Fennel seed is sweet and is eaten as a mouth freshener. It is a popular after-meal digestive in India. The Chinese use the leaves and stems in their cooking, with the seeds added as a spice.
In Chinese medicine, fennel is believed to strengthen eyesight, relieve cough, assist digestion, and treat stomach ailments, menstrual, and respiratory disorders. A poultice made from fennel was externally applied as a remedy for snake and scorpion bites. The Chinese believe that fennel brings balance to qi. Fennel was used in traditional Chinese medicine as a laxative to treat colds and liver, kidney, and spleen ailments.
In Ayurveda, fennel is considered good for digestive disorders and a general tonic. Fennel water has properties like anise and dill. Gripe water is prepared by mixing sodium bicarbonate and sugar syrup. It provides relief from flatulence in infants. Both the seeds and leaves are used as medicine. Fennel is said to stimulate appetite.
Fennel’s medicinal properties have been consolidated to include antioxidative, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, bronchodilatory, estrogenic, diuretic, lithotriptic, galactagogue, emmenagogue, anti-thrombotic, hypotensive, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, memory enhancing, and anti-mutagenic properties (Rahimi et al., 2013).
Based on this review, I would agree that fennel seeds should have a beneficial role in ulcers.
Additional reading:
Holy Herbs: Modern Connections to Ancient Plants
Asian Herbs and their health-giving properties
Natural Solutions for cancer, diabetes, and obesity (a tri-series)