Tea, extract, capsules, tablets, cooking

Although star anise has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, it is relatively new to pharmacology and up until now has been used mostly as a cooking spice.

There have been recent outbreaks of Avian Flu (or Bird Flu) which is found in poultry. Avian Flu is caused by wild migrating birds coming in contact with domesticated birds. We then contract the disease by eating the infected birds. The deadly strain of the virus is H5N1. It has infected more than 100 people and killed more than 60 in the East and is spreading towards the West. Many doctors fear this flu may mutate into a deadly, infectious disease that we wouldn't have much resistance to, causing a modern plague. There is no effective vaccine for Avian Flu. The only combat against this disease is a drug called Tamiflu, which doesn't prevent the infection, but decreases its' severity. The main ingredient in Tamiflu is shikimic acid, a chemical compound that is found to be abundant in star anise. Although there is a way to produce shikimic acid without using star anise, extracting it directly from the fruit is still the best way of producing it.

Things you can do to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands consistently throughout the day

• Minimize contact with infected persons and poultry

Anise also contains some compounds that are estrogenic (anethole, similar to estrogen female hormone) and promotes menstruation, facilitating childbirth, increasing libido in women, and oddly enough some people have reported androgenic (male hormone) effects as well. It's worth a try.

Its licorice like flavor is popular in candies

WARNING: Do not confuse with Japanese star anise because that one is poisonous.