Dill Fragrant.

Fragrant dill: properties, uses and medicinal properties

Fragrant dill is an annual herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae family, with a height of 40 to 120 cm. This plant has a spindle-shaped root, thin and few branches, as well as an erect cylindrical stem with alternating whitish and greenish stripes and a bluish bloom. The upper part of the stem is branched, and the leaves are ovoid, repeatedly pinnately dissected. Fragrant dill blooms in July-August with yellow flowers collected in a complex umbrella. The fruit is broadly elliptical, slightly convex, has an aromatic odor and spicy-bitter taste, and ripens in August-mid-September.

Fragrant dill is widespread in the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Far East. The crop is cultivated on various soils - from podzolic to chernozem. In the wild it is found near housing, along the outskirts of fields and roads.

Allspice dill is widely used as a seasoning. Unripe fruits are used to flavor bread and tea. The leaves and young stems are suitable for pickling vegetables, preparing marinades and canning. Young shoots are pickled for the winter, and the essential oil obtained from dill is used in the confectionery and soap industries.

But in addition to culinary purposes, dill also has medicinal properties. All parts of the plant contain essential oil, the stems are especially rich in it. Carvone, phellandrene, diallopiol, terpinene and other substances were found in dill oil. Dill is rich in fatty oil, which is based on glycerides of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Along with oils, dill contains a large amount of vitamins C, B1 and B2, nicotinic and folic acids, as well as substances from the flavonoid group - rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorus salts.

Dill preparations have a vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, and stimulate the secretion of gastric juice. An infusion of plant stems is used for hypertension of the first and second stages and cardiovascular failure. Also, dill helps improve digestion, reduce bloating, reduce gas formation and get rid of constipation. It can also help with menstrual irregularities in women and reduce pain during menstruation. Dill products may also help fight bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

However, like any medicine, dill may have contraindications and side effects. For example, dill is not recommended for use with gastritis with high acidity, as well as with individual intolerance. Dill oil may cause skin irritation when applied to the skin in its pure form.

Overall, dill is a valuable plant that can be used both for cooking and to treat certain diseases. However, before using dill for medicinal purposes, you should consult your doctor.