Dawrat HayatAmounts and different forms
If you drink anise to settle your stomach or to sleep — the two most common reasons — ginger, mint, and light chamomile are alternatives you can rotate with, so you are not relying on one drink every day.
And why is it not given to infants?
This point deserves a pause because it concerns the period right after birth. It is a deeply rooted habit here to give an infant a spoonful of anise or herbs to soothe colic or help them sleep, and many women hear this advice from grandmothers with complete love. But health authorities do not recommend giving infants herbal drinks in the early months: a baby's stomach is very small, and any liquid other than milk takes up space that should be filled with milk, reducing the nutrition and immunity they receive. On top of that, herbal doses in infants are not studied, and star anise in particular has been linked to poisoning cases in babies due to confusion between its two varieties. Colic is a phase that passes, and there are safer ways to manage it — ask your paediatrician.
Myth Anise opens the cervix and eases labour, so drink plenty in the ninth month — and it also increases milk, so start before the birth.
Fact Both halves need correcting. First, there is no reliable evidence that anise opens the cervix or safely induces labour; what is said about its effect on the uterus is precisely the reason for advising against heavy use, not a reason to use it deliberately. Second, it is true that anise is listed among herbs that may help milk supply, but that concerns after the birth, not before — there is no benefit in "preparing" milk before there is a baby to feed, and milk production begins with hormonal signals following birth and then depends on frequent feeding itself. In short: postpone anise until after the birth if you want it for breastfeeding, and discuss induction with your doctor if you are past your due date.
When to ask your doctor
Ask your doctor if you drink anise daily in large amounts, if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or a family history of one, and if you take any supplement containing anise extract. Also ask if insomnia or stomach upset is driving you to herbal drinks every night, since there may be a cause that can be treated rather than drunk away. Seek immediate assessment if you have regular contractions or bleeding. And after birth, consult your paediatrician before giving your baby any herbal drink, however light and familiar it seems.