ΑΝΗΘΟΝ
Anethum graveolens
(Dill)
Botanical info:
Dill is an annual herbaceous plant, growing from 40 up to 60 cm tall, with finely divided, aromatic leaves and it’s flowering in early summer (June – July). It grows naturally in abandoned fields, with a preference in sunny wet places. It is native in northern Africa but has been introduced in most of Europe since antiquity.
Hippocratic legacy:
a. In Affections dill is recommended:
a. For the treatment of diarrhea.
b. In Internal Affections is suggested:
a. As a tonic during the recovery from tuberculosis.
c. In Diseases of Women 1 is described:
a. As birth stimulant.
d. In Diseases of Women 2 is given the following recipe:
a. Rub together dill herb with dill fruit for the treatment of gum inflammation and bad breath.
Other uses:
Dill fruit and oil possess stimulant, aromatic, carminative, and stomachic properties, making them of considerable medicinal value. Oil of dill is used in mixtures, but its most common use is in the preparation of dill water, which is a common remedy for the flatulence of infants and is a useful vehicle for children's medicine generally. Fresh and dried dill leaves (sometimes called "dill weed" or "dillweed" to distinguish it from dill seed) are widely used as herbs in Europe and central Asia.