Dill: this herb soothes digestion, stomach pains and hiccups, reduces flatulence, and lulls you to sleep ...

Common Names: Dill, Dilly Weed

Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens

Family: Apiaceae

Plant Type: Annual

Parts Used: Leaves and seeds

Flowering: July

Dill is native to the Mediterranean countries and Southern Russia.

Description: The dill plant grows ordinarily from 2 to 2 ½ feet high and is very like fennel, though smaller, having the same feathery leaves, which stand on sheathing foot-stalks, with linear and pointed leaflets. Unlike fennel, however, it has seldom more than one stalk and its long, spindle-shaped root is only annual. It is of very upright growth, its stems smooth, shiny and hollow, and in midsummer bearing flat terminal umbels with numerous yellow flowers, whose small petals are rolled inwards. The flat fruits, the so-called seeds, are produced in great quantities. They are very pungent and bitter in taste and very light, an ounce containing over 25,000 seeds. Their germinating capacity lasts for three years. The whole plant is aromatic.

Cultivation: Sew seeds in spring 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) deep, then space seedlings out to 30 cm (1 foot) apart. Avoid growing dill near fennel, as doing so will muddle the flavours. It likes a pH of 6.0, full sun, and moderately rich, well-drained soil.

Harvesting: Pick seeds when ripe; dry

Culinary Uses: The leaves are used fresh in salads and as garnishes. Dill is used in the cuisines of Russia and Scandinavia, and is delicious with fish (especially salmon), potatoes, cabbage, green beans, and egg and cream dishes. The seeds are used in pickling and whenever a stronger flavor is desired.

Dill Magick

Love. Lust. Money. Protection.

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Fire

Use dill seeds in money and abundance spells.

Float a handful of dill seeds in your bath to make yourself irresistible.

Place dill seeds on your windowsills to protect your home from evil influences.

Hang stalks of dill over a babys crib for protection and to keep away bad dreams.

Put some dill seeds in your shoes when you go for a job interview to ensure success.

Herbal Healing with Dill

Medicinal Actions: Antibacterial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, aperitive, calmative, carminative (prevents flatulence and fermentation and stops hiccups), detersive, digestive, disinfectant, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, estrogenic, galactagogue, laxative, parasiticide, resolvent, sedative, seductive, stomachic, vasodilator

Medicinal Uses: Dill dispels flatulence, settles the stomach, stimulates the appetite and relieves colic. It is useful to nursing mothers as it encourages milk flow and relieves breast congestion.

Body Care with Dill

• To ease restlessness and stress accompanied by difficulty sleeping, take 1 cup dill seed infusion up to three times daily, as needed.

• To reduce stomach pains or flatulence, take 1 teaspoon dill tincture up to three times daily, as needed.
• To relieve a colicky baby, give 1 teaspoon half-strength dill seed infusion, as needed.

Infusion: 1 - 2 teaspoons slightly crushed, dried dill seeds in 1 cup just-boiled water. For half strength, use 1/2 - 1 teaspoon slightly crushed seeds in 1 cup just-boiled water.

Tincture: 200 g (7 oz) dried dill seeds in 1 litre (4 cups) vodka-water mix.

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