The three seeds, cumin, coriander and fennel, and a cup of the tea.

Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea

Q: What is cumin, coriander and fennel (CCF) tea?

A herbal tea made by steeping three dried seeds, cumin, coriander and fennel, in hot water. It is not true tea. The three plants are all in the carrot family and are common in Indian cooking and Ayurveda. We did not find any research on the blend itself.

Q: Is there research on the blend?

We did not find any trial of the three-seed blend as a tea. The research we found is on single seeds, mostly as capsules or extracts: cumin (blood sugar, blood fats, weight, bowel recovery after surgery), fennel (one tea trial after surgery, one tiny appetite trial) and coriander (one small trial of a coriander and garlic powder). Results for one seed in one form do not carry over to the tea.

Q: Is CCF tea Ayurvedic?

The three seeds are common in Indian cooking, and a 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among spices widely used in Ayurveda. We did not find a source that describes the history of this tea blend itself, so we cannot say more about its origin.

Q: Can it help with weight loss, blood sugar or cholesterol?

Cumin supplements gave small improvements in weight, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar in reviews of small trials, but the reviews disagree on blood sugar and on the size of the cholesterol effect. None of the trials used a tea. The tea has not been shown to help any of these.

Q: Does it contain caffeine?

No caffeine is expected, because none of the three seeds comes from the tea plant. No source we read measured caffeine in this tea, so this is an inference. Ready-made blends may contain other herbs or true tea, so read the label.

Q: Who should not drink it?

People allergic to cumin, coriander, fennel, celery, carrot, aniseed, caraway or dill, or to mugwort pollen, should avoid it; the EU lists this as a reason not to use fennel. The EU also does not recommend fennel fruit preparations under 4 years or in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Spice allergy can be severe.

Q: Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

The EU says use of fennel fruit preparations is not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety is not established. LactMed has no data on cumin in nursing mothers, and describes one case of adrenal problems after a woman drank a large amount of coriander extract for a week. A small safety trial of a different multi-herb milk-supply tea found no harm. Ask a midwife or doctor.

Q: Is it safe for babies and children?

The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations, including the tea, for children under 4 years because of lack of data, and limits use at 4 to 12. A Cochrane review does not recommend herbal agents for infant colic. Talk to a paediatrician before giving any herbal tea to a baby.

Q: Does it interact with medicines?

No interaction studies were found for the tea. Cumin supplements lowered blood sugar in some reviews, so people using diabetes medicines should ask a pharmacist. Fennel capsules caused bleeding in women on the DMPA contraceptive injection, and women on hormone treatment should ask their doctor. The EU lists no reported fennel interactions, which mostly reflects little research.

Cuminum cyminum L., Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. · also called CCF tea, cumin coriander fennel seed tea, three-seed tea, comino cilantro hinojo

CCF tea is a herbal drink made from the dried seeds of cumin, coriander and fennel, spices common in Indian cooking and Ayurveda. We found no trial of the blend itself. Trials tested single seeds, mostly cumin as capsules, and one trial tested fennel tea alone after surgery. All three seeds are carrot-family plants, so people with that allergy should avoid it, and the EU does not recommend fennel preparations for children under 4 or in pregnancy.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

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About Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea

Cumin, coriander and fennel (CCF) tea is a herbal tea made from the dried seeds of three carrot-family spices. No trial of the blend was found. Cumin supplement trials show small and inconsistent changes in blood sugar, blood fats and weight, and fennel tea alone was followed by earlier bowel recovery in one trial after surgery. The main cautions are allergy to carrot-family plants, fennel's estragole (the EU limits fennel tea to 2 weeks in adults), pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies, and possible effects on blood sugar and hormone medicines.

What it is

CCF tea is made by steeping the dried seeds (technically the dried fruits) of cumin (Cuminum cyminum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in hot water. All three belong to the carrot or parsley family (Apiaceae), with anise, caraway, celery and dill. It is not true tea (Camellia sinensis).

No caffeine is expected, because none of the three is the tea plant. No source we read measured caffeine in this tea, so this is an inference. Blends sold as CCF tea may contain other herbs, so read the label.

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What the research shows

We found no trial of the three-seed blend. The research is on single seeds. For cumin, several meta-analyses of capsule and extract trials found small improvements in blood fats, weight and waist size and, in two of three reviews, in fasting blood sugar. They disagree on how big the effects are, and the trials are small. For fennel, the EU accepts the tea as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, and one trial of 159 surgical patients found earlier bowel recovery with fennel tea than with water.

For coriander there is almost no human trial evidence: one small trial of coriander seed powder with garlic, and one capsule trial that combined it with a related plant that is not cumin. A Cochrane review rates the evidence for natural milk-boosters as low to very low.

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Tea, extract, capsule and oil

A cup of tea is a weak water extract of the seeds. Most trials of cumin and coriander used capsules, extracts, powders or drops, and the fennel trial that tested tea used fennel alone. Essential oils of the three seeds are much more concentrated, are not drinks, and have their own safety limits. Results from one form should not be assumed for another. Any question about amounts is for your doctor or pharmacist.

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Where it is used

A 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among common Indian spices widely used in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicine system. The EU recognises fennel fruit tea as a traditional medicine in Europe. LactMed notes that cumin has been used, and coriander is purported, to increase milk supply. We did not find a source on the history or origin of the three-seed tea blend itself, so none is claimed.

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What happens in the body

How the blend acts is not known. The seeds' main oils are linalool in coriander, cuminaldehyde in cumin and anethole (with a little estragole) in fennel, but no study read showed what these do in people drinking the tea. In the liver, fennel's estragole is turned into a reactive form, which is the basis for the EU's caution. A lab study of patient blood found shared allergens in anise, fennel, coriander and cumin, which explains why allergy to one can mean allergy to others.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

India: a 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among common spices widely used in Ayurveda; we did not find a source on this tea blend's own history
Europe: the EU herbal committee lists fennel fruit tea as a traditional medicine for mild crampy stomach complaints with bloating and wind, based on long use
Milk-supply tradition: LactMed says cumin has been used, and coriander is purported, to increase milk supply, with little trial support

Studied for research

Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind (the tea), insufficient (traditional use; no trial of the blend)
Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery (fennel tea; cumin capsules), low
Blood sugar (cumin supplements), mixed
Blood fats and weight (cumin supplements), low
Breast milk supply, very low
Period pain and infant colic (fennel, not the blend), low

Main compounds

Linalool, the main compound of coriander seed oil (LactMed)
Cuminaldehyde, a compound of cumin seed oil (LactMed)
trans-Anethole, the main compound of fennel fruit oil, and a small amount of estragole, which causes liver tumours in rodents at high doses
No caffeine expected: none of the three is the tea plant (an inference; no source measured it)

Common forms

Herbal tea from the dried seeds, sold loose or in tea bags
Blends that may contain other herbs, so the label matters
Capsules, powders and extracts (most trials used these, and results do not carry over to tea)
Essential oils of the three seeds (separate, concentrated products, not drinks)

Research links: EU herbal monograph on bitter fennel fruit (2024) · LactMed: cumin · LactMed: coriander · Meta-analysis of cumin on metabolic syndrome components (2025) · Fennel tea after gynaecological cancer surgery (2015) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

What it is and its history

Accepted scientific name: Cuminum cyminum L., Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (three separate species)
Naming authority: All three names are accepted species in the GBIF backbone (keys 3034775, 3034871, 3034922).
Common names: Cumin (English); Coriander seed (cilantro is the leaf in US usage) (English); Fennel (English); Comino, cilantro (semilla de cilantro), hinojo (Spanish)
Family or group: Apiaceae, the carrot or parsley family, which also includes anise, caraway, celery and dill.
Classification: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Apiales > Apiaceae > Cuminum; Coriandrum; Foeniculum > Cuminum cyminum; Coriandrum sativum; Foeniculum vulgare
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Black cumin (Nigella sativa); Note: A different plant (buttercup family) sometimes called black cumin or black seed.; Name: Bunium persicum; Note: Another carrot-family plant, called black or wild cumin in some places; used in the dyspepsia trial instead of Cuminum cyminum.; Name: Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum); Note: A poisonous carrot-family weed; never gather wild carrot-family seeds without expert identification.

Photographs

A cup of cumin, coriander and fennel tea beside piles of cumin, coriander and fennel seeds — The three seeds and a cup of the tea.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Ayurveda and Indian cooking	A 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among common Indian spices widely used in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicine system. We did not find a source that describes the history of the three-seed tea itself or says where the blend name comes from.	p36438833
European traditional use of fennel	The EU herbal committee accepts fennel fruit tea as a traditional herbal medicine for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based only on long use.	s-ema-hmpc-fennel-bitter
Milk-supply herbs	LactMed says cumin has been used as a milk-supply herb (galactagogue) and that coriander is a purported one with no valid clinical trials supporting it.	s-lactmed-cumin
Coriander as a digestive herb	A 2025 review lists coriander seed traditional uses as a digestive stimulant and carminative (wind reliever), among others.	p39719783

Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Linalool PubChem 6549	terpene alcohol	Coriander seed (oil) LactMed says coriander seed oil consists mainly of linalool. Amounts in a cup of tea were not found.	Responsible for coriander's odour and taste (LactMed). No activity data were read for this page. ^{35 38 7}	None read
Cuminaldehyde PubChem 326	aromatic aldehyde	Cumin seed (oil) LactMed says cumin seed oil contains cuminaldehyde and other aldehydes. Amounts in tea were not found.	No activity data were read for this page. ^{36 38}	None read
trans-Anethole PubChem 637563	phenylpropanoid (aromatic ether)	Fennel fruit (oil) The main compound of fennel fruit oil (as read earlier for our fennel tea review). Amount in tea not measured in sources read.	LactMed describes anethole as a phytoestrogen that passes into breast milk; the EU monographs list allergy to anethole as a reason to avoid fennel. ^{37 38 30 31}	Summary only
Estragole PubChem 8815	phenylpropanoid	Fennel fruit (minor part of the oil) Estragole is a small share of fennel oil (draft EMA statement). Not measured in this blend.	Causes liver tumours in rodents at high doses; the reason for the EU limits on fennel tea. ^{29 38}	Animal research

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Allergen cross-reactivity (Bet v 1-like proteins and profilin)	IgE antibodies binding Bet v 1-like and profilin-like allergens	In serum from 15 patients with reactions to spiced food, cross-reacting allergens were found in anise, fennel, coriander and cumin extracts. IgE binding was seen only in the 10 patients with pollen or celeriac allergy. ¹¹	In vitro (human serum)
Liver activation of estragole	Liver enzymes (as described in the EMA statement)	Estragole is turned into a reactive form in the liver, which is the basis of the rodent tumour findings. ²⁹	Animal research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: No blood-level study of any compound from this blend was found.
Distribution: LactMed says no data exist on excretion of cumin components into breast milk; the EU fennel monographs say anethole is excreted in human milk.
Metabolism: No study read for the blend. For fennel, the liver activates estragole (EMA statement).
Elimination: Not studied for the blend.
Bioavailability: Not measured for any compound in this blend in people.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Tea, capsules, extracts, drops and essential oils are very different exposures. Most trials of cumin and coriander tested capsules, extracts, powders or drops, and the fennel trial that tested tea used fennel alone. The essential oils are concentrated products and are not drinks. Results from one form cannot be assumed for another.

Nutritional composition

A cup of this tea is an infusion of the dried seeds in water; the sources read did not measure its nutrients, caffeine or compounds.

10benefits and uses looked at

38studies and sources checked

Low certaintybest evidence rating found

3lab markers tracked in trials

1 mixed findings5 low certainty3 very low certainty1 not enough evidence

What was looked at

The 10 benefits and uses checked for Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.

Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only)Not enough evidence
Long-lasting indigestion (functional dyspepsia): a capsule of coriander plus a related plant (not tea)Very low certainty
Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery: fennel tea and cumin extract capsules (separately)Low certainty
Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend)Mixed findings
Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trialLow certainty
Weight and waist size (cumin capsules)Low certainty
Breast milk supply (cumin drops; fennel and coriander in milk-supply teas)Very low certainty
Appetite (fennel tea, one small trial)Very low certainty
Infant colic (fennel products, not the blend)Low certainty
Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules)Low certainty

Lab markers tracked in the studies

Time to first wind (flatus) after abdominal surgeryFasting blood sugarTotal cholesterol

What is Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea good for?

The main studied uses and how strong the evidence is for each. No study tested the three-seed blend, so each row says which single seed and which form was tested. 'Insufficient' means no usable trial; 'low' means small trials of a different form; 'very low' means one small or indirect study; 'mixed' means studies disagree.

Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind (the three-seed tea)Not enough evidencePeople drink this tea after meals for bloating and wind. No trial of the blend was found. The EU accepts fennel fruit tea alone as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based on long use and not on trials. Long-lasting indigestion (a coriander and Bunium persicum capsule, not tea)Very low certaintyOne trial of 90 adults found a capsule of coriander plus Bunium persicum (a related plant that is not cumin) eased indigestion more than placebo, with no serious side effects. The abstract gives no numbers, and it was not a tea. Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery (fennel tea; cumin extract capsules)Low certaintyWomen who drank fennel fruit tea after gynaecological cancer surgery passed wind earlier than those given water (53.1 versus 64.2 hours; 159 women, not blinded). A separate trial of cumin extract capsules in 74 patients also found earlier wind. Neither tested the blend. Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not tea)Mixed findingsTwo meta-analyses of cumin supplements found lower fasting blood sugar and one found no clear change. Results vary a lot between trials, and none used a tea. Blood fats (cumin supplements; a coriander and garlic powder trial)Low certaintyReviews found small improvements in cholesterol with cumin supplements, but they disagree on the size (total cholesterol down by 10.9 mg/dl in one and 3.96 in another). A small trial of coriander seed powder also reported lower blood fats. No tea trial. Weight and waist size (cumin capsules)Low certaintyIn 78 overweight adults, cumin capsules lowered weight about as much as orlistat over 8 weeks (1.1 kg versus 0.2 kg gain on placebo). Reviews found small falls in BMI and waist size. No tea trial. Breast milk supplyVery low certaintyAll three seeds are traditional milk-supply herbs. One Iranian trial of cumin drops (117 mothers) reported higher milk indicators, but a Cochrane review rates the evidence for natural milk-boosters as low to very low, and LactMed finds no valid trials for coriander. Appetite (fennel tea, one small trial)Very low certaintyIn nine overweight women, fennel tea lowered hunger and raised fullness ratings for one meal, but they did not eat less at lunch. It was fennel alone, not the blend. Infant colic (fennel products)Low certaintyFennel is a classic remedy for babies with colic, but a Cochrane review concluded herbal agents cannot be recommended. The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations under 4 years. Cumin and coriander were not tested for colic in anything we read. Period pain (fennel and other carrot-family seeds, mostly capsules)Low certaintyA 2026 review of 14 trials found a positive pooled result for carrot-family seeds, including fennel, against standard painkillers. The trials were not of tea and the abstract does not say which used cumin.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only)

Not enough evidence

People drink cumin, coriander and fennel tea after meals for bloating and wind. No trial of the blend as a tea was found. The EU accepts fennel fruit tea alone as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based on long use, not on trials.

3 studiesTrials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds,…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No randomised trial of the cumin, coriander and fennel tea blend was found in PubMed. For fennel alone, the EU accepts the tea as traditional use. For cumin and coriander, the closest human data are the capsule trials listed below.

Results

No human trial of the three-seed tea for stomach or bowel complaints.

Why this rating

The blend has never been tested, and the EU view of fennel tea rests only on long use.

Form and dose studied

Trials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds, not the three-seed tea. Amounts are not given here: ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Who was studied

Adults and adolescents. The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations under 4 years and limits them at 4 to 12.

Limits

Traditional use is not proof of benefit. Most mild stomach upsets pass without treatment.

Why researchers looked

The three seeds are classic after-meal spices in Indian cooking and Ayurveda, and fennel is also a classic digestive herb in Europe.

Traditional use

The EU herbal committee lists fennel fruit tea (bitter and sweet fennel monographs, revised January 2024) as a traditional herbal medicine for mild, spasmodic stomach and bowel complaints including bloating and wind, 'exclusively based upon long-standing use'. A 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among common spices used in Ayurveda. We did not find a source that describes the CCF tea's own history.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

The EU limits fennel fruit tea to 2 weeks in adults and says to see a doctor if symptoms persist or get worse.

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Long-lasting indigestion (functional dyspepsia): a capsule of coriander plus a related plant (not tea)

Very low certainty

One trial of 90 adults found that a capsule containing coriander and a related plant eased indigestion more than placebo. The related plant, Bunium persicum, is not cumin, and it was not a tea.

2 studiesTrials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds,…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Azimi 2024: 90 adults with functional dyspepsia in Iran took a twice-daily capsule of Bunium persicum plus coriander or placebo for 4 weeks and were followed for 4 more weeks (40 per group finished). All clinical outcomes improved more than placebo, with no serious side effects.

Results

Improvement in symptom severity, frequency and quality of life versus placebo. The abstract gives no numbers.

Effect sizes as reported

Not given in the abstract.

Why this rating

One trial, 80 completers, no effect sizes in the abstract, a two-herb capsule that does not contain cumin or fennel.

Form and dose studied

Trials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds, not the three-seed tea. Amounts are not given here: ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Who was studied

Adults with functional dyspepsia (excluded pregnancy, lactation and herb allergy).

Limits

Bunium persicum is a different plant. Single centre. Not tea. No numbers available to judge the size of the effect.

Why researchers looked

A 2025 review lists coriander seed as a traditional digestive stimulant and carminative (wind reliever).

Traditional use

Not described in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No serious side effects were reported in the trial.

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Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery: fennel tea and cumin extract capsules (separately)

Low certainty

In two small trials, patients recovered bowel movement sooner with fennel tea (compared with water) or with cumin extract capsules (compared with placebo). Neither trial tested the three-seed blend.

2 studiesFennel fruit tea in the first trial; cumin extract capsules in the se…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Ma 2015: 159 women after gynaecological cancer surgery in China drank fennel fruit tea or plain water twice a day until first wind. Amin 2024: 74 patients after abdominal surgery in Iran took cumin extract capsules or placebo capsules in the hours after surgery.

Results

Fennel tea: time to first wind 53.1 versus 64.2 hours, time to first stool 4.3 versus 5.4 days, hospital stay 5.6 versus 6.7 days, ileus symptoms more common with water (RR 2.6). Cumin extract: time to passing gas 9.03 versus 11.72 hours and to stool 16.97 versus 26 hours; less pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting.

Effect sizes as reported

Fennel tea: flatus 53.1 vs 64.2 h. Cumin extract: gas 9.03 vs 11.72 h.

Why this rating

Two small single-centre trials of two different single seeds, one compared with water (not blinded) and one with placebo; the cumin abstract prints its p value as P > 0.001, a likely typo.

Form and dose studied

Fennel fruit tea in the first trial; cumin extract capsules in the second. Amounts not given here.

Who was studied

Adults after abdominal surgery under medical care.

Limits

Hospital setting; a tea of the blend was not tested; results may not apply to healthy people at home. Cochrane-level reviews were not found.

Why researchers looked

After abdominal surgery the bowel can stall (ileus), and herbs with a long carminative reputation were tried to speed recovery.

Traditional use

Not found.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety problems were mentioned in the abstracts, but they are short. Do not use herbs after surgery without asking the surgical team.

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Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend)

Mixed findings

Reviews of cumin supplement trials disagree. Two found lower fasting blood sugar and one found no clear change. None tested a tea.

3 studiesTrials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds,…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Three meta-analyses of randomised trials of cumin supplements. Karimian 2021 pooled 8 trials with 552 adults. Tavakoli-Rouzbehani 2021 pooled 8 studies. Liu 2025 pooled 9 trials in adults with metabolic disorders.

Results

Fasting blood sugar fell in two reviews (SMD -1.4 in 2021; SMD -1.38 in 2025) and HbA1c fell in one (SMD -1.71). The 2021 Karimian review found no significant change in fasting blood sugar (-17.77 mg/dl, 95% CI -36.42 to 0.87), insulin or HOMA-IR.

Effect sizes as reported

FBS SMD -1.38 (Liu 2025); WMD -17.77 mg/dl, not significant (Karimian 2021)

Why this rating

Reviews of mostly small trials disagree, with very high heterogeneity (I2 about 95% in the 2025 review).

Form and dose studied

Trials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds, not the three-seed tea. Amounts are not given here: ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Who was studied

Adults with diabetes, metabolic syndrome or other disorders.

Limits

Mostly small supplement trials; high heterogeneity; no trial of cumin tea. Effects on blood sugar also mean a possible interaction with diabetes medicines (see the safety tab).

Why researchers looked

Cumin is a traditional herbal medicine, and trials tested it in people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Traditional use

Not found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

If cumin lowers blood sugar, it could add to the effect of diabetes medicines. This has not been studied for the tea.

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Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial

Low certainty

Reviews found small improvements in cholesterol and triglycerides with cumin supplements. One small trial of coriander seed powder also found lower blood fats. None tested the tea.

4 studiesTrials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds,…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Hadi 2018: 6 trials, 376 adults. Tavakoli-Rouzbehani 2022: 8 trials. Liu 2025: 9 trials. Zeb 2018: 80 patients with high blood fats, 20 per group, given garlic powder, coriander seed powder, both, or placebo.

Results

Cumin: total cholesterol -10.90 mg/dl and LDL -6.94 mg/dl, HDL +3.35 mg/dl (2018); total cholesterol -3.96 mg/dl (2022); triglycerides -0.58 SMD and HDL +0.77 SMD (2025). Coriander seed powder improved BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure compared with placebo (no numbers in abstract).

Effect sizes as reported

Total cholesterol -10.90 mg/dl (2018) versus -3.96 mg/dl (2022)

Why this rating

Several reviews agree in direction but the size of effect differs between them, trials are small, and the coriander trial gave no numbers.

Form and dose studied

Trials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds, not the three-seed tea. Amounts are not given here: ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Who was studied

Adults with high blood fats or metabolic problems.

Limits

Mostly capsule trials from a few countries; no trial of tea; the coriander trial had only 20 people per group and its abstract does not describe blinding.

Why researchers looked

Cumin and coriander seeds were tested for blood fats in small trials.

Traditional use

Not found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety problems were highlighted in the abstracts.

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Weight and waist size (cumin capsules)

Low certainty

In one 8-week trial in overweight adults, cumin capsules lowered weight about as much as the drug orlistat. Reviews found small drops in BMI and waist size. No trial tested the tea.

3 studiesTrials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds,…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Taghizadeh 2015: 78 overweight adults, three groups, 8 weeks. Reviews: Tavakoli-Rouzbehani 2022 (8 trials) and Liu 2025 (9 trials).

Results

Weight changed by -1.1 kg with cumin, -0.9 kg with orlistat and +0.2 kg with placebo; BMI -0.4, -0.4 and +0.1. Reviews: BMI -0.88 kg/m2 (2022); waist circumference lower (SMD -0.46, 2025).

Effect sizes as reported

Weight -1.1 kg versus +0.2 kg on placebo

Why this rating

Small trials and reviews with high heterogeneity; changes are small.

Form and dose studied

Trials used capsules, powders, extracts or drops of one or two seeds, not the three-seed tea. Amounts are not given here: ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Who was studied

Overweight or obese adults.

Limits

Capsule trials, 8 weeks; no tea trial; no long-term follow-up.

Why researchers looked

Cumin was tested for weight and metabolic markers in adults.

Traditional use

Not found.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No safety problems were highlighted in the abstracts.

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Breast milk supply (cumin drops; fennel and coriander in milk-supply teas)

Very low certainty

Cumin, fennel and coriander are traditional milk-supply herbs, but good evidence is lacking. One Iranian trial of cumin drops reported higher milk indicators. A Cochrane review is very uncertain about fennel.

5 studiesDrops (cumin) and teas of other blends. Amounts not given here.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Farshad 2024: 117 breastfeeding mothers took cumin drops, nettle drops or placebo for 4 weeks. Foong 2020 (Cochrane): 41 trials of galactagogues. Wagner 2019: 60 women drank a fennel, anise, coriander and fenugreek tea or placebo, a safety trial in women without supply problems.

Results

Cumin drops: infant weight, feeds, wet diapers and stool frequency were all higher than with placebo (P<0.001) and higher than with nettle. Cochrane: very uncertain whether fennel or fenugreek improves infant weight; milk volume results ranged from benefit to little or no difference (very low certainty). The tea safety trial measured safety, not supply.

Effect sizes as reported

No usable effect size.

Why this rating

Very-low-certainty Cochrane evidence; the cumin trial used drops and indirect indicators; nothing tested the three-seed tea.

Form and dose studied

Drops (cumin) and teas of other blends. Amounts not given here.

Who was studied

Breastfeeding mothers of healthy term infants.

Limits

Only one trial of cumin; coriander has no valid trials per LactMed; the tea blend tested for safety contained other herbs and no cumin.

Why researchers looked

All three seeds are traditional milk-booster herbs, and they appear in commercial milk-supply teas.

Traditional use

LactMed says cumin has been used as a galactagogue, and that coriander is a purported galactagogue with no scientifically valid clinical trials to support the use.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the safety tab. LactMed notes no data on cumin in breast milk, and a possible endocrine case with heavy coriander extract use.

^{8 9 27 36 35}

Appetite (fennel tea, one small trial)

Very low certainty

In nine overweight women, fennel tea lowered hunger and raised fullness ratings for one meal, but they did not eat less at lunch. This was fennel alone.

1 studiesFennel tea in the trial. Amounts not given here.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Bae 2015: nine overweight Korean women in a three-way crossover (fennel tea, fenugreek tea, placebo tea).

Results

Hunger and prospective food consumption fell and fullness rose with fennel tea compared with placebo tea (p<0.05). Food eaten at the lunch buffet did not differ.

Effect sizes as reported

Ratings improved; food intake no different

Why this rating

Nine people, one meal, subjective ratings, and fennel alone.

Form and dose studied

Fennel tea in the trial. Amounts not given here.

Who was studied

Overweight women.

Limits

Tiny crossover trial; a different tea from the blend.

Why researchers looked

Fennel seed is traditionally linked to appetite and digestion.

Traditional use

Not found.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

No adverse effects were mentioned in the abstract.

⁴

Infant colic (fennel products, not the blend)

Low certainty

Fennel is a classic remedy for babies with colic, but the best review says herbal agents cannot be recommended. Cumin and coriander were not tested for colic in anything we read. Babies need special care with herbal teas.

3 studiesNot applicable here. Ask a paediatrician about colic.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Biagioli 2016 (Cochrane): 18 small trials of 1014 infants.

Results

Herbal agents showed low-quality evidence of shorter crying (MD 1.33) and moderate-quality evidence of more responders (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.70), but all studies were small and at high risk of bias. The review concluded herbal agents cannot be recommended for infants with colic.

Effect sizes as reported

Responders RR 2.05 (95% CI 1.56 to 2.70)

Why this rating

All trials small and biased; the herbal products were not this tea.

Who was studied

Infants under 4 months.

Limits

The reviewers advise against recommending herbal agents; this page does not suggest giving the blend to babies.

Why researchers looked

Fennel tea is a traditional European remedy for nursing babies with gas.

Traditional use

The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations in children under 4 years because of lack of data.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the safety tab for baby cautions, including estragole in fennel.

^{6 30 31}

Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules)

Low certainty

A 2026 review pooled trials of carrot-family seeds, including fennel and dill, against painkillers for period pain and found a positive pooled result. It does not say which trials used cumin, and the trials were not of tea.

1 studiesMostly capsules and extracts.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

Thaliyil Poduval 2026: 14 randomised trials, 7 in the meta-analysis, mostly compared with mefenamic acid or ibuprofen.

Results

Pooled results against standard treatments were statistically positive with low heterogeneity, including for fennel seed and dill seed. The authors call the herbs potentially effective add-on treatments.

Effect sizes as reported

Significant pooled effect against standard painkillers (no numbers in abstract)

Why this rating

Review of trials with some concerns about reporting; mostly compared with painkillers, not placebo; not tea.

Form and dose studied

Mostly capsules and extracts.

Who was studied

Young women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Limits

The abstract does not list which trials used cumin; the three-seed blend was not tested.

Why researchers looked

Fennel and cumin are traditional remedies for period pain.

Traditional use

Not found.

Proposed mechanism None found

No mechanism was found for the blend. For the single seeds, only lab or animal work exists and it was not read for this page.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the safety tab for pregnancy, allergy and hormone cautions.

²⁶

Connections to the rest of health

How Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Digestive Support		Not enough evidence	Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only): People drink cumin, coriander and fennel tea after meals for bloating and wind. No trial of the blend as a tea was found. The EU accepts fennel fruit tea alone as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based on long use, not on trials.	^{30 31 18}
Gut Health		Not enough evidence	Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only): People drink cumin, coriander and fennel tea after meals for bloating and wind. No trial of the blend as a tea was found. The EU accepts fennel fruit tea alone as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based on long use, not on trials.	^{30 31 18}
Digestive Support	Potential benefit	Very low certainty	Long-lasting indigestion (functional dyspepsia): a capsule of coriander plus a related plant (not tea): One trial of 90 adults found that a capsule containing coriander and a related plant eased indigestion more than placebo. The related plant, Bunium persicum, is not cumin, and it was not a tea. Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery: fennel tea and cumin extract capsules (separately): In two small trials, patients recovered bowel movement sooner with fennel tea (compared with water) or with cumin extract capsules (compared with placebo). Neither trial tested the three-seed blend.	^{3 7 16 2}
Gut Health	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery: fennel tea and cumin extract capsules (separately): In two small trials, patients recovered bowel movement sooner with fennel tea (compared with water) or with cumin extract capsules (compared with placebo). Neither trial tested the three-seed blend.	^{16 2}
Blood Sugar Balance	Potential benefit	Mixed findings	Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend): Reviews of cumin supplement trials disagree. Two found lower fasting blood sugar and one found no clear change. None tested a tea.	^{13 23 15}
Metabolic Health	Potential benefit	Mixed findings	Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend): Reviews of cumin supplement trials disagree. Two found lower fasting blood sugar and one found no clear change. None tested a tea. Weight and waist size (cumin capsules): In one 8-week trial in overweight adults, cumin capsules lowered weight about as much as the drug orlistat. Reviews found small drops in BMI and waist size. No trial tested the tea.	^{13 23 15 22 24}
Cholesterol Balance	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial: Reviews found small improvements in cholesterol and triglycerides with cumin supplements. One small trial of coriander seed powder also found lower blood fats. None tested the tea.	^{10 24 15 28}
Heart Health	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial: Reviews found small improvements in cholesterol and triglycerides with cumin supplements. One small trial of coriander seed powder also found lower blood fats. None tested the tea.	^{10 24 15 28}
Weight Management	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Weight and waist size (cumin capsules): In one 8-week trial in overweight adults, cumin capsules lowered weight about as much as the drug orlistat. Reviews found small drops in BMI and waist size. No trial tested the tea. Appetite (fennel tea, one small trial): In nine overweight women, fennel tea lowered hunger and raised fullness ratings for one meal, but they did not eat less at lunch. This was fennel alone.	^{22 24 15 4}
Womens Wellness		Very low certainty	Breast milk supply (cumin drops; fennel and coriander in milk-supply teas): Cumin, fennel and coriander are traditional milk-supply herbs, but good evidence is lacking. One Iranian trial of cumin drops reported higher milk indicators. A Cochrane review is very uncertain about fennel.	^{8 9 27 36 35}
Digestive Support		Low certainty	Infant colic (fennel products, not the blend): Fennel is a classic remedy for babies with colic, but the best review says herbal agents cannot be recommended. Cumin and coriander were not tested for colic in anything we read. Babies need special care with herbal teas.	^{6 30 31}
Womens Wellness	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules): A 2026 review pooled trials of carrot-family seeds, including fennel and dill, against painkillers for period pain and found a positive pooled result. It does not say which trials used cumin, and the trials were not of tea.	²⁶
Pain Relief	Potential benefit	Low certainty	Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules): A 2026 review pooled trials of carrot-family seeds, including fennel and dill, against painkillers for period pain and found a positive pooled result. It does not say which trials used cumin, and the trials were not of tea.	²⁶

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Digestive system		Not enough evidence	Fennel tea is accepted by the EU for mild stomach complaints on traditional use; small trials of single seeds after surgery; no trial of the blend. Preparation or compound: Cumin, coriander and fennel seeds	^{30 31 16 2}
Digestive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only) Studied for: Long-lasting indigestion (functional dyspepsia): a capsule of coriander plus a related plant (not tea)	^{30 31 18 3 7 16 2 6}
Blood Sugar Support	Biological association	Mixed findings	Studied for: Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend)	^{13 23 15}
Endocrine System	Biological association	Mixed findings	Studied for: Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend)	^{13 23 15}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial	^{10 24 15 28}
Metabolism Weight	Biological association	Low certainty	Studied for: Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial Studied for: Weight and waist size (cumin capsules)	^{10 24 15 28 22 4}
Reproductive System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Breast milk supply (cumin drops; fennel and coriander in milk-supply teas) Studied for: Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules)	^{8 9 27 36 35 26}

E. Health conditions

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Carrot-family (Apiaceae) allergy	Contraindication	Low certainty	Cross-reacting allergens in all three; EU lists Apiaceae allergy as a contraindication for fennel. Preparation or compound: Cumin, coriander, fennel seeds	^{11 5 30 31}
Diabetes	Drug or supplement interaction	Very low certainty	Mixed meta-analyses on fasting blood sugar; possible additive effect with diabetes medicines. Preparation or compound: Cumin supplements	^{15 13 23}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	Contraindication	Low certainty	EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations in pregnancy or breastfeeding; LactMed has no data on cumin and describes one possible adrenal case with heavy coriander extract. Preparation or compound: Fennel fruit tea; cumin and coriander (no data)	^{30 31 36 35}
Infants and children	Contraindication	Low certainty	Not recommended under 4 years in the EU monographs. Preparation or compound: Fennel fruit tea	^{30 31 6}

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Time to first wind (flatus) after abdominal surgery	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{16 2}
Fasting blood sugar	Biological association	Mixed findings	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{15 13 23}
Total cholesterol	Biological association	Low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{10 24}

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Linalool	Biological association	None read	Responsible for coriander's odour and taste (LactMed). No activity data were read for this page. Preparation or compound: Coriander seed (oil)	^{35 38 7}
Cuminaldehyde	Biological association	None read	No activity data were read for this page. Preparation or compound: Cumin seed (oil)	^{36 38}
trans-Anethole	Biological association	Summary only	LactMed describes anethole as a phytoestrogen that passes into breast milk; the EU monographs list allergy to anethole as a reason to avoid fennel. Preparation or compound: Fennel fruit (oil)	^{37 38 30 31}
Estragole	Biological association	Animal	Causes liver tumours in rodents at high doses; the reason for the EU limits on fennel tea. Preparation or compound: Fennel fruit (minor part of the oil)	^{29 38}

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 3 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Metabolic1 Other11

The evidence

The research centre for Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind: the three-seed tea (traditional use only) 3 studies Not enough evidence Long-lasting indigestion (functional dyspepsia): a capsule of coriander plus a related plant (not tea) 2 studies Very low certainty Bowel recovery after abdominal surgery: fennel tea and cumin extract capsules (separately) 2 studies Low certainty Blood sugar (cumin supplements, not the blend) 3 studies Mixed findings Blood fats: cumin supplements, and a garlic and coriander powder trial 4 studies Low certainty Weight and waist size (cumin capsules) 3 studies Low certainty Breast milk supply (cumin drops; fennel and coriander in milk-supply teas) 5 studies Very low certainty Appetite (fennel tea, one small trial) 1 study Very low certainty Infant colic (fennel products, not the blend) 3 studies Low certainty Period pain (fennel and other Apiaceae seeds, mostly capsules) 1 study Low certainty

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed for the blend and for each seed, read the cited abstracts directly, checked plant names through GBIF and compound records through PubChem, and read the LactMed entries for cumin and coriander. The EU fennel monographs and estragole statement were read earlier for our fennel tea review and are reused here. EU monographs for cumin and coriander, LiverTox, NCCIH, Commission E and WHO entries were not read. The no-caffeine statement is an inference and is labelled so.

Study library: every study we checked 38

Design Research type Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Abeyagunawardena 2024 Uncommon triggers of insulin autoimmune syndrome: a case report. J Med Case Rep · PMID 38926797 · DOI	Case report human (case)	1 A 67-year-old man with recurrent low blood sugar	Omeprazole, and an herbal supplement containing coriander and ginger extracts taken daily for about a year, about two years earlier coriander and ginger extracts not shown here About 1 year · vs placebo	Insulin autoimmune syndrome was diagnosed; omeprazole was the likely trigger, and the authors say coriander and ginger are worth considering as a possible association. Single case; cause not proven (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Low blood sugar episodes Limitations: Single case; the coriander link is speculative. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Amin 2024 The effect of Cuminum cyminum on the return of bowel motility after abdominal surgery: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial. BMC Complement Med Ther · PMID 38965524 · DOI	Triple blind randomized trial	74 74 patients after abdominal surgery in Iran	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) extract capsules seed extract not shown here Two capsules in the hours after surgery · vs placebo	Average time to passing gas was 9.03 h with cumin versus 11.72 h with placebo, and time to defecation 16.97 h versus 26 h. Pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting were less frequent with cumin. Gas passing 9.03 vs 11.72 h; defecation 16.97 vs 26 h (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Time to passing wind and first stool, pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting Limitations: Single trial; capsules of an extract, not tea; the abstract prints the p value as P > 0.001, a likely typo. The authors say more studies are needed. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Azimi 2024 The Efficacy of the Herbal Formula of Bunium persicum and Coriandrum sativum on Clinical Symptoms of Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Complement Med Res · PMID 38981452 · DOI	Double blind randomized placebo controlled trial	90 90 adults with functional dyspepsia (Rome IV) in Kerman, Iran; 80 analysed	Capsule of Bunium persicum (a different plant, sometimes called black or wild cumin) plus coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) seed (as stated for the formula) not shown here 4 weeks, followed for 4 more · vs placebo	All clinical outcomes improved significantly more than placebo, without serious side effects. The abstract gives no numbers. Improved versus placebo (no numbers in abstract) (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Dyspepsia severity, symptom frequency and quality of life Limitations: Bunium persicum is not Cuminum cyminum, so this is not a trial of cumin; two-herb capsule, not tea; single centre; no effect sizes in the abstract. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Bae 2015 Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Tea Drinking Suppresses Subjective Short-term Appetite in Overweight Women. Clin Nutr Res · PMID 26251835 · DOI	Randomized single blind placebo controlled crossover trial	9 Nine healthy overweight Korean women	Fennel tea, fenugreek tea or placebo tea fennel fruit not shown here One drink each, one meal · vs placebo	Fennel tea lowered hunger and raised fullness ratings compared with placebo tea (p<0.05), but food eaten at lunch did not differ. Ratings improved; food intake no different (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Subjective hunger and fullness; lunch buffet intake Limitations: Only nine women; one meal; subjective ratings; fennel alone, not the blend. Only the abstract was read. Funding and conflicts: No conflict declared in the earlier review of this paper Read: abstract
Berghea 2025 Spices, herbs and allergic reactions in children: myth or reality - a narrative review with scoping elements. Front Allergy · PMID 41306764 · DOI	Narrative review human (review)	Children (some adult cases for context)	Spices and herbs including coriander, fennel, cumin and anise seed (spices) not shown here · vs placebo	Spice allergies in children range from mild mouth reactions to anaphylaxis. Coriander, fennel, cumin and anise are among the most frequently implicated spices; cross-reactivity with birch and mugwort pollen is common. Narrative (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic reactions Limitations: Narrative review. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Biagioli 2016 Pain-relieving agents for infantile colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 27631535 · DOI	Cochrane systematic review	1014 Infants under 4 months with colic; 18 small RCTs of 1014 infants	Herbal agents, simethicone, sugars and drugs various not shown here Various · vs placebo	Evidence is sparse and prone to bias. Herbal agents showed low-quality evidence of shorter crying and moderate-quality evidence of more responders, but the review concluded herbal agents, sugar, dicyclomine and cimetropium cannot be recommended for infants with colic. Herbal agents: more responders (RR 2.05) but not recommended (Responders 95% CI 1.56 to 2.70) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Crying time and response Limitations: All studies small and at high risk of bias; the herbal agents were not the three-seed tea. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Chaurasia 2025 Coriander: A holistic outlook on its chemistry and pharmacology. Food Chem · PMID 39719783 · DOI	Narrative review review	Review of coriander chemistry	Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruit (seed) and leaves seed and leaf not shown here · vs placebo	The review lists linalool, geranyl acetate, limonene, camphor and geraniol among the main seed chemicals and describes traditional uses as a digestive stimulant and carminative, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycaemic work reported (not human trial results). Narrative (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Chemistry and pharmacology Limitations: Narrative review; the abstract does not separate lab, animal and human work. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Farshad 2024 Comparison of the Effect of Cuminum Cyminum and Nettle Oral Drops on the Breast Milk Sufficiency Indicators in New Mothers. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J · PMID 38828245 · DOI	Triple blind randomized placebo controlled trial	117 117 breastfeeding mothers of healthy infants aged 10 to 15 days in Tehran	Green cumin (Cuminum cyminum) oral drops, nettle drops, or placebo drops seed (drops) not shown here 4 weeks · vs placebo	All milk-adequacy indicators were higher in the cumin and nettle groups than placebo (P < 0.001), and higher with cumin than nettle. Higher indicators than placebo (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Infant weight, feeds, wet diapers, diaper weight, stool frequency Limitations: Drops, not tea; indirect indicators of milk supply; one Iranian setting; the cumin-versus-nettle comparison is not blinded evidence of a milk effect in other mothers. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Foong 2020 Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 32421208 · DOI	Cochrane systematic review	3005 Mothers of term infants; 41 RCTs with 3005 mothers	Natural galactagogues including fennel, fenugreek and mixed botanical teas, versus placebo or none various not shown here Various · vs placebo	Overall certainty low to very low. The authors are very uncertain whether fennel or fenugreek improves infant weight. Milk volume results for natural galactagogues ranged from benefit to little or no difference (very low certainty). Reported adverse effects were minor. No reliable effect size for fennel (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Milk volume, infant weight, continued breastfeeding Limitations: Very low certainty because of bias, heterogeneity and imprecision. Cumin and coriander were not among the listed galactagogues in the abstract. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Hadi 2018 Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is a safe approach for management of lipid parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res · PMID 30088304 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of RCTs	376 Adults; 6 RCTs with 376 participants	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplements seed not shown here Various · vs placebo	Cumin lowered total cholesterol (MD -10.90 mg/dl) and LDL cholesterol (MD -6.94 mg/dl) and raised HDL (MD 3.35 mg/dl). Triglycerides were not significantly changed overall (MD -20.48 mg/dl, p = 0.053), but fell in people without high triglycerides. Total cholesterol MD -10.90 mg/dl; LDL MD -6.94 mg/dl (Total cholesterol 95% CI -21.39 to -0.42; LDL 95% CI -11.53 to -2.35) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Blood lipids Limitations: Only six trials. The 2022 meta-analysis found a smaller total cholesterol effect (-3.96 mg/dl), so the size is uncertain. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Jensen-Jarolim 1997 Characterization of allergens in Apiaceae spices: anise, fennel, coriander and cumin. Clin Exp Allergy · PMID 9420134	Laboratory study of patient sera human sera (in vitro)	15 15 patients with adverse reactions to spiced food	Extracts of anise, fennel, coriander and cumin seed not shown here · vs placebo	Cross-reacting Bet v 1-like and profilin-like allergens were found in all four Apiaceae spices. IgE binding occurred only in the 10 of 15 patients (66%) who had pollen (birch, mugwort) or celeriac allergy; 5 of 15 had reactions but no IgE binding. 10/15 with IgE binding (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: IgE binding and cross-reactivity Limitations: Small laboratory study from 1997. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Jeswal 2015 Mycobiota and Natural Incidence of Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin A, and Citrinin in Indian Spices Confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Int J Microbiol · PMID 26229535 · DOI	Laboratory survey food analysis	Nine Indian spices including coriander, cumin and fennel	Whole spices seed (spices) not shown here · vs placebo	Aspergillus moulds were found on all spice types. The highest aflatoxin levels were in red chilli and dry ginger; citrinin was found in several spices including coriander and cumin. Highest toxins in chilli, pepper and ginger (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Moulds and mould toxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, citrinin) Limitations: Indian samples; the abstract does not list toxin levels for cumin, coriander or fennel; raw spices not tea. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Karimian 2021 The effect of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplementation on glycemic indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res · PMID 33720457 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of RCTs	552 Adults; 8 RCTs with 552 participants	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplements seed not shown here Various · vs placebo	No significant change in fasting blood sugar (WMD -17.77 mg/dl, p = 0.06), insulin or HOMA-IR. The authors say the results do not support cumin for improving glycaemic markers. Fasting blood sugar WMD -17.77 mg/dl (not significant) (95% CI -36.42 to 0.87) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting blood sugar, insulin, HOMA-IR Limitations: Searched to November 2020 only. Disagrees with the 2021 and 2025 meta-analyses. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Lisiecka 2026 Allergic reactions to spices: a review of sensitivities to pepper, cumin, oregano, anise, mustard and other spices. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol · PMID 40341008 · DOI	Narrative review human (review)	Literature 2010 to 2023	Spices including cumin and anise seed (spices) not shown here · vs placebo	Cumin allergens belong to the PR-10 family and can provoke allergic reactions, with common cross-reactivity between cumin and other Apiaceae (umbelliferae). Diagnosis uses skin prick and specific IgE tests. Narrative (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic reactions Limitations: Narrative review. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Liu 2025 Potential benefits of Cuminum cyminum L supplementation on components of metabolic syndrome in adults with metabolic disorders: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Nutr · PMID 41608519 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of RCTs	Adults with metabolic disorders; 9 trials published 2013 to 2020, lasting 8 to 24 weeks	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplements (forms varied) seed not shown here 8 to 24 weeks · vs placebo	Cumin lowered fasting blood sugar (SMD -1.38), triglycerides (SMD -0.58) and waist circumference (SMD -0.46) and raised HDL cholesterol (SMD 0.77). Heterogeneity was very high for blood sugar, triglycerides and HDL (I2 about 89 to 95%). Fasting blood sugar SMD -1.38 (95% CI -2.26 to -0.50) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol Limitations: Very high heterogeneity; small trials; English-language only. The authors call for larger high-quality trials. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Ma 2015 [The Effect of Fennel Tea Drinking on Postoperative Gut Recovery after Gynecological Malignancies Operation]. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban · PMID 26867333	Randomized controlled trial (not blinded)	159 159 women after laparotomy for gynaecological cancer in China	Fennel fruit tea (Fructus Foeniculi, fennel alone) versus plain water fruit (seed) not shown here From the first morning after surgery until first wind · vs placebo	Hospital stay 5.6 versus 6.7 days, time to flatus 53.1 versus 64.2 h and time to defecation 4.3 versus 5.4 days, all lower with fennel tea (P<0.001). Ileus symptoms were more common with water (RR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.5). Flatus 53.1 vs 64.2 h (Ileus RR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 4.5) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Time to first wind and stool, hospital stay, ileus symptoms Limitations: Compared with water, so a placebo effect cannot be ruled out; one hospital; fennel only, not the three-seed blend. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Mohebbi-Kian 2014 Efficacy of fennel and combined oral contraceptive on depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-induced amenorrhea: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Contraception · PMID 24981150 · DOI	Double blind randomized placebo controlled trial	78 78 women in Iran who had stopped bleeding on the DMPA contraceptive injection	Fennel capsules versus a low-dose contraceptive pill versus placebo fennel (as stated) not shown here 21 days · vs placebo	Bleeding occurred in 73% with fennel, 81% with the pill and 19% with placebo. Bleeding 73% fennel vs 19% placebo (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 6.2) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Menstrual bleeding within 40 days Limitations: Capsules, not tea; small; shows a hormone-like effect of fennel in some women. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Norouzkhani 2022 From kitchen to clinic: Pharmacotherapeutic potential of common spices in Indian cooking in age-related neurological disorders. Front Pharmacol · PMID 36438833 · DOI	Narrative review review (mostly lab and animal)	Review of Indian spices	Cumin, fennel, coriander and other spices widely used in Ayurveda seed (spices) not shown here · vs placebo	The abstract names cumin, fennel and coriander among common Indian spices widely used in Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicine system, and reviews their neuroprotective potential. Narrative (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Neuroprotective potential (mostly lab and animal) Limitations: Narrative review focused on brain disorders; used here only for the Ayurvedic use of the three spices. It does not mention a tea blend. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Okdemir 2014 Premature thelarche related to fennel tea consumption? J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab · PMID 24030028 · DOI	Case report	1 One 12-month-old girl with breast development	Fennel tea given daily for restlessness for about 6 months fennel (as stated) not shown here About 6 months · vs placebo	Breast development regressed gradually and was normal about a year after the tea was stopped. The authors raise fennel tea as a possible preventable cause. Single case (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Breast development Limitations: Single case; cause not proven. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Pessina 2026 Cumin anaphylaxis and allergy to spices in pediatrics: a case report and literature review. Front Immunol · PMID 42519315 · DOI	Case report and literature review human (case)	1 A child with anaphylaxis to cumin by inhalation, plus literature review	Cumin spice seed (spice) not shown here · vs placebo	The authors report what they believe is the first paediatric case of cumin anaphylaxis by inhalation. They say spices are increasingly found in packaged foods and that evidence on severity in children is contradictory. Single case plus review (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Allergic reactions Limitations: One case; narrative review. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Shim 2018 Heavy metals in spices commonly consumed in Republic of Korea. Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill · PMID 30466367 · DOI	Market survey food analysis	359 359 retail spice samples (including coriander seed, cumin and fennel)	Spices seed (spices) not shown here · vs placebo	Mean content across spices ranged 0.039 to 0.972 mg/kg for lead, 0.013 to 0.315 for cadmium, 0.121 to 0.861 for arsenic and 0.001 to 0.025 for mercury. Ranges across all spices (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury Limitations: The abstract does not give separate figures for cumin, coriander or fennel; Korean market; whole spices, not tea. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Taghizadeh 2015 Effect of the cumin cyminum L. Intake on Weight Loss, Metabolic Profiles and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Overweight Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Ann Nutr Metab · PMID 25766448 · DOI	Randomized double blind placebo controlled trial (three groups)	78 78 overweight adults aged 18 to 60 (60 women, 18 men)	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) capsules, compared with orlistat and placebo seed not shown here 8 weeks · vs placebo	Cumin and orlistat gave a similar fall in weight (-1.1 and -0.9 kg versus +0.2 kg on placebo) and BMI (-0.4 versus +0.1). Only cumin lowered insulin (-1.4 versus +1.3 with orlistat and +0.3 with placebo). Weight -1.1 kg versus +0.2 kg placebo (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Weight, BMI, insulin and insulin sensitivity Limitations: Small, 8 weeks, capsules not tea. Conflicts of interest not stated in the abstract. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Tavakoli-Rouzbehani 2021 The effects of Cuminum cyminum on glycemic parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 34371114 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of controlled trials	Patients with different chronic diseases; 8 studies	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplements seed not shown here Various · vs placebo	Cumin reduced fasting blood sugar (SMD -1.4) and HbA1c (SMD -1.71) and raised QUICKI (SMD 0.89). Insulin was not significantly changed. The abstract is inconsistent on HOMA-IR. Fasting blood sugar SMD -1.4; HbA1c SMD -1.71 (Fasting blood sugar 95% CI -2.29 to -0.51; HbA1c 95% CI -3.24 to -0.18) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, QUICKI Limitations: Standardised differences, not clinical units; the abstract reports HOMA-IR twice with different statements. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Tavakoli-Rouzbehani 2022 Efficacy of Cuminum Cyminum supplementation on lipid profile and anthropometric parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Phytother Res · PMID 34825421 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of RCTs	Adults; 8 included trials	Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) supplements seed not shown here Various · vs placebo	Cumin lowered BMI (WMD -0.88 kg/m2) and total cholesterol (WMD -3.96 mg/dl); after adjusting for publication bias it also improved waist circumference, HDL and triglycerides. No effect on LDL overall, though trials longer than 8 weeks suggested benefit for LDL. BMI WMD -0.88 kg/m2; total cholesterol WMD -3.96 mg/dl (BMI 95% CI -1.58 to -0.18; total cholesterol 95% CI -6.51 to -1.04) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Lipids, BMI, waist circumference Limitations: Publication-bias adjustment was needed; authors say further high-quality studies are needed. The abstract gives GRADE as used but not the grade. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Thabit TMAM 2020 Determination of Some Common Heavy Metals and Radionuclides in Some Medicinal Herbs Using ICP-MS/MS. J AOAC Int · PMID 33241389 · DOI	Laboratory analysis food analysis	Ten medicinal herbs including cumin, coriander and fennel	Dried herbs dried herb not shown here · vs placebo	Mercury was not detected in any sample. Arsenic was detected in anise, fennel, roselle and rosemary (0.031 to 5.88 mg/kg). Lead, cadmium and several other metals were detected in most samples. Ranges across herbs (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: 12 elements including lead, cadmium, arsenic Limitations: The abstract gives ranges across all herbs, not per herb; source country of samples not stated in the abstract. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Thaliyil Poduval 2026 Efficacy of herbaceous Apiaceae plants in primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Ann Pharm Fr · PMID 41653970 · DOI	Systematic review and meta analysis of RCTs	Women with primary dysmenorrhea; 14 trials in the review, 7 in the meta-analysis	Apiaceae herbs including anise, dill, cumin and fennel seed not shown here Various · vs placebo	Pooled results against standard painkillers (mefenamic acid or ibuprofen) were statistically positive with low heterogeneity, including for fennel seed and dill seed. The authors call Apiaceae plants potentially effective add-on treatments and say better trials are needed. Significant pooled effect against standard treatment (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Period pain Limitations: Compared mostly with painkillers rather than placebo; some trials had concerns about deviations and selective reporting; the abstract does not say which trials used cumin. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
Wagner 2019 The Safety of Mother's Milk Tea: Results of a Randomized Double-Blind, Controlled Study in Fully Breastfeeding Mothers and Their Infants. J Hum Lact · PMID 30005170 · DOI	Randomized double blind placebo controlled safety trial	60 60 healthy, fully breastfeeding women with no milk insufficiency, and their infants	Mother's Milk herbal tea (fruits of bitter fennel, anise and coriander, fenugreek seed and other herbs) versus lemon verbena leaf placebo fruit/seed blend not shown here 30 days, with calls to infant age 12 months · vs placebo	No adverse effects attributable to the tea were reported in mothers or infants, and no differences from placebo. No safety signal found (not applicable) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Adverse effects in mothers and infants, quality of life, infant growth Limitations: Small safety trial of a multi-herb commercial blend (it contains fennel and coriander but not cumin); cannot speak for each herb alone or for a different blend. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract. Only the abstract was read. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract
Zeb 2018 Supplementation of garlic and coriander seed powder: Impact on body mass index, lipid profile and blood pressure of hyperlipidemic patients. Pak J Pharm Sci · PMID 30150192	Randomized controlled trial (four groups)	80 80 patients with high blood fats (20 per group)	Coriander seed powder (Coriandrum sativum), garlic powder, or both, versus placebo seed not shown here 40 days of supplements plus 20 days follow-up · vs placebo	All three supplements improved BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure compared with placebo (p<0.05); garlic had the largest effect on BMI, total and LDL cholesterol, and coriander the largest on blood pressure. The abstract gives no figures. Improved versus placebo (no numbers in abstract) (not given in abstract) Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: BMI, lipids, blood pressure Limitations: 20 people per group; powder in a supplement, not tea; no numbers in the abstract; quality of blinding not stated. Only the abstract was read. Read: abstract
s-ema-estragole-statement-2014-draft Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing estragole (EMA/HMPC/137212/2005 Rev 1), draft 2014 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC) · Source	Regulatory statement n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: summary-only
s-ema-hmpc-fennel-bitter EU herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare, fructus (bitter fennel fruit), Final Revision 1, EMA/HMPC/372841/2016, adopted 31 January 2024 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC) · Source	Regulatory monograph n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: summary-only
s-ema-hmpc-fennel-sweet EU herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Miller) Thellung, fructus (sweet fennel fruit), Final Revision 1, EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016, adopted 31 January 2024 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC) · Source	Regulatory monograph n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: summary-only
s-gbif-coriandrum-sativum GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Coriandrum sativum L. (usageKey 3034871) · Source	Taxonomy database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-gbif-cuminum-cyminum GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Cuminum cyminum L. (usageKey 3034775) · Source	Taxonomy database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-gbif-foeniculum-vulgare GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (usageKey 3034922) · Source	Taxonomy database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: summary-only
s-lactmed-coriander Coriander. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PMID 30000851, NBK501792) · Source	Drug and lactation database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-lactmed-cumin Cumin. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PMID 30000933, NBK501873) · Source	Drug and lactation database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text
s-lactmed-fennel Fennel. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · Source	Drug and lactation database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: summary-only
s-pubchem-compounds PubChem compound records: linalool (CID 6549), cuminaldehyde (CID 326), trans-anethole (CID 637563), estragole (CID 8815) · Source	Chemistry database n/a			Methods, limits and funding Read: full-text

What we do not know yet

No trial of the three-seed blend as a tea was found.
Cumin and coriander have no tea trials at all; the cumin trials used capsules, extracts or drops.
No human interaction study with the tea or with any medicine.
Meta-analyses of cumin disagree on blood sugar and on the size of the cholesterol effect.
No guidance on cumin or coriander tea from EU or other regulators was read, and the final revised EU estragole statement was not read.
No source describing the origin of this tea blend was found.
No long-term safety data for regular use in adults, pregnancy or children.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person checks each one before it is added.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Metabolic 1

▼

Total cholesterol

Lowered in trials

All the cholesterol in the blood.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A common heart risk marker.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Small drops, and the two reviews disagree on size.

Safety implication

None reported.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	MD -10.90 mg/dl (95% CI -21.39 to -0.42)	376 adults, 6 trials	Cumin supplements
²⁴	WMD -3.96 mg/dl (95% CI -6.51 to -1.04)	8 trials	Cumin supplements

^{10 24}

Other 2

▼

Time to first wind (flatus) after abdominal surgery

Lowered in trials

Hours until the first passing of gas after an operation, a sign the bowel is working again.

Low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A standard measure of bowel recovery after surgery.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A recovery a few hours earlier could shorten hospital stay, but these are single small trials and neither tested the blend.

Safety implication

No harm was reported in the abstracts.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁶	53.1 versus 64.2 hours (P<0.001)	159 women after gynaecological cancer surgery	Fennel fruit tea versus water
²	9.03 versus 11.72 hours	74 abdominal surgery patients	Cumin extract capsules versus placebo capsules

^{16 2}

↕

Fasting blood sugar

Mixed results in trials

Blood sugar after not eating overnight.

Mixed findings

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A basic measure of blood sugar control.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Reviews disagree. A fall would matter for people with diabetes but could also mean a drug interaction.

Safety implication

Possible additive effect with diabetes medicines (not studied for the tea).

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁵	SMD -1.38 (95% CI -2.26 to -0.50), 9 trials, very high heterogeneity	Adults with metabolic disorders	Cumin supplements
¹³	WMD -17.77 mg/dl (95% CI -36.42 to 0.87), not significant	552 adults, 8 trials	Cumin supplements

^{15 13 23}

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 8

Allergy: all three seeds belong to the carrot family, and spice allergy can be severe. Cumin, coriander and fennel are all in the carrot family (Apiaceae), and they share cross-reacting allergens with each other, with birch and mugwort pollen and with celery. A lab study found shared allergen types in anise, fennel, coriander and cumin extracts. Reviews list coriander, fennel, cumin and anise among the spices most often behind allergic reactions in children, from mouth itching to anaphylaxis, and report a child with cumin anaphylaxis by inhalation. The EU fennel monographs list allergy to carrot-family plants, to anethole and to mugwort pollen as a reason not to use fennel. LactMed also says people allergic to cumin or related herbs should avoid it. Authoritative guidance ^{11 5 20 14 36 30 31}
Babies and young children: the EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations under 4 years. The 2024 EU fennel monographs, which include the herbal tea, say use is not recommended in children under 4 years because of lack of adequate data. For children 4 to 12 years the tea is limited to short use and is not recommended if the daily intake of estragole is above its guidance value. This is about fennel as a medicinal tea, not as a food. Fennel tea is nevertheless widely given to colicky babies. A Cochrane review concluded herbal agents cannot be recommended for colic. One 12-month-old girl developed breast development after about six months of daily fennel tea and it regressed after the tea stopped (single case report; cause not proven). We found no child safety guidance for cumin or coriander tea. Blends sold as CCF tea may also contain other herbs. Authoritative guidance ^{30 31 6 19}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not recommended for fennel by the EU; little or no data on cumin and coriander tea. The EU fennel monographs say safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended; they give a daily estragole guidance value. In mice, a fennel seed extract caused dose-dependent birth defects (as stated in the monograph). LactMed says there are no data on cumin in nursing mothers, and that for coriander one nursing woman who drank a large amount of a coriander extract daily for a week later developed skin darkening, low mood and missed periods diagnosed as adrenal dysfunction (single case; LactMed says it was possibly caused by the heavy use). LactMed also reports raised liver enzymes in a woman taking a milk-supply tea that contains coriander. A small safety trial of a commercial milk-supply tea with fennel, anise, coriander and fenugreek found no harm, but it was a different blend. We found no source stating pregnancy safety for cumin or coriander tea. Ask a doctor or midwife. Authoritative guidance ^{30 31 37 36 35 27}
Estragole in fennel: a natural compound that causes liver tumours in rodents, so the EU limits fennel tea use to 2 weeks in adults. Fennel fruit contains a small amount of estragole. In rodents, high doses cause DNA damage and liver tumours, and the EU herbal committee says exposure should be kept as low as practically achievable. Its 2005 conclusion was that short-term use by adults at the usual tea level does not pose a significant cancer risk, but that exposure of young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women should be minimised. The EU monographs therefore limit fennel fruit tea to 2 weeks in adults. Cumin and coriander were not named in the sources read as estragole sources. The estragole content of a CCF blend depends on how much fennel it contains and was not measured in anything we read. Authoritative guidance ^{29 30 31}
Diabetes medicines: cumin may lower blood sugar, and a coriander case report links low blood sugar to a supplement. Two of three meta-analyses of cumin supplements found lower fasting blood sugar, and one case report describes a man with low blood sugar from insulin autoimmune syndrome who had taken a coriander and ginger supplement for about a year (omeprazole was the likelier trigger). No study tested the tea with diabetes medicines. People using insulin or tablets for diabetes should ask a pharmacist before drinking the tea regularly. Pharmacological theory ^{15 23 13 1}
Hormones: fennel produced bleeding in women on a contraceptive injection. In a trial of 78 women whose periods had stopped on the DMPA contraceptive injection, bleeding occurred in 73% with fennel capsules and 19% with placebo. Fennel is also described as having weak oestrogen-like activity in lab tests (EU monograph). This may matter for people on hormone treatment or with oestrogen-sensitive conditions; ask a specialist. Controlled trial ^{17 30 31}
Quality: metals and moulds in spices, and blends may hide other herbs. Surveys found lead, cadmium and arsenic in spice samples including cumin, coriander and fennel, and moulds and mould toxins on Indian spices including coriander, cumin and fennel (the worst aflatoxin levels were in chilli and ginger). The abstracts did not give separate figures for these three seeds. Products sold as CCF tea may contain other herbs or sweeteners, so read the label. Laboratory research ^{21 25 12}
Caffeine: none expected. None of the three is the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), so a pure seed blend is expected to be caffeine-free. No source we read measured caffeine in this tea, so this is an inference. Blends may contain true tea, so read the label. Other ^{33 32 34}

Side effects 6

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Allergic reactions (itching, rash, swelling, wheeze, anaphylaxis) Cross-reaction with celery, carrot, mugwort and birch pollen is common.	Frequency not known (EU fennel monograph)	mild to severe Usually settles after stopping; severe reactions need emergency care	Authoritative guidance ^{11 5 20 30 31}
Sun sensitivity and skin reactions after skin contact LactMed lists phototoxic skin reactions after contact with cumin oil, and photosensitivity and contact dermatitis for coriander and fennel. This is about skin contact, mainly with the oil, not drinking the tea.	Occasional (LactMed)	mild to moderate Settles after stopping contact	Authoritative guidance ^{36 35 37}
Low blood sugar A single case report of low blood sugar with a coriander and ginger supplement; meta-analyses of cumin show lower fasting blood sugar. Not shown for tea.	Not known	unknown Unknown	Case report ^{1 15}
Breast development in a young girl given fennel tea daily Single case; cause not proven.	One case	unknown Regressed over about a year after stopping	Case report ¹⁹
Breakthrough bleeding in women on the DMPA contraceptive injection (fennel capsules) Capsules, not tea.	73% in the trial versus 19% on placebo	mild Not stated	Controlled trial ¹⁷
No serious side effects in the trials we read The dyspepsia trial reported no serious side effects, and the milk-supply tea safety trial reported none attributable to the tea. Trials were short and small and tested different products.	Not applicable	none reported Not applicable	Controlled trial ^{3 27}

Liver

We found no published case series of liver injury from cumin, coriander or fennel in people. LactMed reports raised liver enzymes in one woman taking a milk-supply tea that contains coriander (and fennel), but that case does not point to one herb. In animals, estragole from fennel damaged the liver at high doses and caused liver tumours in mice; these doses were far above human tea intake. LiverTox was not read for this page. ^{35 29}

How often. No frequency of liver injury in people could be found.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was found. Stop and get medical care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, or severe stomach pain.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Cumin, Coriander and Fennel (CCF) Tea supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 5

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Diabetes medicines (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas and others) prescription	Cumin supplements lowered fasting blood sugar in two of three meta-analyses, so an additive effect is possible in theory.	No interaction study with the tea or with medicines was found. One case report links a coriander and ginger supplement with low blood sugar episodes (likelier explained by another cause).	Pharmacological theory Very low certainty ^{15 23 13 1}	Ask a pharmacist before drinking the tea regularly if you use medicines for diabetes, and tell your doctor.
Hormonal contraception (including the DMPA injection) and menopause hormone therapy prescription	Fennel produced bleeding in women who had stopped bleeding on DMPA, so it may affect the womb lining or hormone balance.	In 78 women, bleeding occurred in 73% on fennel capsules versus 19% on placebo. How fennel affects contraceptive effectiveness has not been studied.	Controlled trial Low certainty ¹⁷	Tell the prescriber if you use fennel products with hormonal contraception or hormone therapy.
Anti-oestrogen cancer drugs (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) prescription	Theory only: fennel compounds showed weak oestrogen-like activity in lab cells (as read earlier for our fennel tea review).	No human study with these drugs was found. The EU fennel monographs list no interactions.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ^{30 31}	Ask the oncology team before using fennel products regularly.
Blood thinners, blood pressure medicines and other prescription drugs prescription	Not studied.	The EU fennel monographs state no interactions have been reported. Absence of reports is not evidence of safety, because few interaction studies have been done. Nothing was found for cumin or coriander tea.	Authoritative guidance Not enough evidence ^{30 31}	Tell your pharmacist about any regular herbal teas.
Other herbs and foods containing estragole (basil, tarragon, anise) or other carrot-family herbs herbal	Total daily estragole from all sources adds up (EU statement).	Fennel adds to estragole from other sources. Allergy risk also adds up across carrot-family herbs.	Authoritative guidance Low certainty ^{29 30 31}	Do not stack several estragole-rich herbal products.

Who should check first 7

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Allergy to cumin, coriander, fennel, celery, carrot, aniseed, caraway or dill, or to mugwort pollen	Do not use. The EU fennel monographs list this as a contraindication.	Authoritative guidance ^{30 31 36}
Children under 4 years	The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations because of lack of data. Speak to a paediatrician about colic.	Authoritative guidance ^{30 31}
Children 4 to 12 years	Short use only and not above the EU estragole guidance value unless a risk assessment says otherwise (EU monographs).	Authoritative guidance ^{30 31}
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	Fennel fruit preparations are not recommended by the EU. For cumin and coriander tea no safety data were found. Speak to a midwife or doctor.	Authoritative guidance ^{30 31 36 35}
Use for longer than 2 weeks in adults	The EU fennel monographs say not to use the medicinal fennel fruit tea for more than 2 weeks, and to see a doctor if symptoms persist.	Authoritative guidance ^{30 31}
Diabetes treated with medicines; planned surgery	Ask your doctor or pharmacist first (blood sugar effect of cumin; ask the surgical team about herbal teas).	Pharmacological theory ^{15 23}
Oestrogen-sensitive cancer or conditions, hormone treatment	Not an EU contraindication, but ask your specialist first because of fennel's hormone-like effects.	Controlled trial ^{17 30 31}

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. Cumin, coriander and fennel are common spices with a long food history, and the EU reports no cases of fennel overdose. The main named concern is estragole in fennel. We found no formal toxicity assessment of the blend as a tea.

Animal. Estragole caused liver tumours in rodents at very high doses in the diet (draft EMA statement). An aqueous fennel seed extract caused dose-dependent birth defects in mice (EU monograph). Animal toxicity work on cumin and coriander was not read.

Human doses studied. Trials gave one or two seeds as capsules, drops or tea for days to weeks, or a multi-herb commercial tea for 30 days, with no serious problems reported in the abstracts. Amounts are not given here.

High dose or long term signals. LactMed describes one nursing woman who drank a large amount of a coriander extract daily for a week and later was diagnosed with adrenal dysfunction (single case, cause not proven). A single infant case of breast development followed months of daily fennel tea.

Overdose response. The EU fennel monographs state no cases of overdose have been reported.

Genotoxicity. Estragole is a genotoxic carcinogen in rodents according to the EU committee. Genotoxicity of cumin and coriander was not read.

Toxic or hazardous parts. The seeds (dried fruits) are the part used. Essential oils are a separate, much more concentrated product and are not drinks. Do not confuse these plants with poisonous carrot-family plants such as poison hemlock when foraging.

Quality is the main practical risk: heavy metals and moulds were found in spice surveys, estragole content varies with the fennel in a blend, and ready-made blends may contain other herbs.

Heavy metals in spices. In 359 Korean retail spices (including cumin, coriander seed and fennel), mean lead ranged 0.039 to 0.972 mg/kg, cadmium 0.013 to 0.315, arsenic 0.121 to 0.861 and mercury 0.001 to 0.025. The abstract does not give separate figures for each spice. ²¹

Metals in medicinal herbs. In an analysis of ten herbs including cumin, coriander and fennel, mercury was not detected; arsenic was detected in fennel and some other herbs (0.031 to 5.88 mg/kg across herbs); lead, cadmium and other metals were found in most samples. Ranges are for all herbs, not per herb. ²⁵

Moulds and mould toxins. On nine Indian spices including coriander, cumin and fennel, Aspergillus moulds were common, citrinin was found on coriander and cumin, and the highest aflatoxin levels were in red chilli and dry ginger. ¹²

Blends and look-alikes. Products sold as CCF tea may contain other herbs. Whole seeds and tea bags can vary in estragole content (draft EMA statement: estragole content differs between products). ²⁹

Body	Action	Date
European Medicines Agency, HMPC (European Union)	EU herbal monograph on bitter fennel fruit, final Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/372841/2016): traditional use for mild spasmodic stomach complaints including bloating and gas, minor menstrual spasm and cough with colds; not for adult use beyond 2 weeks; not recommended under 4 years; limits for 4 to 12 years; contraindicated in hypersensitivity to Apiaceae, anethole or mugwort pollen; pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended; no interactions reported; no overdose cases. source	2024-01-31
European Medicines Agency, HMPC (European Union)	EU herbal monograph on sweet fennel fruit, final Revision 1 (EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016): same indications, limits and safety wording as the bitter fennel monograph. source	2024-01-31
European Medicines Agency, HMPC (European Union)	Public statement on herbal medicinal products containing estragole: short-term adult use at usual levels does not pose a significant cancer risk (2005 conclusion); exposure of young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women should be minimised. source	2014-11-24 (draft read; final revision date not checked)
US National Library of Medicine, LactMed (coriander) (United States)	Coriander entry: seed oil mainly linalool; purported milk-supply herb with no scientifically valid clinical trials; generally recognised as safe (GRAS) as a food; allergic reactions, photosensitivity and contact dermatitis reported; one possible endocrine case with heavy extract use; raised liver enzymes with a coriander-containing milk-supply tea. source	2026-10-15 (entry date in PubMed record)
US National Library of Medicine, LactMed (cumin) (United States)	Cumin entry: no data on excretion in milk or safety in nursing mothers or infants; used as a milk-supply herb; generally recognised as safe (GRAS) as a spice; occasional phototoxic skin reactions after contact with the oil; avoid if allergic to cumin or related herbs. source	2026-10-15 (entry date in PubMed record)
US National Library of Medicine, LactMed (fennel) (United States)	Fennel entry: generally well tolerated in adults; avoid in people allergic to Apiaceae; excess maternal tea with fennel and anise may have caused toxicity in two newborns; may cause photosensitivity. source	2026-10-15 (entry date in PubMed record)

When to get medical help

Swelling of the face, lips or throat, trouble breathing, wheezing or widespread hives after drinking the tea: call emergency services.
A baby who turns blue or grey, breathes with difficulty, is limp or drowsy, or has a seizure after any herbal tea: go to emergency care.
Shaking, sweating, confusion or fainting in someone using diabetes medicines (possible low blood sugar): follow your diabetes action plan and get urgent care.
Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools: stop and see a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, or any pregnancy concern after drinking herbal teas: contact your midwife or doctor.

Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is cumin, coriander and fennel (CCF) tea?

A herbal tea made by steeping three dried seeds, cumin, coriander and fennel, in hot water. It is not true tea. The three plants are all in the carrot family and are common in Indian cooking and Ayurveda. We did not find any research on the blend itself.

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Is there research on the blend?

We did not find any trial of the three-seed blend as a tea. The research we found is on single seeds, mostly as capsules or extracts: cumin (blood sugar, blood fats, weight, bowel recovery after surgery), fennel (one tea trial after surgery, one tiny appetite trial) and coriander (one small trial of a coriander and garlic powder). Results for one seed in one form do not carry over to the tea.

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Is CCF tea Ayurvedic?

The three seeds are common in Indian cooking, and a 2022 review names cumin, fennel and coriander among spices widely used in Ayurveda. We did not find a source that describes the history of this tea blend itself, so we cannot say more about its origin.

¹⁸

Is CCF tea good for digestion and bloating?

The EU accepts fennel fruit tea alone as a traditional remedy for mild crampy stomach complaints, bloating and wind, based on long use. No trial of the blend was found. Small trials of fennel tea and cumin extract after abdominal surgery found earlier bowel recovery, but those were hospital patients and single seeds.

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Can it help with weight loss, blood sugar or cholesterol?

Cumin supplements gave small improvements in weight, cholesterol and fasting blood sugar in reviews of small trials, but the reviews disagree on blood sugar and on the size of the cholesterol effect. None of the trials used a tea. The tea has not been shown to help any of these.

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Does it contain caffeine?

No caffeine is expected, because none of the three seeds comes from the tea plant. No source we read measured caffeine in this tea, so this is an inference. Ready-made blends may contain other herbs or true tea, so read the label.

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Who should not drink it?

People allergic to cumin, coriander, fennel, celery, carrot, aniseed, caraway or dill, or to mugwort pollen, should avoid it; the EU lists this as a reason not to use fennel. The EU also does not recommend fennel fruit preparations under 4 years or in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Spice allergy can be severe.

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Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

The EU says use of fennel fruit preparations is not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding because safety is not established. LactMed has no data on cumin in nursing mothers, and describes one case of adrenal problems after a woman drank a large amount of coriander extract for a week. A small safety trial of a different multi-herb milk-supply tea found no harm. Ask a midwife or doctor.

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Is it safe for babies and children?

The EU does not recommend fennel fruit preparations, including the tea, for children under 4 years because of lack of data, and limits use at 4 to 12. A Cochrane review does not recommend herbal agents for infant colic. Talk to a paediatrician before giving any herbal tea to a baby.

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Does it interact with medicines?

No interaction studies were found for the tea. Cumin supplements lowered blood sugar in some reviews, so people using diabetes medicines should ask a pharmacist. Fennel capsules caused bleeding in women on the DMPA contraceptive injection, and women on hormone treatment should ask their doctor. The EU lists no reported fennel interactions, which mostly reflects little research.

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Does it increase breast milk?

It is widely used for this, but good evidence is lacking. One trial of cumin drops reported higher milk indicators, a Cochrane review rates the evidence for natural milk-boosters as low to very low, and LactMed says no valid clinical trials support coriander for this.

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Does fennel's estragole matter?

Fennel contains a small amount of estragole, which causes liver tumours in rodents at very high doses. The EU says short-term adult use of fennel tea does not pose a significant cancer risk but limits the tea to 2 weeks in adults and says exposure of young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women should be minimised. How much estragole is in a CCF blend depends on the fennel in it and was not measured in anything we read.

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the original sources.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We searched PubMed for the blend and for each seed, read the cited abstracts directly, checked plant names through GBIF and compound records through PubChem, and read the LactMed entries for cumin and coriander. The EU fennel monographs and estragole statement were read earlier for our fennel tea review and are reused here. EU monographs for cumin and coriander, LiverTox, NCCIH, Commission E and WHO entries were not read. The no-caffeine statement is an inference and is labelled so.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. Funding is not stated in most trial abstracts.

Sources 38

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Abeyagunawardena I, Madurapperuma C, Thuvarakan P, et al.. Uncommon triggers of insulin autoimmune syndrome: a case report.. J Med Case Rep. 2024. PMID 38926797. DOI 10.1186/s13256-024-04616-x. (abstract)
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. Public statement on the use of herbal medicinal products containing estragole (EMA/HMPC/137212/2005 Rev 1), draft 2014 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC). . . (summary-only)
. EU herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare, fructus (bitter fennel fruit), Final Revision 1, EMA/HMPC/372841/2016, adopted 31 January 2024 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC). . . (summary-only)
. EU herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Miller) Thellung, fructus (sweet fennel fruit), Final Revision 1, EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016, adopted 31 January 2024 (European Medicines Agency, HMPC). . . (summary-only)
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. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Cuminum cyminum L. (usageKey 3034775). . . (full-text)
. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (usageKey 3034922). . . (summary-only)
. Coriander. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PMID 30000851, NBK501792). . . (full-text)
. Cumin. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PMID 30000933, NBK501873). . . (full-text)
. Fennel. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. . . (summary-only)
. PubChem compound records: linalool (CID 6549), cuminaldehyde (CID 326), trans-anethole (CID 637563), estragole (CID 8815). . . (full-text)

Where to buy

Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:

The herb is the first or only ingredient
Organic or lab-tested if that matters to you
Loose leaf or tea bags, and how long they have been stored
If you take medicines or are pregnant, ask a pharmacist about the herb first

Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.

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Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.