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Star Anise

Japanese: Dai-uikyo

Star Anise in South China - Photo by Nobuhiro Nakata

Illicuim verum (HOOK, F.)

This is one of my favorite incense ingredients. Maybe it is just a personal fondness for licorice aromas, but it always brings a smile to my face. Star Anise may be the least studied and understood of all incense ingredients. Most of the phytochemicals rich in star anise have not been studied either, however two: Limonene and 1,8 cineole may hold part of the key. 1,8 cineole is both a CNS stimulant and a sedative. Limonene is a known sedative, and is now being considered as possibly Antialzheimeran. This suggest an aspect of an ability to improve awareness and alertness.

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