Eden Apothecary · Herb Profile
Anethum graveolens L.
Pronounced Dill: DIL. Anethum graveolens: uh-NEE-thum grav-ee-OH-lenz. Shatapushpa: shuh-tuh-POOSH-puh.
Warm, dry, aromatic carminative that calms griping colic, disperses cold, gassy stagnation, and settles the fussy, wind-troubled gut.
Culinary and food amounts are generally recognized as safe (US FDA GRAS). Avoid therapeutic seed doses, concentrated extracts and the essential oil in pregnancy: dill seed has traditional emmenagogue use (Ayurvedic Shatapushpa is used as a uterine and menstruation-promoting herb), and dill seed oil is high in dillapiole, a phenylpropene of the apiole group; apioles are documented uterine stimulants and reproductive toxins at high doses, and human safety of medicinal doses in pregnancy is not established. Sources: AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd ed. (dill pregnancy/lactation review); maternal reproductive toxicity data on apiole/dillapiole (PMC7956842); WebMD and RxList dill monographs.
Food amounts are compatible with breastfeeding, and dill is a traditional galactagogue; controlled evidence is weak, however. One small study found no galactagogue effect from d-carvone, a main dill constituent, though small, measurable amounts of d-carvone do pass into milk and dill appears as one component of some galactagogue herb mixtures. Keep to food and moderate seed-tea amounts and avoid the concentrated essential oil. Source: NIH LactMed / Drugs and Lactation Database, Dill (NBK501877).
A dilute dill-seed infusion ('dill water') is the classic traditional remedy for infant colic and flatulence and is generally considered gentle in small, well-diluted amounts. Use only water-based, alcohol-free preparations for infants and avoid the concentrated essential oil internally (historic gripe waters that contained alcohol or undiluted dill oil are not appropriate). Persistent infant colic should be medically evaluated. Sources: AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook, 2nd ed.; traditional use (Grieve, 1931).
Generally very safe as a food and gentle carminative. The essential oil, rich in dillapiole (especially Indian dill oil), should not be taken internally undiluted and can irritate mucosa. Because of mild blood-sugar-lowering and diuretic activity, use therapeutic doses cautiously alongside antidiabetic drugs and lithium. Possible cross-reactivity in people allergic to other Apiaceae (celery, caraway, fennel, anise, coriander). Avoid concentrated medicinal seed doses and the essential oil in pregnancy.
No absolute contraindications at culinary doses. Avoid concentrated therapeutic doses, seed extracts and the essential oil in pregnancy. Use caution with lithium and with blood-sugar-lowering medication at therapeutic doses. Known allergy to dill or other Apiaceae.
Fast-growing annual culinary crop, widely cultivated and freely self-seeding; not at risk and not listed by United Plant Savers. Easily home-grown from seed, making it a sustainable, low-impact choice.
Matthew 23:23: the KJV reads that the Pharisees tithed 'mint and anise and cumin,' but the Greek word rendered 'anise' is anethon (Strong's Greek 432), which is dill (Anethum graveolens), not true anise (Pimpinella anisum); modern translations (NIV, ESV, NASB, RSV) correctly render it 'dill.' The Mishnah (Ma'aserot 4:5) likewise discusses tithing dill (shevet: seed, leaves and pods). Also documented by Dioscorides and Pliny as a Mediterranean digestive and culinary herb, and cultivated in the Levant since Neolithic times; Ayurvedic Shatapushpa.
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