Let’s Talk Food: Star anise: A star for fighting a flu

  • Photo courtesy Audrey Wilson Chicken pho from 1 Plus 1 Cafe in Hilo.

Star anise, or Illicium verum, has antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in Ayuveda and Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The compound shikimic acid in star anise is the active ingredient in flu medications such as Tamiflu.