Anise (Pimpinella anisum) has been used traditionally in various cultures as a remedy for digestive issues, including infant colic. Historical herbal texts and folk medicine practices often cite anise seeds as a carminative, believed to ease gas and bloating, which are thought to contribute to colic symptoms in infants. In Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian traditions, tea made from anise seeds is sometimes given to infants (in small amounts) or nursing mothers to help alleviate colic and soothe the digestive tract.

However, scientific validation for anise's efficacy in treating colic is limited. While some laboratory and animal studies suggest that anise may have mild antispasmodic and carminative effects due to its essential oil components (such as anethole), robust clinical trials in human infants are lacking. Occasionally, anise has been included as one ingredient in herbal mixtures studied for infant colic relief (such as “gripe water”), but these studies often combine several herbs, making it difficult to attribute effects specifically to anise.

Safety is another concern; high doses of anise oil can be toxic, especially in infants. Most pediatricians advise against giving herbal teas or remedies to young infants without medical supervision. In summary, the use of anise for colic is primarily rooted in tradition, with only weak supporting evidence and some safety concerns for infants.