterium, and Dysentery Bacillus.
(4) Has estrogen activity
Anise in star anise has estrogen activity.
Ancient medical books recorded
(1) "Materia Medica Seeking Truth": Fennel, according to the book, the work is dedicated to the liver and kidneys, where all the cold and cold see cholera. Cold hernia, swollen, low back pain, and dry and wet beriberi, and liver through the virtual fire, from the upper left punch face to use, the service is effective. Fennel and cinnamon, evodia, are all yin and dry medicine, but the spleen is in the stomach, gui can enter the liver and kidneys, and this body can enter the meridians. Salt will be introduced into the kidneys, emitting yin and evil, so it can cure hernias effectively. Yu carefully chewed the taste of star anise, although its fragrance is there, its taste is very sweet, its nature is warm but not strong, compared to the taste of evodia, mugwort, etc., it is more different, if it is like the taste of octagonal fennel, and it is said that it can remove the cold and cold, it seems that the rational genus is hindered. Stir-fry in brine to get good wine.
(2) "Essence of Pinhui": All the cold air and hernia pains of the Lord.
(3) "Materia Medica": the main kidney strain hernia, small intestine hanging qi cramp pain, dry and wet athlete's foot, bladder cold air swelling and pain. Appetizing anti-nausea, feeding, insufficient life gate. (Cure) fistula, cholera.
(4) "Introduction to Medicine": mainly for low back pain.
(5) "Materia Medica": remove teeth and mouth diseases, lower breath, detoxification.
(6) "Medical Forest Essentials": run the kidneys and supplement the kidneys, soothe the liver wood, reach the gloom, relax the tendons, and remove the athlete's foot.
True and false octagonal discrimination technique
The phenomenon of using mangrove as an octagon in the market. Mangcao contains mangrove toxin, etc., if eaten by mistake, it is easy to cause poisoning, and its symptoms can be expressed after half an hour after eating, and the symptoms will be vomiting and nausea if the symptoms are mild, and the symptoms will be irritable, the pupils will be dilated, the head will spit white foam, and finally it will die because of the decline in blood and the cessation of breathing.
Generally false octagonal flap angle is not neat, and most of them are more than 8 petals, the flap angle is thin and long, the sharp horn is eagle-like, the appearance is extremely wrinkled, the stem is flat and slightly bitter, there is no rich special fragrance of the octagon, if a little coarse powder and boiling water are added, the solution is light yellow.
Octagonal buying skills
The fruit produced by the first flowering every year is called "spring star anise". The fruit produced by the second flowering is called "autumn star anise", and the autumn star anise is fat and full, red, and has a strong smell, and its quality is better than that of spring star anise.
When buying star anise, pay attention to its appearance and identify its aroma. Mainly speaking, there are the following points:
The fine star anise flap has neat corners, straight sharp corners, thicker peel, rough and wrinkled on the back, and lighter, smoother and shinier on both sides of the inner surface. The abdomen is lobed and contains a seed, and the seed coat is reddish brown. The fruit is mostly octagonal, rarely five or hexagonal, plump and straight, blunt or stewed tip at the apex, and brown and shiny seeds. The high-quality octagonal granules are neat and intact, large and full, brownish red and shiny, the pod edge cracks are larger, and the pod particles are bright.
The high-quality star anise should smell strong, and the inferior star anise is not only small and broken, but also has a poor aroma and appears black-brown.
The consumption of star anise should be avoided by people
Star anise is widely used in cooking, and can be eaten by the general population, especially for people with spastic pain and leukopenia.
People with yin deficiency and high fire are not suitable for eating star anise.
Star anise should not be eaten too much, otherwise it will hurt the eyes and grow sores.
What are the uses of star anise?
Star anise is widely used in cooking, and it can be used in cooking techniques such as boiling, frying, brine, sauce, and burning.
When cooking beef, rabbit and other ingredients, add a little star anise to remove the fishy smell and add an aromatic smell.
In addition to dishes such as stew that need to highlight the aroma of the ingredients themselves, when cooking vegetarian dishes, adding a little star anise can make the meat have a strong meat flavor, which is an indispensable spice for "vegetarian meat stew".
When marinating, such as pickling toon, sherry, and duck eggs, adding star anise can make the pickled food have a unique flavor.
When making cold dishes, it can be used directly as a spice oil. The specific method is to heat the oil, add the star anise and fry the incense, and mix it with green onion and ginger.
When mixing the filling, the star anise and five-spice powder are combined to eat, which can play a role in seasoning.
In addition to seasoning, star anise also has the effect of warming the qi, strengthening the stomach and anti-vomiting, and is used to treat vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain and so on.
Star anise is a very common seasoning in our lives, and when cooking food, its role is irreplaceable, but to remind everyone that if the star anise is consumed in excess, it is harmful to the human body, so when you put the star anise, you only need a small amount. And don't put star anise in all dishes, so as not to spoil the taste of the dish itself.