Aides with: flu symptoms, digestive issues, viral, fungal and bacterial infections
Star Anise (Illicium verum) is actually the hard pericarp of the fruit of the star anise tree, native to Southeast Asia and parts of China. This hardened fruit can be ground into a valuable powder to be used as a spice or even used whole in certain preparations and dishes. 
-Star Anise spice is highly desired due to its active chemical compounds, particularly those found in Star Anise oil. This herb also contains a compound called shikimic acid, which is a very important part of anti-influenza medications around the world. Extracting and processing this acid takes an entire year, so the cost of this herb is largely determined by the global demand for influenza medications. 
-The antibacterial effects of star anise are widely researched and well known, and this spice has been used to treat bacterial infections of the stomach and other parts of the body for centuries. Perhaps most importantly, this spice appears to be effective against several antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, making it very valuable to the pharmaceutical industry.