Dill Seed

Ever wonder what dill is doing in dill pickles? Flavor is only half the story. The herb's also a natural preservative, and in the days before refrigeration, vegetables were often pickled in vinegar or brine to keep them from spoiling. When dill was added, the pickled vegetables lasted even longer. But here's the real surprise: The same components in dill that helps keep pickles fresh can also soothe an upset stomach.

The use of dill as a digestive aid isn't new. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese all used this herb to cure tummy troubles. "Dill tea works," confirms Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City, and author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. "It's even gentle enough for infants."

Healing with Dill:

• To use this herb to soothe your stomach, brew a tea using 2 teaspoons of mashed dill seeds per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day or take ½ to 1 teaspoon of dill tincture up to 3 times a day. This herb can:

• Improve Digestion: After a big meal, down a cup of dill tea to soothe your stomach and prevent indigestion.

• Ease colic: If an infant has colic, try giving her small amounts of weak dill tea; allow the beverage to cool before administering it. Add fennel for extra stomach-soothing power.

• Halt diarrhea: Dill inhibits the growth of several bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas, and Esherichia coli). These microorganisms cause infectious diarrhea-another common early-childhood gastrointestinal illness.

• Prevent flatulence: Traditionally, herbalists recommended dill for control of flatulence. The herb does have anti-foaming action, suggesting that it can help break up gas bubbles.

Grow Your Own:

Dill is an annual with a long taproot like its close relative, the carrot. It has a delicate, fast-growing, spindly stem with lacy leaves. Yellow flowers appear in summer and produce great quantities of tiny ridged fruits (seeds).

Dill grows vigorously from seeds sown ¼ inch deep in early spring. Germination takes about two weeks. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart.

Dill grows up to 3 feet tall in rich, moist, slightly acidic soil under full shade. Seeds mature in about two months. Harvest them when they begin to turn brown. Dill self-sows. Leave a few plants unharvested and you'll have a fresh supply every year.

Safety Considerations:

People sensitive to dill may develop a skin rash from ingesting it, but the leaves, seeds and seed oil are generally considered nontoxic. If skin irritations develops, discontinue use.

Home Page || Back || Product Index