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 culinary. It is mainly used in digestive disorders. It is also called as Indian Dill.

Botanical name: Anethum sowa / Peucedanum graveolens
Family: Umbelliferae

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

Sanskrit synonyms

Shatahva, Shatapushpa – having numerous flowers
Chatra – inflorescence has umbrella shape

Classical categorization

Asthapanopaga – herbs that are used in decoction enema therapy
Anuvasananopaga – herbs that are used in oil enema therapy

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.

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

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

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

Dill plant recipe is given to lactating mother to improve breast milk secretion.

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 inhibit 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 etc.

Side effects

Dill seed side effects:
Over-dosage 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 of the 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.

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.