Myths and half-truths about the alleged toxicity of fennel keep circulating. Fennel can be eaten raw or cooked by both humans and dogs. However, the right measure is also a decisive factor here.
Toxic components in fennel
In fact, carcinogenic substances such as estragole and methyleugenol can sometimes be detected in fennel teas. This seems particularly problematic because of the fact that pregnant women and small children often consume large amounts of fennel tea. On the other hand, poisoning with pyrrolizidine alkaloids can be ruled out when cultivating fennel yourself, since this can only get into the fennel tea during mechanical harvesting in large-scale production.
tips and tricks
Even the well-known miracle doctor Paracelsus warned of correct moderation with all foods. He recognized early on that, depending on the dosage, many herbal substances can act as poisons and also as medicines.