Dill: Benefits, Uses and Precautions

Dr. Boris Wydoff

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an annual herbaceous plant in the carrot family. Its greens are used as a spice, while the fruits are described in herbal medicine references. Traditionally, dill has been used to improve appetite and digestion and for flatulence and spasms. Herbal references also describe calming and expectorant effects.

How do you identify this plant?

Dill is an annual aromatic plant that grows from 40 to 120 cm tall. The stem is single, erect and branched. It is round, smooth and striped. The upper part has 4–5 large flower clusters.

Dill leaves are sheathing. They are repeatedly divided into linear, thread-like segments. The lower leaves have stalks. The plant is easy to recognize by its finely divided leaves and characteristic smell.

How can you tell dill fruits apart?

When identifying medicinal plant material, you look at more than the whole plant. Identification guides describe the fruits of garden dill as almost flat, with two wing-like ribs along the edges. This is one of the features used when working with dried plant material.

This identification is especially useful when the green part of the plant is no longer present. The fruits are collected separately from the herb and used as a distinct plant material. In older references, they were called Fructus Anethi.

Wild plants in the carrot family require caution when gathering. Hemlock can resemble dill and parsley. Its leaves and stems can lead to accidentally collecting the wrong plant. Therefore, unknown plants in the carrot family should not be used for food or for making home remedies.

The green herb and fruits of dill are both used. In everyday language, the fruits are often called seeds. The green part is used as a spice. The fruits have their own uses in herbal medicine.

What does it contain?

According to herbal medicine references, dill greens contain vitamins B1, B2, C, P, PP, folic acid and carotene. They also contain essential oil, which contributes to the plant's characteristic aroma.

What is found in the essential oil?

Garden dill is an essential-oil-producing plant. The amount of essential oil in plant material depends on the plant's biological characteristics and growing conditions. References give considerable variation in the oil content of essential-oil-producing plants, so one figure cannot be considered constant for all plant material.

Older pharmacognostic descriptions give 11–12% fatty oil, about 2% sugar and 1.5–7% essential oil for the fruits of medicinal dill, that is, fennel. The essential oil contains 50–60% anethole, as well as fenchone and phellandrene. These figures refer specifically to Foeniculum, so they cannot be transferred as the exact composition of Anethum graveolens fruits.

The composition of garden dill fruits in the herbal descriptions cited here should not be confused with the composition of fennel. In older references, fennel was called medicinal dill. Therefore, the percentages of fatty and essential oils given there refer to Foeniculum officinale, not Anethum graveolens.

This distinction matters in practice. Garden dill and fennel look similar, but they are different plants. Therefore, information about the composition and preparations of one plant cannot automatically be applied to the other.

Historical references describe the medicinal effects of dill, but these accounts should not be taken as proof of effectiveness by modern medical standards. When used medicinally, the form of the preparation, the amount used and the person's condition all matter.

What benefits does it provide?

Herbal references describe anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, antiseptic, mild laxative, expectorant, antispasmodic and calming effects of dill. They also describe a sleep-inducing effect of preparations made from the plant.

For the digestive system, dill has traditionally been used for flatulence and spasms. References mention its ability to improve appetite and digestion. Dill fruits are also described as a carminative.

How is dill described in pharmacological references?

A medicinal plant reference states that infusions and decoctions of garden dill were used to improve appetite and digestion, reduce stomach and intestinal spasms, and produce a carminative effect. Increased secretion of gastric and pancreatic juices and bile flow is also described.

Older sources note a calming effect from galenic dill preparations in some patients. They also describe pronounced expectorant properties. These accounts belong to historical pharmacology and should not be viewed as a universal treatment result.

Older herbal medicine sources describe the effect of dill preparations on bile flow. They also mention a laxative effect. Such information reflects traditional use and does not replace medical diagnosis.

For the respiratory system, references describe an expectorant effect. Dill fruits and preparations made from them were traditionally used for this purpose. There is also a calming use. In folk practice, a seed infusion was used for nervousness and restless sleep. The recipe for this infusion is given below.

One old source describes green dill juice, which was used together with carrot juice for impaired vision in dim light. Strong green juices were nevertheless recommended in small proportions. Impaired vision in dim light should not be treated this way instead of being evaluated by a doctor.

Most of the medicinal properties described above come from historical references. They are traditional herbal medicine accounts, not confirmation of effectiveness through modern clinical studies.

How is it used in everyday life?

Fresh dill is used as a spice. It is added to food for aroma and flavor. The herb can also be dried or salted for storage. The fruits and flower heads are used in home preserving. Dill is used when pickling cucumbers and mushrooms, as well as when fermenting cabbage. This is the plant's ordinary culinary use.

What dill mixtures are described in folk practice?

In old collections, dill appears not only as a single plant material. For example, a mixture of caraway seeds, dill, yarrow leaves, oat straw, calamus root and valerian is described for bloating. This is an example of a multi-ingredient herbal mixture, not a recipe for dill infusion by itself.

In other old recipes, dill seeds were also combined with mint, yarrow, St. John's wort and other plants. These formulas show that dill was often included in folk herbal mixtures for digestive complaints.

Using such multi-ingredient mixtures on your own is more complicated than using a single plant material. Each plant has its own limitations and possible interactions, so an old formula should not be considered a universal recommendation.

A seed infusion is described in folk practice. To make it, take 2 teaspoons of dill seeds and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them. Steep for 10–15 minutes. This infusion was used for nervousness and restless sleep. The dose given in the source is 1 cup at bedtime.

This recipe reflects traditional use. Before using a medicinal infusion, it is worth considering contraindications, medications and your state of health. Herbal medicine sources also describe dill infusions and decoctions for flatulence and digestive problems. At the same time, specific recipes for different mixtures can vary considerably.

Historical pharmaceutical references also describe “dill water.” But there is an important issue with this name. Aqua Foeniculi is fennel water, prepared from fennel oil. The old name “dill water” can give the impression that it is made from garden dill.

Therefore, fennel water should not be considered the same preparation as a homemade infusion of Anethum graveolens seeds.

What medicines are made from its fruits?

Garden dill fruits were used in the development of the preparations Anetin and Daucarin. A reference states that the active substances in these preparations belong to the flavonoids. Anetin was used similarly to khellin.

Anetin is described as having an antispasmodic effect. References also note vasodilating effects from dill fruits and the preparation “Anetin.”

How did pharmacy preparations differ from a homemade infusion?

Older pharmacological sources describe preparations made from dill and fennel fruits as ingredients in complex medicinal products. Dill and fennel components were used in mixtures, syrups, waters and oils. These are pharmaceutical forms, not simply ground fruits.

Therefore, the same everyday name does not necessarily mean the same composition. For example, old preparations called “dill water” could have been made from fennel. The source directly links Aqua Foeniculi with Foeniculum fruits.

Historical pharmaceutical books describe dill water, dill syrup and dill oil at the same time. However, the corresponding old pharmaceutical names refer to fennel preparations. Their properties should therefore not be transferred directly to garden dill.

This is especially important for home use. A pharmaceutical preparation, a seed infusion and an essential oil have different concentrations. They cannot be used as interchangeable remedies.

How should it be collected and stored?

The green part of dill can be used fresh. For storage, it is dried or salted.

How are the fruits harvested?

The fruits are collected as they ripen. They do not all ripen at the same time, so harvesting is usually done in several stages.

The flower heads are cut before the seeds are fully ripe. During the final harvest, the plants are cut, tied into bundles and placed in a dry, well-ventilated room to dry and finish ripening. The same method is used for flower heads that were collected earlier.

After drying, the fruits are separated and cleaned. They need dry conditions for storage.

An old description characterizes the fruits as having a distinctive, pleasant aroma and a sweet-spicy taste. These features can provide additional clues when working with already dried plant material, but they do not replace accurate plant identification.

If the plant is being harvested to obtain essential oil, it is collected when the seeds of the central flower head are at the milk-wax stage of ripeness. The plant is cut at a height of 18–20 cm above the soil surface.

When gathering the plant yourself, it is essential to identify it correctly. Mistakes are especially dangerous among plants in the carrot family. Hemlock can resemble dill and other familiar culinary plants.

How to find dill abroad

Abroad, dill medicinal plant material is more often sought by its fruits than by its leaves. The main form is dried whole fruits, sold as “dill seeds.”

• USA: dill, dill seed. Look for loose dried fruits, tinctures and liquid seed extracts, including alcohol-free glycerites, as well as seed powder capsules. They are sold in spice shops, natural food stores and from specialized herb sellers online.
• Germany: Dill, Dillsamen, Dillfrüchte. The most documented form is dried fruits for infusion: Dillsamen-Tee or Dillfrüchte. Look in Apotheke, Reformhaus, specialized herb and tea shops, and online.
• France: aneth, graines d’aneth, fruits d’aneth. Whole dried fruits are sold as tisane en vrac, semences entières or fruits. Look in herboristeries, organic food stores and online.

Check the package for *Anethum graveolens* and the plant part: fruit/seed, Dillfrüchte or fruits/semences. Do not substitute them with leafy dill weed. For extracts and capsules, check the ingredients, alcohol content and amount per serving.

Rules depend on the country: in the USA, dietary supplements do not undergo premarket FDA approval for safety and effectiveness; in Germany, check for the designation Arzneitee or pflanzliches Arzneimittel.

Are there any contraindications?

The main limitation is an individual allergy. Unusual skin reactions may occur after consuming or coming into contact with the plant. A severe reaction requires medical attention.

Ordinary culinary use and medicinal amounts are different things. The safety of concentrated preparations and large doses cannot be judged simply because dill is a familiar spice.

During pregnancy, medicinal doses and concentrated dill preparations are best avoided without consulting a doctor. The safety of such amounts has not been established. During breastfeeding, culinary use differs from taking large doses of concentrated preparations. If medicinal use is needed, it is better to discuss it with a specialist.

Caution is also needed with medications. Interactions are possible with medicines that affect blood glucose levels and with lithium. This does not mean that an interaction will necessarily occur in every person. But if you take medication regularly, medicinal use of dill should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.

Large amounts of dill may lower blood pressure. An old reference describes the possibility of hypotension with frequent use of large quantities. Therefore, people who tend to have low blood pressure should be cautious.

Concentrated essential oil should not be taken internally in undiluted form. The fact that dill is used as food does not make concentrated oil safe to take on your own.

When should you see a doctor?

If pronounced allergy symptoms appear after using dill, medical attention is needed. Do not continue using the plant in the hope that the reaction will go away on its own. During pregnancy, medicinal doses and concentrated preparations should not be taken without medical advice. During breastfeeding, it is also important to distinguish ordinary food use from concentrated herbal remedies. Medicinal doses of dill should not be given to children without professional guidance. Particular caution is needed with concentrated preparations and essential oil.

If a person takes medication regularly, medicinal use of dill is best discussed with a specialist in advance. This also applies to people with chronic diseases. Impaired vision, including impaired vision in dim light, requires medical attention. Mention of the traditional use of dill juice does not replace an examination and treatment of the cause of the vision problem. Severe pain, fainting, difficulty breathing or other serious symptoms also require medical attention.

Why is it added to food?

Dill has long been used as food. Its greens give dishes a distinctive aroma. They can be used fresh, dried or salted.

Where is dill most commonly used?

The green part and flower heads are used in home preserving. References mention pickling cucumbers and mushrooms, as well as fermenting cabbage, among these uses. At the same time, fruits and greens should not be considered exactly the same plant material: herbal medicine gives them different roles.

The fruits are used after ripening and drying. Their aroma and sweet-spicy taste are associated with the plant's essential components. Therefore, the fruits are used not only in medicinal descriptions but also in traditional culinary applications.

The fruits and green part have different uses. The fruits are described in herbal medicine sources as material for traditional preparations. The greens are primarily used as a spice.

A simple seed infusion is known for home preparation: 2 teaspoons per 2 cups of boiling water, steeped for 10–15 minutes. In folk practice, it was taken as 1 cup at bedtime for nervousness and restless sleep.

At the same time, old information about the medicinal properties of dill needs to be separated from information about fennel. The name “medicinal dill” in historical books refers to fennel and can be misleading.

The benefits of dill are described in references primarily in connection with the traditional use of its fruits and herb. If the purpose is medicinal rather than culinary, the dose, form of preparation, medications and person's condition all need to be taken into account.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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