What does dill decoction help with, how to prepare and use it correctly

Recently, interest in the use of medicinal plants has increased significantly. In folk medicine, dill, or more precisely, a decoction or infusion based on it, is often used for medicinal and preventive purposes. This annual herbaceous plant has a wide range of pharmacological activity, and has a pronounced diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative effect, improves intestinal function, and reduces the accumulation of gases.

From the article you will learn what dill decoction helps with, the beneficial properties and composition of the plant, how to brew and take the infusion, contraindications and side effects.

Dill decoction

Dill decoction is a valuable remedy for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases. digestive, nervous, urinary, respiratory, cardiovascular systems. Due to its diuretic effect, it removes waste and toxins from the body, promotes weight loss, and neutralizes swelling.

Dill decoction is safe for the body, has virtually no contraindications, and causes adverse reactions only in rare cases.

For medicinal purposes, it is ideal to brew your own dill, grown without the use of pesticides. When buying a plant at the market or in a store, it is important to evaluate its quality and appearance.

For reference. During the ripening period of dill in nature (from June to September), fresh herbs are used to prepare a decoction; at other times, dried leaves and stems are used.Seeds can be prepared separately for the winter; they also have medicinal qualities.

Composition and properties

All parts of the plant have a different chemical composition. The leaves contain biological components such as:

• water;
• ash;
• alimentary fiber;
• vitamin A (retinol);
• B vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic and folic acids;
• vitamin C (ascorbic acid);
• vitamin PP;
• complex of mineral salts: iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, magnesium, manganese, copper.

Found in dill fruits 14-15% protein, 15-17% essential oil, which includes linoleic, palmitic, oleic acids. All parts of the plant contain flavonoids and essential oil, which give the plant a specific smell and taste.

The presence of a complex of biologically active substances affects wide range of pharmacological activity of the plant. Dill has a pronounced diuretic, carminative, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effect. Dill infusion is recommended as an expectorant, antibacterial and sedative for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Beneficial features

Dill infusion has a variety of beneficial effects on the body and to some extent satisfies the body's needs for calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Thus, the biochemical role of calcium is in the physiological construction of bone tissue, the processes of coagulation and transmission of nerve impulses, and the mineralization of teeth. Potassium and magnesium maintain normal muscle tone, regulate the water-salt balance of the body and the acid-base balance of the blood.

The plant is valued due to its content of B vitamins., which affect a number of physiological processes:

• thiamine (vitamin B1) ensures normal growth and development processes and supports proper heart function;
• riboflavin (vitamin B) promotes oxygen saturation of the blood, regulates the activity of the thyroid gland, and is of great importance for maintaining reproductive function;
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is responsible for the metabolism of proteins and fats, the absorption of unsaturated fatty acids, participates in the processes of hematopoiesis, the synthesis of histamine and hemoglobin, reduces cholesterol levels, and inhibits the aging process;
• folates (vitamin B9) promote better absorption of iron in the body, affect mood, appetite, and the state of the nervous system.

Dill fruits include anisic acid and the aldehyde, anethole., which have expectorant, sedative, antibacterial and antispasmodic effects. Therefore, dill infusion has a beneficial effect on the condition and functionality of the nervous system, calms, relieves stress, and reduces irritability. The action for infectious and colds is to suppress the activity of pathogenic agents, dilute and facilitate the evacuation of sputum, and inhibit inflammation.

For reference. For diseases of the digestive tract, dill normalizes metabolism and digestion, reduces the accumulation of gases, and relieves pain and cramps in the stomach.

Other medicinal properties of dill include the ability to accelerate the healing process of wounds and burns, increase the protective properties of mucous membranes, maintain the full functioning of the immune system, and prevent the growth and development of cancer cells.

How to properly prepare dill decoction

Decoction prepared as follows:

• 1-2 tbsp. l.finely chopped fresh or dried dill is placed in an enamel pan;
• pour a glass of hot water, cover with a lid and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes;
• cool at room temperature;
• filter through a sieve or gauze folded in several layers, the remaining raw materials are squeezed out.

The resulting decoction is diluted with boiled water to a volume of 200 ml.

Infusion

To prepare the infusion, crush 1 tbsp. l. dill greens (stems and leaves), pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave covered for 60 minutes. The cooled infusion is filtered using a sieve or several layers of gauze, and the remaining raw materials are squeezed out.

Use in folk medicine

All parts of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials.: inflorescences, seeds, stems, leaves. Traditional medicine suggests taking dill decoction for adults and children as a therapeutic and prophylactic remedy for diseases of the digestive tract, heart and blood vessels, respiratory organs, liver and kidneys, and disorders of the central nervous system.

For newborns

For babies dill infusion is used for increased gas formation and flatulence. The product reduces the accumulation of gases, relieves painful intestinal spasms, and improves digestion. The effect is noticeable within 15-20 minutes after application.

Advice. To minimize the risk of allergies, taking the infusion should begin with small doses, gradually increasing them.

For pregnant and lactating women

Traditional medicine recommends taking brewed dill for women during breastfeeding, since it stimulates milk production and facilitates its secretion, it prevents the likelihood of inflammation of the mammary glands and milk stagnation (lactostasis).Dill is useful for menstrual irregularities.

And here During pregnancy, dill decoction is recommended to be used with caution. In the early stages, in moderate quantities, it will be useful for the body of the expectant mother and child, as it is a source of folic acid (vitamin B9). Without it, normal growth and development of tissues and organs of the embryo is impossible; it improves the absorption of iron, affects the state of the nervous system, appetite, and mood. Even a short-term deficiency of folic acid can cause disruption of the normal development of the nervous system in the fetus.

In the last trimester, dill can do more harm than good, so it is better to limit its use. The fact is that the active components of the composition stimulate uterine contractions, which creates a threat of premature birth.

For bloating

Dill infusion eliminates painful cramps in the stomach, reduces the accumulation of gases in the gastrointestinal tract. The plant to some extent influences the causes of bloating: it enhances the peristalsis of the large intestine, neutralizes the toxic effects of various types of infections on the intestines, and normalizes blood circulation in the body.

Regular intake of dill infusion alleviates the severity of symptoms of flatulence such as feeling of heaviness, fullness, rumbling, belching, constipation. The plant helps in case of disturbance or absence of stool: it has a stimulating effect on the mucous wall of the colon, softens stool, stimulates the act of defecation, and reduces the time of bowel movement.

For various diseases

Dill is widely used in medicine for therapeutic and preventive purposes.. An infusion of leaves and stems is used for arterial hypertension and diseases of the cardiovascular system. The drug reduces peripheral vascular resistance, lowers cholesterol levels, and facilitates the ejection of blood by the heart.

Amino acids maintain vascular tone of the arterial bed, on which blood pressure depends. Dill serves as a good prevention of ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, coronary heart failure.

It is recommended to take dill infusion for diseases of the digestive systemoccurring with intestinal pain, spasms, increased flatulence, and dyspepsia. The decoction is taken to normalize digestion and appetite.

A decoction of dill helps with pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, bronchitis without sputum production. It causes increased secretion of the liquid part of the bronchial secretion, thereby reducing the viscosity and elasticity of sputum, facilitating its evacuation to the outside.

Dill decoction helps improve mental health conditions. The plant has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, relieves irritability, normalizes night sleep, relaxes, and relieves stress.

Dill is used for liver diseases, kidney, gallbladder. It has a pronounced carminative, diuretic effect, prevents bile stagnation and normalizes urodynamic processes, maintains renal function at a normal level, minimizes the risk of inflammation, and inhibits its activity.

Helps dill for weight loss. It contains a lot of plant fiber, which, like a sponge, cleanses the blood, liver, kidneys of waste and toxins, removes excess water from the body, due to which swelling subsides.Fiber activates metabolism, accelerates the process of fat breakdown, improves digestion, increases endurance and performance, which leads to stimulation of physical activity and additional calorie burning.

Instructions for use for children and adults

The course of treatment with dill decoction for most diseases is 25-30 days. If necessary, repeated courses are prescribed after a 10-14 day break, but no more than two courses after the main methods of conservative therapy. The number of daily doses, single doses, and time of administration are determined by a specialist for each patient individually, depending on the characteristics of the onset and course of the disease, the presence of contraindications, age and gender.

For infants, dill infusion for bloating should be given 1 tsp.. with a daily frequency of 5-6 times. This should be done before feeding, using a spoon, feeding bottle or syringe without a needle.

How to take brewed dill for an adult depends on the therapeutic goals. To relieve the symptoms of flatulence, dyspepsia, and eliminate painful spasms in the intestinal gastrointestinal tract, you need to use the product 5-6 times a day, 1 tbsp. l. after meal.

In order to increase lactation during breastfeeding, drink 150 ml of infusion 30 minutes before feeding. The daily norm is 300 ml. To treat colds and bronchitis, add 1-2 tbsp to 500 ml of dill decoction. l. natural honey, and take the medicine throughout the day, dividing it into portions.

To reduce body weight It is recommended to drink dill decoction three times a day half an hour before the main meal.The product provides quick and long-lasting satiety, due to which there is no feeling of hunger or the need for snacks for a long time.

For the treatment of kidney stones, stagnation of bile, prevention of inflammatory phenomena in the organs of the urinary system will help by taking 100 ml of dill decoction three times a day.

Contraindications for use

Dill infusion and decoction are strictly contraindicated for individual intolerance to one or more components of the composition. It is necessary to take the medicine with caution if there are large stones in the urinary system. Possessing diuretic properties, dill can provoke the movement of stones, which poses a threat of exacerbation of the disease, disruption of the outflow of urine, changes in renal function, and increased pain.

Pregnant women in the last trimester and people with arterial hypotension can use this folk remedy only under the supervision of a specialist.

Side effects

Adverse reactions after taking dill decoction rarely appear. In some cases, there were complaints of a local allergic reaction, which was associated with the presence of hypersensitivity to the plant and the use of large doses. An allergy to dill manifests itself in the form of redness, rashes on the skin, itching, and swelling.

Side effects from using dill may occur in people with low blood pressure. When blood pressure drops, patients experience dizziness, impaired thermoregulation, drowsiness, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and even fainting.

Conclusion

Dill infusion is a universal folk remedy that prevents the occurrence or alleviates the course of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels, nervous, respiratory and urinary systems. For infants, the decoction helps relieve bloating and colic.

People who have used the infusion as a medicine leave mostly positive reviews. Reports of allergic reactions or other side effects are extremely rare. However, they exist, and in order not to harm your health, before starting to use dill decoction, you must consult your doctor to rule out possible contraindications.