Dill Seed Benefits, How To Use, Side Effects, Ayurveda Details

By – Dr JV Hebbar
Dill seed is an ancient Indian spice. Its seeds, seed oil and whole plant is used in Indian cuisine. It is mainly used in digestive disorders. It is also called Indian Dill.

Botanical name: Anethum sowa / Peucedanum graveolens
Family: Umbelliferae (Satapushpa kula)

Vernacular names

Hindi name: Soyo
English name: Dill, Dil, Dill plant, Indian Dill
Telugu name: Sadapa Vittulu
Tamil name: Satakuppi
Bengali name: Saluka
Marathi name: Shepu
Gujarati name: Suva
Kannada name: Its seeds are called Shataapu and the plant is called Sabbasige soppu
Arabian name: Shibith

Dill home remedies

For bloating, belching

1. Shatapushpa hot infusion in bloating, acid belching, heaviness of abdomen etc:
10 grams of seeds of Shatapushpa are taken and added to 1 cup of hot water. After half an hour this is filtered and served. This relieves gaseous distension of abdomen, acid belching, pain abdomen, tastelessness, heaviness of the abdomen etc.

For worm infestation

2. Shatapushpa choorna in abdominal pain and worm infestation of children:
2-3 grams of fine powder of dill seeds are mixed with a pinch of salt and taken along with warm water or buttermilk. This helps to relieve the abdominal pain, pricking sensation in the anal region followed with  worm infestation etc. found in children.

For irregular menstruation

3. Dill and jaggery in irregular menstruation and headache:
Equal quantities of jaggery and Dill seed powder are taken and pounded well to make into bolus of 2-5 grams. This is taken daily during bed time, before  1 week of expected date of menstruation. This corrects irregular menstruation and the menstrual headache effectively.

For joint pain

4. Whole plant fine paste in joint pain:
The fresh plant is taken and fine paste is made by grinding. This is warmed a little and applied over the joints.5-6 days medication helps to relieve swelling as well as pain caused in the joints.

For osteoarthritis

5. Dill oil for osteoarthritis/joint pain:
Application of Dill oil (by mixing with sesame oil) over the joints pacifies joint pain significantly.
Read related: 5 Black Gram Remedies For Sex Power, Head Lice, Joint Pain

For cough, sore throat

6. Sugar candy and Dill seed in cough and sore throat:
3 grams of Dill seeds and sugar candy are taken and chewed for 3-5 minutes. This can be repeated 4-5 times in a day. This subsides cough, cold and sore throat.

A simple spice has several health benefits and it is necessary to appreciate the health benefits while preparing the dishes out of these spices.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD (Ayu), PhD

Sanskrit synonyms

Shatahva, Shatapushpa – having numerous flowers
Chatra, chatrapushpa, shatachatra – inflorescence has umbrella shape
Pitika – Flowers are in yellowish in color
Misi – Stimulate appetite
Karavi – Satapushpa is very potent herb
Ghosha – Shatapushpa is cultivated in field

Classical categorization

Charaka
Asthapanopaga – herbs that are used in decoction enema therapy
Anuvasananopaga – herbs that are used in oil enema therapy
Bh.Pr.Ni – Haritakyadi varga

Medicinal qualities

Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter)
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Teekshna (piercing, enters deep tissues)
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion): Katu (pungent)
Veerya (potency): Ushna (hot)
Effect on Tridosha: Balances Vata ad Kapha. It increases Pitta
Pharmacological action – Aromatic, stimulant, Carminative

According to Bhojana Kutuhalam twelfth chapter, The leaves of shatapushpa are hot in potency, sweet in taste, and treat gulma. Alleviates vata, stimulates digestive fire, wholesome to the body, aggravates pitta dosha and imparts taste.

The seeds are used in raw form and also after frying with ghee. This is served as a ‘Mukhvas’ or mouth freshener in restaurants and hotels. This is used as a customary substance in houses during the celebration of festivals like Diwali, Holi, Makara Sankranti etc with the belief that its offering to the God and guests will bring prosperity to the beings as well as the house.

Spices, dill weed, dried

Is a natural aphrodisiac, useful in uterine fibroids, galactagogue, improves taste
Rasa – pungent, bitter
Guna – light, piercing, sharp
Veerya – hot
Vipaka – pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata balancing
Pitta increasing
Kapha balancing

Dill health benefits

Deepani – improves digestion strength
Useful in
Jvara – fever
Diseases of Kapha and Vata predominance
Vrana – non healing wounds
Shoola – abdominal colic pain
Akshi Roga – eye disorders
Akshivrana – ulcers in the eye
Bastikarma – enema Panchakarma therapy

Dill leaves
Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac
Rudhira Gulmajit – useful in uterine fibroids,
Vataghna – balances Vata
Stanya – acts as galactogogue
Pittakrut – increases Pitta
Ruchidayaka – improves the taste of food.

Dill plant recipe is given to lactating mothers to improve breast milk secretion.
Qualities:
Ayurveda explains dill as
anti flatulent (vatanulomana),
Carminative (deepana),
Digestive (pachana),
Analgesic (vedanashamaka),
Anti inflammatory (shothahara) and
a rejuvenation, anti aging tonic (balya rasayana).

Shatapushpa in enema therapy

In almost all the enema therapy (Basti karma), Shatapushpa kalka (paste of Dill seed) is used as a necessary ingredient. It aids in digestion and transferring of phyto-chemicals of the enema into the system of the patient. Enema therapy is usually done to achieve Vata balance and Shatapushpa mitigates Vata.

Dill seeds for cancer

A team of Russian scientists have developed glaziovianin A, which inhibits the growth of human tumor cells. They evaluated this compound in in-vivo study using sea urchin embryo assays. It  yielded several promising candidates selectively affecting tubulin dynamics. Glaziovianin A. is derived from Parsley and dill seeds(1)

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with Shatapushpa:
Narayan oil – useful pain relieving, anti inflammatory Ayurvedic massage oil
Gorochanadi GUlika – A traditional Ayurvedic product used in cough, cold, asthma, bronchitis etc.
Maharasnadi kashaya – Useful to relieve inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis etc.
Maha Laxadi oil – useful in sciatica, spondylosis
Pippalyadi taila,
Shatapushpadi choora etc.

Side effects

Dill seed side effects:
Overdose may cause Pitta increase, burning sensation, worsening of gastritis.
It is not indicated in conditions with Pitta dominance, like gastritis.
It is best to avoid its use during menstrual periods.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Shatapushpa dose

Powder – 1 – 3 grams per day
Dill seed oil – 1 – 3 drops
Dill leaves – used as food.

Useful parts

Fruits

External application

Paste prepared with dill seeds along with Tagara, licorice, Kushta  and sandalwood and ghee is used to apply externally to relieve headache, shoulder and back pain. Reference: Charaka Samhita Rajayakshma Chikitsa.
Dil oil is used as ingredients in syrups to improve digestion strength, such as Bio-sal Syrup.

Phytoconstituents

Fruit contains 2 – 4 % of Volatile oil. Chief constituent of Volatile oil is aromatic liquid,known as Carvone. Also contain dihydrocarvone,D – limonene, Phellandrene, Terpenes

Morphology

Annual herb
Root – Tap root
Stem – Aerial, erect, branched, glabrous
Leaf – Cauline and ramal, petiolate, hollow, green, glabrous, alternate
Inflorescence – Compound umbel
Flower – Ebracteate, small, Yellow, Aromatic
Fruit – Cremocarp
Seed – Endospermic

Systemic Action (Sthanika Karma)

Nervous system – Anti inflammatory and Analgesic. Promotes wound healing

Digestive System – Appetizer, increases digestive fire, Antispasmodic, facilitates movement of vata dosha in normal direction, Anthelmintic. Indicated in Vomiting, loss of appetite, indigestion, Abdominal distension, abdominal cramp etc.
Circulatory System – Improves the heart function.
Respiratory system – Pacifies kapha dosha Indicated in cough, and breathing disorders, Hiccough etc.
Excretory System – Induce urine production. Indicated in Dysuria.
Reproductive System – Improves breast milk production. Indicated in Dysmenorrhea, Oligomenorrhea. Indicated as a post delivery care medicne.
Skin – it is indicated in skin disorders.
Satmikarana – Sukra nasaka
Tapakrama – Indicated in fever