Though fennel is native to Europe, especially the Mediterranean region, it is today cultivated in many other parts of the world, including Asia, China, and North America. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a tall perennial herb. The leaves, bulb, and stalk of fennel look a lot like white celery and are edible. The fennel seed is used as both a spice in cooking and in making herbal medicines. Fennel has a sweet licorice taste, and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine.

Fennel has been used throughout European history. It may be found growing wild in many parts of the world in dry soils near the sea-coast and upon river-banks, particularly on limestone soils. For medicinal use, it is cultivated in the south of France, Saxony, Galicia, and Russia, as well as in India and Persia. The odor of Fennel seed is fragrant, its taste warm, sweet and aromatic.

Fennel is a beautiful plant. It has a thick bright green root-stock, stout stems, and grows to be about four to five feet tall. The branched leaves produce bright golden flowers that blossom into thirteen to twenty rays in July and early August.

Some claim that eating the peeled stalks relaxes the body for sleep. The tender stems are enjoyed in soups, though are more frequently eaten raw as a salad.

Fennel has been used to treat digestive ailments since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The presence of terpenoid anethole in fennel is given credit for its ability to calm the gastrointestinal tract and relieve cramps. Often it is mixed with peppermint, caraway, and wormwood to treat indigestion, heartburn, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Another one of the many fennel seed benefits is that it has traditionally been used to stimulate menstruation and milk production in nursing mothers, and to treat hormonal imbalance including PMS, menopause, and low libido. One study showed that fennel enhances the effects of estrogen in the system. It is used to relax the uterus, and to promote natural breast enhancement.

Some have used fennel as a decongestant to loosen phlegm in the bronchial passages. Fennel tea is also effective in some to reduce a persistent cough. To make this tea, crush 1 to 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds into a cup of hot water.

Fennel also has a reputation for being an appetite suppressant and thus it is used to promote weight-loss. Some studies have shown that fennel has some diuretic effect, and may help reduce water retention.

Fennel can be purchased as an oil, whole fennel seed, capsule, tincture, or liquid seed extract. You can also grow it yourself but keep it away from tomatoes or caraway as this will hinder their production. Use 2 to 12 drops of the oil, or 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of the seeds, or .5 teaspoons of the liquid daily.

Isolated cases of allergic and asthmatic reactions to fennel have been reported. It should not be used by small children or over a long period of time by anyone. Also pregnant or lactating women should avoid fennel.

Anxiety is what we always feel when we are in a tense situation, like studying harder for a major exam, rendering a speech in front of many people, or going on a blind date where you don’t know what to expect; even a bride definitely feel anxious on her wedding day (maybe thinking, what if she’ll be stood up by her groom! What a terrifying thought!). If you feel anxious or fear for certain circumstances or things and with logical reasons to be, it is just a normal and rational response. But, if you feel unexpected surges of overwhelming dread that comes without warning and for no reason at all, it is no longer regular anxiety but anxiety attack.

Anxiety attacks are far more intense than having the feeling of being stressed or anxious that most people experience. It is described as a sudden attack of intense fear or feelings of impending fate or disaster that strike without warning and for no apparent reason. And this can be immediately followed by several symptoms. These are caused by a shift in the way the Amygdala, the small organ in the brain which regulates the anxiety response, behaves when confronted with an anxiety provoking thought, sensation or situation. Anxiety attacks occur when a level of anxiety is reached which causes the Adrenalin to produce severe symptoms which reach a peak in just a matter of minutes. The peak of an attack can range anywhere from 5 to 30minutes, but the symptoms may last a little longer. The symptoms of anxiety attacks are completely harmless, although they can be very frightening. Anxiety attacks belong to a group of anxiety disorder, like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and agoraphobia.

Some of the symptoms of anxiety attack are intense heartbeat, difficulty of breathing, palpitation, nausea, excessive sweating and trembling, chest pains, fearful of going crazy or about to die, sudden chills, and the like. Some people may experience different or more anxiety attack symptoms but this does not mean that their condition is far worse or that you are suffering from different undiagnosed condition. And because we are all different, the symptoms during anxiety attacks can vastly vary. You might not find among the listed anxiety attack symptoms what you are experiencing and you’ll start to think there’s something very wrong with you. The list is just a guide only. Everyone reacts differently.

Anxiety attacks are always a sign of underlying anxiety disorder which itself can be treated successfully with or without having to go through medication or costly therapy. Linden Method offers a cure on panic and anxiety attacks. According to this method, anxiety attacks are not a sign of illness. The way to cure it is to eliminate the causes that trigger anxiety attacks.