Medicinal properties of dill seeds: folk recipes and contraindications

Dill began to be cultivated around ten thousand years BC. e., as evidenced by archaeological excavations. He is mentioned in the works of Dioscorides, who was considered not just a doctor and pharmacologist, but was listed as the father of botany, the author of the work “On Medicinal Substances” in Ancient Greece.

Everyone is accustomed to using dill seeds for food, adding them to soups, sauces, salads, bread and other dishes. But the spice has more than just this use. Infusions with it will perfectly help to cope with many diseases at the stage of their development, and without any chemicals. But be careful not to harm yourself: dill seeds have both medicinal properties and contraindications.

Chemical composition of dill seeds

Dill in Latin sounds like Anethum. It is a herbaceous annual plant of the Apiaceae family with leaves and stems that die off at the end of the ripening period. The stem reaches a height of 150 cm. The leaves are pinnately dissected and ovate.

The flowers are collected in double umbels with a diameter of up to 9 cm. The seeds are ovoid or broadly elliptical, 3-5 mm in length and 1.5-3.5 mm in thickness.

Blooms in June-July. The fruits ripen in July-September. The plant is ubiquitous and is often perceived as a weed. It grows wild only in southwestern and central Asia, North Africa, Iran and the Himalayas.

Anethum has a strong spicy odor. The composition of each part of the seasoning is different.They are united by the presence of essential oil, thanks to which dill has a specific smell. Most of it is contained in seeds - from 2.5 to 8%. The oil itself is a light yellow liquid with a pleasant, delicate odor, reminiscent of caraway seeds.

Fruit oil components:

• d-carvone (30-50%);
• d-limonene;
• α-phellandrene;
• α-pinene;
• dipentene;
• dihydrocarbon.

Nutritional value per 100 g of product:

• carbohydrates - 55.2 g;
• fat - 14.54 g;
• proteins - 15.98 g;
• water - 7.70 g;
• ash - 6.58 g.

Calorie content - 305 kcal per 100 g of product.

Anethum contains fiber - 21.1 g, without containing sugars, cholesterol or trans fats.

Of the fat-soluble vitamins, only vitamin A is present in Anethum seeds. Of the water-soluble vitamins, there are vitamins C, B1, B2, B3 (PP), B6 ​​and B9.

Percentage of vitamins:

• A - 3 mcg (0.3% of the daily value);
• C - 21 mg (23.3%);
• B1 - 0.4 mg (34.8%);
• B2 - 0.3 mg (21.8%);
• B3 - 2.8 mg (17.5%);
• B6 - 0.3 mg (19.2%);
• B9 - 10 mcg (2.5%).

The ratio of minerals (macro- and microelements) contained in dill fruits:

• calcium - 1,516 mg (151.6% of the daily value);
• iron - 16.3 mg (163.3%);
• magnesium - 256 mg (64.0%);
• phosphorus - 277 mg (39.6%);
• potassium - 1,186 mg (25.2%);
• sodium - 20 mg (1.5%);
• zinc - 5.2 mg (47.3%);
• copper - 0.8 mg (86.7%);
• manganese - 1.8 mg (79.7%);
• selenium - 12.1 mcg (22.0%).

Dill seeds: medicinal properties

Many of us have known about the medicinal properties of seasoning seeds since birth, without even knowing it. The so-called “dill water” is used for newborns (to get rid of colic) by all mothers.

For men infusions and decoctions useful for their vasodilating effect, which can affect the strength of male potency. The biologically active substances of the plant increase immunity and give strength.

Among women they normalize the menstrual cycle and reduce spasms during menstrual periods. Breastfeeding mothers have increased milk production. Ladies will also be interested in Anethum's ability to improve skin color, removing the inflammatory effect in the form of acne, irritation and redness.

In some cases, a decoction is used, in others - an infusion, in others, the beneficial properties are revealed in ground or soaked seeds mixed with various herbal ingredients.

Here is a far from complete list of the beneficial properties of dill:

1. Thanks to the presence of vitamin A, consumption of the herb improves skin and eye health and supports immunity.
2. B-carotene has antioxidant properties.
3. Vitamin C is responsible for the functioning of the immune system and promotes the absorption of iron. Vitamin C deficiency leads to loose and bleeding gums, nosebleeds due to increased permeability and fragility of blood capillaries.
4. Essential oil improves the motility of the digestive tract, increases appetite, and normalizes metabolism in the body.
5. Palmitic and lauric fatty acids have pathogenic and diuretic effects.
6. Thanks to magnesium hydroxide and sodium sulfate, dill is a good laxative.
7. Due to the presence of vitamin B6 and phosphorus, it has a calming effect, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, and helps in the fight against insomnia.
8. The benefits of glycosides and monosaccharides are expressed in reducing high blood pressure, dilating blood vessels, and improving heart rhythm.
9. Phytoncides and vitamins eliminate pathogenic viruses and stimulate the removal of mucus from the lungs, having bactericidal and expectorant properties.
10. Disaccharides and monounsaturated acids are responsible for stimulating the gastrointestinal tract, increasing appetite and speeding up the digestion process.
11. By suppressing the synthesis of RNA and proteins, the seed extract can suppress the growth of cancer cells.
12. Calcium helps prevent decreased bone loss after menopause and in rheumatoid arthritis.

Traditional medicine recipes

The fruits are harvested when they begin to ripen. The inflorescences with seeds are cut off, placed in a paper bag and left in a warm, dry place away from sunlight for one week. The seeds are then easily separated from the stems and stored in an airtight container.

The fruit of dill (lat. Fructus Anethum graveolens) is used as a medicinal raw material.

Now we will tell you in more detail about the use of dill seed and what it treats, as well as how to take it correctly.

Cleansing blood vessels

Blockage of blood vessels is a big problem in the circulatory system. You can improve your condition with this infusion: take one and a half glasses of valerian root for one glass of seed. The mixture is brewed with boiling water and kept in a thermos until cooled.

Take one tablespoon three times a day, half an hour before meals, until the infusion ends. Fatty and sweet foods, coffee and strong tea should be excluded from the diet. You can repeat it after 5 years.

Getting rid of parasites

Worms are parasites, worsening the functioning of the digestive tract. Do not think that helminthic infestation is a disease of children; parasites also appear in adults. If you are sick or for prevention purposes, use this recipe.

2-3 hours after dinner, eat one tablespoon of whole seeds, then one tablespoon of ground seeds, three hours later, take two tablespoons of castor oil and put on an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing rectal suppository. The course is three days.

Read also:

How to use pumpkin oil for worms and how effective it is.

How to use pumpkin seeds for worms.

For bloating

For stomach discomfort and flatulence, a decoction of dill seeds will help: dilute 1.5 teaspoons of the fruit in one glass of cold water, boil and maintain the simmer over low heat for another 15 minutes.

Cool to room temperature, strain. Drink 30 minutes before meals. Make a fresh drink every time.

For diseases of the pancreas

When the pancreas becomes inflamed, acid reflux, gas, or diarrhea occurs. A pinch of powder from young fruits, washed down with a small amount of water, will relieve these unpleasant symptoms.

If the discomfort continues, a decoction will help: take one teaspoon of the seasoning fruit for one glass of boiling water. Brew and leave for 30-40 minutes. Strain before use, take 2-3 tablespoons throughout the day.

With high blood pressure

For hypertension, prepare the following decoction: pour one teaspoon of the seed into 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 3-4 hours. When there is no time to prepare drinks, it is recommended to consume one teaspoon of ground seeds with each meal.

Cystitis (men and women)

Dill tea can relieve spasms and speed up the removal of fluid from the body. Thanks to the antibacterial effect, the bladder and urinary tract will be cleared of pathogenic bacteria and inflammation will be reduced. The recipe for its preparation is as follows:

1. Pour two teaspoons of seeds into a glass of drinking water and simmer over low heat for twenty minutes. Cool to room temperature. Strain and drink 5-6 times a day for a week.
2. Pour one teaspoon of chopped fruit into a glass of hot water. Leave in a thermos for 12 hours. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach. Take 5-7 days.

Pregnancy: toxicosis, edema, ARVI

During pregnancy, the seeds of the plant help cope with nausea, vomiting and weakness during toxicosis. They also serve to prevent edema in the second trimester and alleviate the symptoms of ARVI.

To do this, you should consume 100 ml of dill seed decoction 3 times a day. The duration of treatment is 2-4 weeks.

Attention! The expectant mother should consult her doctor about the possibility of using dill fruits.

Dill seeds for lactation

Dill infusion is almost always safe for mother and child.

To improve milk production in a nursing mother, prepare the following decoction: pour one tablespoon of seeds into one liter of boiling water and simmer for 5-7 minutes over low heat. Cool to room temperature, strain and drink 5-6 times a day 1 hour before feeding.

Dill water from dill seeds for newborns

A drink made from the fruits of the plant will perfectly help with colic - decoctions and infusions from the seeds are included in many pharmaceutical products that are prescribed for gas and abdominal pain in infants. They rank first in effectiveness in the fight against constipation.

Preparing dill water from dill seeds for newborns is simple. Use one of the following methods:

1. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over one teaspoon of seed, cover with a lid, leave for an hour, filter, cool to room temperature.
2. Mix water and seeds in the same proportions and keep in a water bath for 30 minutes. At the end of cooking, add water to the volume of the broth (one glass). Before giving the drink to your baby, filter and cool.

Newborns should be given dill water in small portions (1-2 teaspoons) approximately 3-4 times a day; in case of severe pain, the number of doses is increased. The child will feel relief within 10-15 minutes.

The decoction is safe; pediatricians allow the use of dill seed from 2-3 weeks of life.

Important! Before using any folk remedy, you should always consult your doctor for individual contraindications.

For conjunctivitis

Grind Anethum seeds, pour ½ tablespoon of powder into 120-140 ml of water, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Wash your eyes with the decoction up to three times a day. You can also apply soaked cotton swabs for 10 minutes. The recommended course of treatment is 10 procedures.

Harm and contraindications

Powders, decoctions, and infusions of dill seeds help cope with many diseases, but, like any medicine, they have contraindications.

It should be used with caution:

1. For people with low blood pressure (hypotonics), spice essential oils can reduce blood pressure.
2. People with allergic reactions to herbs and plants. Test with a small amount of seeds to see if there is an allergy or not.
3. Those who suffer from chronic diseases should consult a doctor before treatment with dill seeds.
4. People with reduced blood clotting and taking blood thinners (Warfarin, Cardiomagnyl).
5. Pregnant and lactating women - only after consulting a doctor.Avoid use in the last months of pregnancy.
6. In cases of various types of bleeding (for example, menstrual type).

You should start using decoctions and infusions of dill fruits with small test portions. If any negative symptoms appear - weakness, drowsiness, discomfort, blurred vision, rashes - immediately consult a therapist and stop treatment until the circumstances are clarified.

Read also:

Effective dill treatment for urinary incontinence: folk recipes.

Dill is an effective remedy for facial beauty and more.

Conclusion

Dill seeds are rich in microelements and are beneficial for the body. With their help, you can not only improve the taste of long-familiar dishes, but also improve your health. If you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, to maintain the immune system and nervous system, improve skin condition, and to help expectant mothers and babies, you can use decoctions and infusions of dill seeds.

It is important to follow the rules of use and do not forget about the presence of contraindications. Please also keep in mind that before any use of traditional medicine, consultation with a doctor is required.