Dill is one of the most common fragrant spices. Vegetable and meat dishes, soups, salads, canned preparations for the winter acquire a unique taste and smell when fresh herbs or dried herbs are added to them. A particularly bright aroma is given by dill seeds, which are actually its fruits.
But not only in cooking use this popular seasoning. The healing properties of seeds were known even to ancient doctors - Avicenna himself used them as part of various recipes. Are the medicinal properties of dill seeds applicable now, what is their benefit and harm to the human body?
A bit of history
The countries of Asia are considered to be the homeland of dill; in the wild, culture is still found in Iran, the Himalayas, and North Africa. As garden greens are now cultivated literally in all countries of the world. In Britain, the first mention of dill dates back to the III century BC. And even then, fragrant grass was used both as seasoning and as a medicinal herb.
Useful elements in the composition of dill seeds
Of the whole plant, the seeds or fruits of dill possess the most saturated aroma and rich. This is due to the high content of fatty oil - from 15 to 18%, which includes mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids - petrozelinic, oleic, palmitic and linoleic. In addition, seeds contain up to 15% of plant proteins.
All parts of the plant contain an essential oil that gives a special specific aroma. The leaves and stems of the plant have a rich composition:
• flavonoids - have a beneficial effect on all human organs and systems: antioxidant, immunomodulating, vasodilating, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, etc .;
• carbohydrates;
• nicotinic and ascorbic acids;
• carotene;
• riboflavin;
• microelements (in 100 g of the product -% of the daily intake necessary for a person): potassium (50%), calcium (152%), iron (91%), phosphorus (35%), zinc (43%), manganese (92 %), selenium (22%), copper (78%);
• vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6.
Due to such a rich composition of minerals and vitamins, leaves, stems and seeds of dill are useful in a number of diseases of the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
The benefits of dill seeds for humans
The unique chemical composition of seeds allows their wide use in folk medicine for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the urinary, digestive, nervous systems.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system
• Dill seed is useful for arrhythmias and atherosclerosis, because it has a beneficial effect on the contractile function of the heart muscle, which normalizes the work of the entire cardiovascular system.
• Infusions from leaves and seeds of dill help lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, as they expand blood vessels, reducing blood pressure on the walls.
• In case of angina pectoris, it is recommended to take an infusion of seeds, which is prepared in the ratio of 1 teaspoon / 1 cup boiling water. Pour the seed with boiling water and insist 1 hour, then filter and take 1/2 cup 3 times a day.
Nervous system
• The sedative effect of dill seeds is well known. Before going to bed, it will relieve nervous excitement, give a good healthy sleep a bath with fruit infusion: 1 cup is brewed in 1 liter of boiling water, insisted for 30 minutes, filtered and added to a warm bath. The time of the procedure is 20-30 minutes.
• From insomnia, it is useful to take an infusion of seeds in red wine: 50 g of fruit is infused in 500 g of wine for a week, filtered and consumed 50 ml before bedtime.
• It is useful for breast babies who are active in the evening to put a small pillow filled with fragrant dill seeds before bedtime - the smell of essential oils will help to calm down and fall asleep faster.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The green parts of the plant and fruits exert numerous beneficial and therapeutic effects on the work of the gastrointestinal tract - infusions and decoctions are taken during flatulence as a carminative, for colic and bloating in children, as well as for choleretic, antiemetic and laxative.
The use of dill seeds for the digestive tract is due to the following properties:
• bactericidal - the ability of the fruit to fight the processes of decay in the stomach and intestines;
• the ability to create beneficial intestinal microflora, fight constipation and flatulence, remove toxins from the body;
• seeds help with diseases of the gallbladder and canals, as they have a choleretic effect;
• dill seeds increase the secretion of gastric juice, increase appetite, are effective for gastritis with low acidity.
The benefits of seeds for diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system
The fruits of dill have established themselves as an excellent diuretic, a therapeutic agent against cystitis (due to the bactericidal effect, it softens inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system). Decoctions of seeds are used for jade and nephrosonephritis.
Lactation
Dill seeds are useful not only for babies, but also for nursing mothers - they effectively stimulate lactation, contribute to the flushing of breast milk. To do this, pour 10 g of dill fruits into a glass of boiling milk, insist 30 minutes, consume 1/2 cup 1 hour before feeding.
During pregnancy, the seeds will help to cope with edema, constipation, regulate normal sleep and blood pressure, but it is necessary after consultation with your doctor or gynecologist.
Respiratory system
Universal fruits have a pronounced bronchodilator effect - they contribute to the dilution of sputum and its removal from the bronchi and lungs.
Dill Seed Harm
Such a potent remedy, like dill fruits, cannot but have contraindications. It is harmful for people with chronic hypotension (low blood pressure) to consume seeds, as they lower blood pressure and can cause dizziness, loss of strength, weakness, and even a temporary decrease in visual acuity. Long-term use or too strong infusions are also harmful to the body and cause the same negative reaction, weakness, lowering pressure.
The allergic reaction of the body cannot be ruled out, when using any decoctions or infusions, it is necessary to carefully monitor the slightest changes in well-being.
The original recipe for youth
This broth will provide the body with the most necessary vitamins and minerals, cleanse the intestines from toxins, therefore it is considered a recipe for youth, health and longevity. Composition:
• ground dill seeds;
• ground dried peel of apples;
• dry leaves of currant, raspberry, hop.
All ingredients take 1 tablespoon, pour 1 liter of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes over low heat. Then it is necessary to cool, strain and take daily a glass in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before bedtime.
A warm decoction of seeds serves as an excellent anti-inflammatory agent for washing the eyes with infectious lesions or overwork.
Dill seeds can be purchased at pharmacies or prepared on their own. In addition to the use in culinary dishes, they will serve as the prevention of many diseases, help cleanse the body, saturate with necessary trace elements.
