Dill seeds

Useful properties of dill began to “explore” thousands of years ago in the cradle of civilization – Africa. Around the same time, people noticed that the seeds of any plant are much more effective than the fruit, leaves or stem. The seed contains all the useful components that will enter the future plant in high concentration, so the seeds, if used correctly, can be a real panacea for the prevention of various diseases.

Seeds (sometimes called fruits) of fragrant dill are used in official and folk medicine, cosmetology, and aromatherapy. One of the important advantages of these fruits is their availability. You can prepare a mask, infusion or decoction on your own, and the result is often not inferior in effect to expensive drugs.

The benefits of dill seeds

In ancient times, this product was widely used in medicine: they were treated for pain in the stomach and intestines, used for male potency and female reproductive function, used for hemorrhoids and diseases of the urinary tract ^[1][2]. Before the full development of pharmaceutics, ancient physicians had only plant substances in their arsenal. It is because of this that we now know how to properly use essential oils and herbs.

Today, the scope of dill seeds has narrowed down to the well-known “dill water”. Young mothers use it for colic in babies. However, in addition to the beneficial effect on digestion, this component also has a lot of useful properties.

Seeds improve appetite, which, from the point of view of mothers, is also very good for a growing body. It is worth noting here that you need to be careful with “dill water” for children. Dill affects the composition of gastric juice (because of which appetite appears), and an overdose can have a bad effect on the crumbs. The allowable rate for an infant is 3 teaspoons per day.

Due to the same property, the seeds are used in oriental cooking. Asian cooks, who know that dill fruits improve appetite, significantly increase the box office of restaurants. After a dish with this component, the visitor will almost certainly order dessert.

Seeds improve heart function. It is believed that these fruits are able to strengthen the heart muscle. If you periodically take a decoction (we will consider the recipe below), the risk of arrhythmia is significantly reduced. It is important to note that such a remedy is applicable only as a prophylaxis. If heart problems are diagnosed, it is not recommended to use only folk remedies.

The product improves immunity. In winter, dill seeds will help to prevent influenza, SARS and other viral diseases. ^[3]. A decoction of them strengthens the body no worse than lemons, onions and garlic. It is also used for diseases of the genitourinary system caused by bacteria and viruses. ^[4][5].

For the treatment of cough, a decoction is used, which dilutes sputum and removes them. For a decoction, 1 teaspoon of seeds is boiled for 5 minutes, insisted for half an hour and drunk half a cup three times a day. It is useful to add honey to the decoction.

Dill cleanses blood vessels, which is proven by official medicine. The acids that make up these seeds improve blood composition, help prevent thrombophlebitis and atherosclerosis. ^[6].

Seeds normalize sleep and calm the nerves, due to which the extract from them is often included in the composition of sedatives and hypnotics. Dill reduces stress levels and the likelihood of nervous breakdowns. However, in the treatment and prevention of mental disorders, it is effective only in the form of course therapy.

In addition, tinctures and decoctions of dill fruits improve lactation in nursing mothers, normalize the functioning of the gallbladder (do not use with stones) and are widely used in cosmetology.

Composition of dill seeds

All the beneficial properties of dill and its seeds are due to the composition, which is rich in vitamins, trace elements and oils. ^[7]. First of all, seeds owe their beneficial effect on human health to a high concentration of essential oils. There are about 20% of them in each seed, which is why this plant has such a pronounced smell and taste.

The vitamin composition ensures the prevention of diseases and increases the effectiveness of this component in cosmetology. ^[8]. The seeds contain a complex of vitamins B, PP and E. With a cold, dill fruits help thanks to vitamin C, which is also present here. Vitamins A and K are present in small concentrations.

Organic acids are an important component of cell vital activity. Dill seed contains linoleic, oleic, petroselinic, palmitic (the rarest type of organic acid) and nicotinic acid.

Macro- and microelements abound here too ^[9]. Most of all in these seeds of zinc, calcium, potassium, iron. In addition, there is: manganese, copper, phosphorus, sodium. Such a storehouse simply can not be useful ^[10]. In addition to traditional and official medicine, the seeds of this plant are used for cooking, face masks and hair.

Contraindications for use

Any drug can have side effects if used incorrectly. ^[11]. To avoid unexpected negative results, dill seeds should not be used for:

• low blood pressure (reduces even more);
• kidney stones, liver, gall bladder (provokes the movement of stones);
• individual intolerance (allergy symptoms appear);
• with increased secretion (provokes even greater secretion of gastric juice).

Having similar diseases, decoctions and tinctures from dill fruits should not be taken orally, but this product can be used for cosmetic purposes (except for allergy sufferers).

Dill seeds for skin and hair beauty

Nicotinic acid, which is part of these seeds, is very much appreciated in the field of trichology (the science of hairline). This organic acid promotes the healing of damaged bulbs, the rapid growth of hair and the strengthening of the structure of each hair. It is added to care products, used in home recipes and at expensive sessions in beauty salons.

To prepare homemade cosmetics, you will need seed oil. To prepare oil from dill seeds, pour 300 g of crushed seeds with sunflower oil (the oil should completely cover the seeds). Infuse this mixture for a week, stirring occasionally. After that, the finished oil must be filtered through cheesecloth.

Such a tool can be added to ready-made masks, balms or used as an independent tool. You can enrich it with additional vitamins, then the effect will appear even faster. Suitable complex vitamins in capsules (for example, “AEvit”) or an oil solution (retinol acetate – vitamin A, tocopherol acetate – vitamin E). You can apply oil to the hair roots or distribute it along the entire length, it is suitable even for oily and mixed hair types.

Thanks to the vitamin complex and useful elements, this remedy is equally beneficial for the skin of the whole body and hairline. You can even drink a teaspoon in the morning (replaces regular vitamins). In addition, there are many options for face masks with dill seeds, which have a tonic, brightening and cleansing effect.

Toning mask: you need to grind 100 g of seeds in a mortar, add a little honey to them. Apply the mixture to a fully cleansed face for 15-20 minutes.

Lightening: to 100 g of crushed grains, add the juice of half a lemon and chopped dill. Keep this mask for half an hour. In addition to brightening, it performs a cleansing function and narrows pores, but is not suitable for people with dry skin.

Dill mask for dry skin: add a tablespoon of natural sour cream and one capsule of vitamin E (or a few drops of a solution) to the pulp from the crushed grains. Apply such a mask for 10-15 minutes. Use of this tool is recommended no more than 2 times a week.

Dill Seed Treatments

Recipes for tinctures and decoctions have been tested by many generations. ^[12]. There are a lot of them, so consider the recipes for folk remedies for the treatment of common diseases.

For the stomach and improving lactation. A teaspoon of seeds should be ground in a blender or coffee grinder. Pour the resulting mass with one glass of boiled water. Steep the mixture for one hour, then strain. Take before meals for 15 minutes, 1-2 tablespoons. Treatment can be extended until you feel better.

For calm. Pour one tablespoon of seeds into a liter of boiling water. Boil them for 10-15 minutes and leave to cool. The cooled and filtered broth should be taken three times a day, 100 ml each. This remedy has a diuretic effect, so during treatment it is necessary to drink more water. The decoction is also applicable for diseases of the genitourinary system (if there are no stones). Extending the course for more than three months is not recommended.

For eyes and colic. For inflammation of the eyes, the famous dill water is used. One glass of hot boiled water is poured over a teaspoon of seeds. Insist for 2 hours and filter through a double layer of gauze. Children are given three times a day for a teaspoon (preferably with the permission of the pediatrician). To relieve inflammation in the eyes, cotton pads are dipped in infusion and applied to sore eyelids. It is also useful for nursing mothers to take a tablespoon of this remedy to reduce colic in a baby.

Where to get the seeds

The easiest way, of course, is to buy them ready-made. They are sold online and in markets. However, in this case, the quality of dill seeds may be questionable. Their shelf life is a maximum of 3 years (under the right storage conditions). Unscrupulous sellers can sell spoiled dill fruits, and it is almost impossible to follow this, since the seeds do not change color and appearance from time to time. But the useful qualities of such a product are almost zero.

The best option is to plant dill in your backyard. For those who can boast of a dacha, most likely, it is already growing. But the inhabitants of the apartments rarely have gardens. In this case, growing dill is as easy as in the country. All you need is a pot of soil, seeds (from a planting bag), some water and gloves. The pot needs to be filled with soil by a third, sow the seeds and cover the rest of the pot with earth, water and just wait.

This plant is unpretentious, requires only sun and water and will look great among ordinary indoor flowers. You need to collect the fruits when the umbrellas are fully formed. Side greens can be plucked for dishes and salads. Before using the fruits, they must be dried in the sun and stored in glass, earthenware or porcelain dishes.

In conclusion

As you can see, getting and using seeds is simple, and there are many areas of their application. Dill seeds are an affordable, common, useful tool in medicine and cosmetology. The oil from them can be added to the aroma lamp for a surge of strength and used for anti-cellulite massage. Given the contraindications, it is better to take this product inside with the permission of the doctor.

You can get involved in traditional medicine only in the prevention of diseases or as auxiliary methods. In the case of a diagnosis, refusing prescribed drug therapy in favor of folk remedies is dangerous to health. If they were able to fully cope with diseases, pharmaceuticals would not appear at all. Do not overdo it.

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