Botanical Overview
Anethum graveolens, commonly known as dill or dill seed, belongs to the Apiaceae family. The part used medicinally is the seed, which has been widely employed across Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. This annual herb is prized traditionally for its aromatic seeds that possess carminative and digestive properties.
Common names include Dill and Dill seed.
Energetics
Dill seed is considered warming and drying in nature, possessing bitter, pungent, and sweet tastes. It has an ascending directionality and a relaxing tonicity, mainly acting on the qi (vital energy) within the body.
Primary Actions
- Carminative
- Digestive
- Antispasmodic
- Expectorant
- Galactagogue
Indications
Western
- Bloating
- Colic
- Flatulence
- Indigestion
- Cough
- Bronchitis
- Milk production insufficiency
Syndromes
- Digestive discomfort
- Spasmodic gastrointestinal disorders
- Mild respiratory congestion
- Lactation support
TCM
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
Syndromes
- Spleen qi deficiency
- Cold in stomach
Ayurveda
- Gastric disturbances
- Poor appetite
Syndromes
- Vata imbalance
- Kapha disorders
Unani
- Stomach cramps
- Dyspepsia
Syndromes
- Gastric flatulence
- Digestive weakness
Constituents & Mechanisms
Dill seed contains essential oils rich in carvone, limonene, and alpha-phellandrene, along with flavonoids contributing to its carminative, antispasmodic, and expectorant effects.
Dosage & Preparations
- Infusion: 1-4 g seed per cup, 2-3 times daily
- Tincture: 1:5 40% ethanol, 2-5 mL 1-3 times daily
- Essential oil: primarily external or aromatherapy use, caution advised for internal use
Safety & Contraindications
Dill seed is generally well tolerated in medicinal doses. However, safety in pregnancy is not established; it should be used with caution or avoided. Allergic reactions may occur in sensitive individuals, especially those allergic to Apiaceae plants. Use cautiously with sedatives due to possible additive CNS depressant effects.
Astrological Correspondences
No reliable, sourced planetary or elemental rulerships found.
Selected References
- Anethum graveolens (Dill) Monograph – PFAF
- European Medicines Agency Herbal Monograph on Dill seed (2016)
- Pharmacological studies of Anethum graveolens – Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2005)
- Unani Materia Medica