Parts Most Frequently Used: Leaves, Seeds, Seed Oil, Flowers (edible)

Flavors/Temps: Leaves – Sweet, Pungent, Aromatic, Warming. Seeds – Acrid, Slightly Bitter, Warming.

Caution: Dill is considered safe.

History/Folklore: Dill is used to treat a variety of ailments including digestive problems, loss of appetite, liver problems, urinary tract disorders, kidney disease, fevers, colds, coughs, bronchitis, hemorrhoids, spasms, nerve pain, insomnia, and lowering blood pressure. It is being studied for its anticancer properties.

A few teaspoons of fresh or dried dill leaves in a cup of boiling water or milk can help calm fevers, soothe nerves, and aid sleep.

The earliest known record of dill is credited to the ancient Egyptians and dates back over 5,000 years. It has a long history of culinary and medicinal usage. The ancient Greek physician, Dioscorides, used charred dill seeds to help heal wounded soldiers by applying the mashed charred seeds directly to wounds. In Rome, gladiators were fed meals covered in dill in order to give them strength and courage. The Conqueror Charlemagne made dill available on his banquet tables to help prevent indigestion in guests who had overeaten. The Chinese have used the herb for thousand of years to help reduce fevers, anxiety, and aid digestion.

There is evidence that dill can help with drug detoxification processes. It is thought dill may be particularly helpful in detoxifying foreign compounds, including carcinogens, air pollution, and even cigarette smoke.

A study completed by the University of Thailand of young women in their late teens and early 20s, who were suffering from dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), indicated that dill helped reduce their menstrual cramping.

A study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics, reported that aqueous extract of dill showed a significant antidepressant and analgesic (reduce pain) effect when compared to either the drugs sertraline or tramadol. Unlike these or other drugs, dill also produced no adverse side effects.

Third-world countries have been using dill extract to treat convulsions and epilepsy. Studies have shown it has profound anticonvulsant properties that highlight dill as a potential natural treatment for epilepsy.

Including dill in your diet on a regular basis may help you obtain important fatty acids, which are a major source of energy used for proper cell function. Dill is also a good source of calcium helping to prevent bone loss associated with arthritis and menopause.

Dill was used in the Middle Ages to protect against witchcraft and enchantments. It was placed over the doorway or above a sleeping baby as a symbol of love and protection from curses. Dill leaves can be woven into your house broom and used to sweep away negative enchantments and curses.

King Edward I of England, taxed dill to help pay for the repair of London Bridge. Dill became a popular herb in 17th century England and was planted in many gardens. It was brought to the Americas by early settlers.

The ultimate origin of the word dill is unknown. The generic name Anethum is the Latin form of the Greek word which meant dill. Dill is also translated to mean to “calm or soothe.” Some say the word dill derives from the old Norse word dylla, meaning to soothe or lull.

Dill oil is extracted from the leaves, stems, and seeds and used as flavoring in foods and as a scent in soaps.

Dill is a key ingredient in dill pickles. It is a popular culinary herb in Scandinavia, Russia, and Finland. It is also used in Iranian, Indian, and Chinese cooking.