The essential oil of dill is extracted from the seeds and herbs of the dill plant, which is also scientifically known as Anethum graveolens. It is native to the Mediterranean region and it has been widely in use and highly sought after since ancient times! Dill weed oil is one type of dill oil that has a yellowish liquid and evokes a fresh and spicy aromatic fragrance.

The earliest record of dill being in use dates back to 5000 years ago in Egypt and it was given to the Greek warriors to increase their courage and bravery levels as they prepare for battle. It was also widely associated with mysticism, magic as it became a potent oil to protect oneself against witchcraft and a main ingredient in the making of love potions.

Today, dill essential oil is widely used to address a number of health ailments and conditions due to its medicinal properties. Not only that, it is widely used in the food, perfumery and soap manufacturing industries because it evokes a very pleasant aroma. Read on to find out more about its health benefits!

Health Benefits of Dill Essential Oil:

1. Powerful Antispasmodic Agent

Dill essential oil is a potent antispasmodic agent and it helps to prevent muscle cramps, convulsions and other abnormal contractions. Such conditions can lead to pain and discomfort when left untreated. However, dill oil can come to your aid in relieving such spasm conditions.

Because of this property, dill oil is great for relieving menstruation cramps in women. It relaxes the muscles and eases the abnormal contractions of the uterine walls, thus easing the pain and discomfort that is associated with menstruation.

Not only that, this attribute of dill oil is useful for treating epileptic attacks. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, where the person has unpredictable seizures and spasms. The anti-spasmodic effects of the oil serves as a relaxant to the nerves.

In fact, a 2013 study published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences investigated the extract of the dill leaves in treating convulsions and epilepsy. They found that the extract possesses strong anticonvulsant activity against seizures, thus possibly making it an effective and viable alternative to anti-seizure prescribed drugs for epilepsy!

2. Improves Digestion

Dill essential oil has many properties that makes it an exceptionally good agent to improve the digestive health of your body. Firstly, it is a digestive, meaning it stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile into the stomach and small intestine to facilitate proper digestion.

It also induces the peristaltic movement of the intestines, which means it aids the ingested food to travel through the intestinal tracts easily, helping them to be readily absorbed into the bloodstream.

This thus prevents a whole range of stomach-related problems like acid reflux, gastric, constipation, formation of stomach ulcers, diarrhea and even indigestion. Finally, it helps to eliminate excess gas and prevents gas build-up in the stomach and intestines.

Ultimately, it tones the stomach and ensures the smooth and proper functioning of the digestive system and keeps it free from infections.

3. Helps to Combat Depression

The essential oil of dill is also a potent antidepressant agent, thus providing a much viable and natural alternative to depression. Its sedative and calming effects on the mind seeks to ward away feelings of low self-esteem, self-doubt and melancholy, making a person feel content and happy. It induces optimistic thoughts and tranquility from within.

In fact, a 2016 research study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics found that the extract of the dill plant exhibited significant antidepressant and analgesic effects on the test subjects, as compared to the prescribed drugs, but without any adverse side effects!

4. Protects Skin from Infections

Dill essential oil also contains powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds that makes it a useful antiseptic and disinfectant agent for the treatment of wounds and for preventing various bacterial strains from setting in, which can cause infections.

According to a 2006 study published in the Journal of Food Science, researchers found that the extract of the dill plant has exhibited inhibitory attitudes towards the growth of various bacterial strains, including S. aureus bacteria and Fusarium graminearum, which is a bacteria that affects wheat and barley. This thus attests to the fact that it is a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.

In addition, dill oil is a potent antifungal agent, as it is able to treat various fungal infections, such as candida, by killing off molds, bacteria and yeast that cause such infections to set in the first place. It speeds up the healing times, allowing for fast and smooth recovery of such skin fungal infections.

For example, a 2003 research study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that the dill extracts from the seeds combated various fungal strains, such as the mold Aspergillus niger and the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, which are the causes for many fungal infections.

5. Acts as a Natural Insect Repellent

Dill oil can also be a potent insecticide due to its antimicrobial and anti-parasitic nature. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Food Protection found that dill oil exhibited insecticidal activity against various mosquito species, revealing it has the potential to develop as agents to control insects and mites.

This hence makes dill oil a viable, all-natural alternative to the numerous commercial pesticides available in markets, as those may be harmful and highly toxic to your health and to the environment instead.

6. Acts as a Natural Antioxidant

Dill essential oil also makes for a great natural antioxidant due to the presence of monoterpenes. A 2004 study that was subsequently published in the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy notes how dill has displayed strong antioxidant activity that is comparable, superior even, to the known antioxidant ascorbic acid! As such, it is able to fight free radical damage and exhibits strong ability to purify the body and to boost the immune system of the body.

How to Use Dill Essential Oil?

Now that you have read about the holistic benefits of dill essential oil, ranging from improving digestion to improving emotional health as well as serving as a natural and effective insect repellent, here are some of the most common ways in which you can use this effective essential oil to reap its benefits!

• Aromatically: You can diffuse a few drops of the oil into your diffuser or vaporizer and breathe in the spicy and fresh aromatic wafts around you to declutter your mind and to evoke positive moods. This can also seek to repel insects away.

• Topically: You can also apply dill essential oil topically onto your skin. However, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil (such as coconut, rosehip or grape seed oil) in a 1:1 ratio before application onto the affected parts of your skin, such as on wounds or fungal infections or even on the lower abdominal area to relieve menstrual cramps and to improve digestion.

• In Warm, Bathing Water: Alternatively, you can also add 5-6 drops of the oil in a tub of warm, bathing water to destress or to create a foot bath to ease fungal infections.

• In a Spritz Bottle: Combining 4-5 drops of dill essential oil in a spritz bottle containing water, you can proceed to spray the mixture all over the surfaces in your homes to create an insect-free and bug-free home environment, thus ensuring that it is sanitized and cleaned!

• Ingestion: If you would like to reap the benefits of the oil internally, such as to improve digestion and to purify the various bodily systems, do check with a doctor or a professional medical expert for professional health advice before proceeding to do so. The normal protocol would be to only add one drop of the oil in a glass of water or cup of tea. Ensure that there is proper dilution before drinking the mixture.

Safety Precautions:

• Be sure to always dilute the oil with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio before topical application onto the affected areas of your skin.

• Perform a skin patch test first to ensure no sensitive or allergic reactions arises.

• If you are pregnant, avoid using dill essential oil.

• If you want to ingest dill essential oil, do consult a doctor first and seek for his/her professional medical advice.

• Always purchase high-quality, top-grade, 100% pure dill essential oil from a reputable and reliable seller.

• Dill essential oil can cause skin irritation for those who are allergic to plants that belong to the carrot family, so take caution.

References:

Akaberi Akash, et al., “Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Anethum graveolens Leaves on Seizure Induced by Pentylenetetrazole in Mice”, The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (2013); 20(5)

El Mansouri L, et al., “Phytochemical Screening, Antidepressant and Analgesic Effects of Aqueous Extract of Anethum graveolens L. From Southeast of Morocco”, American Journal of Therapeutics (2016); 23(6)

Gurdip Singh, et al., “Chemical Constituents, Antimicrobial Investigations, and Antioxidative Potentials of Anethum graveolens L. Essential Oil and Acetone Extract: Part 52”, Journal of Food Microbiology and Safety (2014)

Jirovetz L, et al., “Composition, quality control, and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of long-time stored dill (Anethum graveolens L.) seeds from Bulgaria”, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2003); 51(13)

Song JE, et al., “Acaricidal and Insecticidal Activities of Essential Oils against a Stored-Food Mite and Stored-Grain Insects”, Journal of Food Protection (2016); 79(1)

Satyanarayana S, et al., “Antioxidant activity of the aqueous extracts of spicy food additives-- evaluation and comparison with ascorbic acid in-vitro systems”, Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy (2004); 4(2)