Dill is an annual plant that like parsley, fennel, and carrot, has a umbrella shaped flower.

This herb is well known for its use in pickle (often served with hamburgers), where its used as natural preservative and for its fragrance.

Dill has been used as a medicinal herb since the start of ancient Egyptian culture, and has been used as a natural preservative for thousands of years, and was also used to prevent and treat infections, and various digestive disorders.

In a tomb which is believed to be about 3 thousand years old, it was found that ancient doctors used dill as digestion aid, and intestinal gas. The fact that we still use dill to treat same symptoms and disorders as described 3 thousand years ago, the ancient civilization''s understanding of nature is rather amazing.

Dioscorides, a Greek doctor from first century, used dill in most of his treatments, and for this reason dill was once known as ''Dioscorides'' herb''. In addition, ancient Romans chewed on dill to promote digestion, and hung it in their kitchen as decorations. They also believed that hanging dill in their kitchen will prevent digestive disorders, but in reality, the fragrance alone is known to ease tension, and promote stomach functions.

For thousands of years, chinese doctors have traditionally used dill to promote digestion and to warm to body.

Dill is milder and safer compare to fennel, caraway, anise, hence its commonly used to treat children.

According to the historical records, during 8-10 century even the Vikings used dill to promote digestion, and the current name dill comes from Norwegian word "Dilla" which means ''sedates and calms''.

In 17th century, Nicholas Culpeper, physician, herbalist and astrologer, recommended that dill is an herb that ''relaxes intestinal tract, restrains hiccup, and strengthens brain function''.

In North America, it was introduced by pioneers, especially "dill water" which is prepared by boiling dill seed, has become popular folk remedy used for colic, cough, indigestion, gas, stomachache, and sleep difficulties in children, and for hemorrhoids, jaundice, scurvy, dropsy and more in adults.

Today, many herbalist recommend dill as the most effective herb in treating children''s visceral (internal) pain, and for eliminating bad breath, promoting digestion, and promoting lactation in nursing mothers.

Indications:

1. Promotes digestion and eliminates gas

The fact that dill has been used to promote digestion for thousands of years has been supported even by today''s technologies. The research has found that dill works on digestive tract''s smooth muscle to promote digestion and also contains chemicals that suppresses intestinal bubble formation to inhibit gas formation. In addition, dill seed oil inhibits proliferation of pathogenic bacteria that causes digestive disorders, it is effective in treating diarrheas caused by microorganisms.

2. UTI: Urinary Tract Infection

Dill suppresses growth of specific germs that causes UTI

3. Used for back pain, weak knees, cold hands and feet, s due to weak kidneys

Dill is a warm herb that along with fenugreek, strengthens kidneys to treat deficiency pains

4. Facilitates breathing and lowers blood pressure

Animal studies have shown that dill extract promotes breathing function and dilates blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Even though its only animal study, it shows wide range of uses of this herb.

Preparation:

Pick in autumn when the seed ripe and turns brown, and leaves are often used in cooking, and the seed for medicinal uses

1. For recurrent UTI, dill bath is effective

Add 1-2 teaspoonful of dill seed water or oil to bath water

2. For oral cleansing, chew 1/2 teaspoon of seed or gargle with dill water

3. For indigestion, boil 1 teaspoon of seed in 1 cup of water, or drink 1/2 teaspoonful of tincture three times daily

4. For children with frequent visceral pain or gas, use 1/2 of adult doses, for adults who are over 65 years old use smaller dosage

Caution:

FDA has classified dill as safe herb, but since it may cause skin irritation, people with sensitive skin should consult an acupuncturist

1. Dill is same family of plants as fennel, and from exterior its looks very similar to fennel, so caution is needed.

In some regions of China, fennel and dill are used interchangeably, even in ''Materia Matica'' dill is also known as fennel, which shows that they were used interchangeably for a long period of time.

However, the two herbs are different in their smell, shape, and properties, and must be distinguished. Dill seed is rather flat, and round, but fennel seed is larger and thicker compared to dill. Dill''s seed has milder smell and is refreshing.