Dill

Dill is a plant with a long history of use as a culinary spice. But dill has also been used as a magical weapon and as a medicine. In the Middle Ages, people used dill to protect themselves against witchcraft and sorcery. Today, dill seeds and the parts of the plant that grow above ground are used as medicine. Dill is used for digestive problems, loss of appetite, flatulence, liver problems and gallbladder problems. Dill is also used for disorders of the urinary tract, including kidney disease, as well as pain and difficulty urinating. Other uses for dill include the treatment of fevers, colds, coughs, bronchitis, hemorrhoids, infections, cramps, nerve pain, genital ulcers, menstrual cramps and insomnia. Dill is sometimes applied for pain and inflammatory swellings in the mouth.

Dill is used as a spice in food.

In industrial production, dill oil is used as a fragrance in cosmetics, soap and perfume.

How does dill work?

Some chemicals contained in dill appear to help relax muscles. Other chemicals may be able to fight bacteria and increase urine output in a similar way to diuretics.

How effective is dill?

There is not enough scientific data to say how effective dill is for loss of appetite, infections, digestive tract problems, urinary tract problems, cramps, flatulence, insomnia, fever, colds, coughs, bronchitis, liver problems, gallbladder problems, and when applied directly to inflammation of the mouth and throat.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of dill in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Dill is safe and harmless when consumed as a food. Dill also appears to be safe and harmless for most people when taken orally in medicinal quantities. When applied to the skin, dill can sometimes cause skin irritation. Fresh dill juice can also increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. This could increase the risk of sunburn and the development of skin cancer. For this reason, fair-skinned people in particular should avoid sunlight or use appropriate sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The use of dill in medicinal quantities is not safe for pregnant women. Dill seeds can induce menstruation, which could lead to miscarriage. As not enough is known about the safety of dill during breastfeeding, breastfeeding women should avoid dill in medicinal quantities to be on the safe side.

Allergies to plants belonging to the carrot family: Dill could cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to plants that belong to the carrot family. These plants include asafetida, caraway, celery, coriander and fennel.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining dill with the following medications:

Lithium

Dill may have a dehydrating (diuretic) effect. Taking dill can interfere with the body's excretion of lithium, which could result in increased lithium levels and serious side effects. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor before using dill if you are taking lithium. The lithium dosage may need to be adjusted.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of dill depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for dill. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.