Anise

source=Seeds of the anise plant Pimpinella anisum
flavor=Sweet, similar to licorice
Best Used=Dried seeds
Cooking Use=As flavoring in cookies, candies and pastries; also in poultry dishes

You're hacking and hacking, but nothing's coming up. A popular ingredient in cough drops, anise contains the chemicals creosol and alpha-pinene, which have been shown to loosen mucus in the bronchial tubes and make it easier to cough up. You wined, you dined ... and your tummy needs a bedtime story. There's a reason why anise-flavored cordials are drunk after dinner: Anise contains the chemical anethole, which helps relieve gas and settle a queasy -- or just burgeoning -- tummy. Anise contains the compounds dianethole and photoanethole, which are chemically similar to the female hormone estrogen. You're throwing off enough heat to power a small city. If menopausal hot flashes have you wondering if you could fry an egg on your forehead, give anise tea a try. The same mild estrogenic action that makes it valuable for nursing moms may also help take the edge off your menopausal symptoms.