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Dill Herb - Uses And Side Effects

What is dill ?

Dill may have gotten its name from its sedative and antigas properties: The old Norse word dilla means "to lull." In the Middle Ages, magicians used dill in potions and magic spells, and people grew the herb in their gardens to ward off witchcraft and enchantments.

All parts of the dill plant are used, but most dill products come from the dried ripe fruit, seeds, or flowers of Anethum graveolens, a member of the carrot family (Umbelliferae). Some people put dill in "gripe water," which they give to infants to relieve gas and sharp intestinal pains. Dill also promotes milk flow in breastfeeding women and cattle.

Common doses of dill

Dill comes as dried fruit, distilled or concentrated dill water, and dill oil. Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As dried fruit, 1 to 4 grams taken orally three times daily.
• As distilled dill water, 2 to 4 milliliters taken orally three times daily.
• As concentrated dill water, 0.2 milliliters taken orally three times daily.
• As dill oil, 0.05 to 2 milliliters taken orally three times daily.

Why people use dill herb

• Bad breath
• Hiccups
• Insomnia
• Intestinal gas
• Muscle spasms
• Stomach pain
• To aid digestion
• To improve the appetite
• To stimulate lactation
• To strengthen nails

Side effects of dill

Call your health care practitioner if you experience unusual symptoms while using dill.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking.

Important points to remember

• Don't use dill if you're on a low-salt (low-sodium) diet because of its high sodium content.
• Use dill cautiously if you're allergic to other spices. Cross-sensitivity may occur.
• Seek advice from your health care practitioner before taking dill.

What the research shows

The potential benefits of dill remain unproven. Most clinical data on this herb come from foreign sources or animal studies. No human data from the United States support the use of dill for intestinal gas or sharp intestinal pains in infants or as a milk flow stimulant. More studies must be done to determine if dill is safe or effective.

Other names for dill : -

Other names for dill include dill seed and dillweed.

Products containing dill are sold under such names as Atkinson & Barker's Gripe Mixture, Concentrated Dill Water BPC 1973, Neo, Neo Baby Mixture, Nurse Harvey's Gripe Mixture, and Woodwards Gripe Water.

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