Dill

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a culinary herb in the Apiaceae family whose leaves (dill weed) and seeds are used as a spice and as a traditional remedy. Supplements typically use seed or aerial-part extracts.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Digestive bloating and gas (traditional use)

Mixed Evidence

Dill has a long history as a carminative, and small studies suggest modest symptomatic benefit, but rigorous trials are lacking.

Blood glucose support

Mixed Evidence

A few small human trials report modest glucose-lowering effects with dill seed extract, but results are mixed and trials are underpowered.

How it works

Dill contains volatile oils (carvone, limonene, alpha-phellandrene), flavonoids, and coumarins. These compounds have shown carminative, antispasmodic, and mild antimicrobial activity in preclinical models. Traditional use centers on digestive complaints — bloating, gas, and colic — where dill's essential oils may relax smooth muscle in the gut. Some preclinical work also reports mild blood-glucose and lipid effects, but human evidence is sparse and inconsistent. Dill is consumed primarily as a food and at supplement doses is generally considered a gentle digestive aid rather than a treatment for specific conditions.

Dosage

There is no established RDA. Culinary use is unrestricted. Supplement label doses for dill seed or extract typically range from 100 to 1,000 mg per day, though clinical evidence to guide dosing is limited.

When and how to take it

Dill is most often taken with or after meals when used as a digestive aid. Tea or tincture forms are traditionally consumed after eating to ease bloating. No specific time-of-day requirement is established.

3 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dill seed extract

Most common supplement form. Used in digestive and metabolic-support formulas.

Standardized extracts vary in volatile oil content.

Dill weed (aerial parts)

Used in teas and culinary applications.

Lower volatile oil concentration than seed.

Dill essential oil

Used in aromatherapy and flavoring at trace levels.

Highly concentrated; not generally for internal supplement use.

Safety

Dill is GRAS as a food. At supplement doses it is generally well tolerated. Allergic reactions, including contact dermatitis and oral allergy syndrome in people sensitive to other Apiaceae (celery, carrot, fennel), have been reported. Concentrated essential oil can irritate skin and mucous membranes.

Who should be cautious

Pregnant women should avoid medicinal or essential-oil doses, though culinary use is considered safe. People with known Apiaceae allergies should avoid concentrated dill products. Caution with concurrent use of diabetes or blood-pressure medications until more data exists.

Interactions

No clinically significant drug interactions are well documented. Theoretical additive effects with antidiabetic or antihypertensive drugs have been raised based on animal data but are not established in humans.

Food sources

Fresh dill weed

Amount
1 tbsp
%DV
—

Dried dill seed

Amount
1 tsp
%DV
—

Dill pickles

Amount
1 medium
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is dill safe during pregnancy?⌄

Culinary amounts are considered safe. Medicinal doses of seed extract or essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy due to limited safety data.

Does dill help with digestion?⌄

Dill has been used traditionally to relieve gas and bloating. Modern evidence is limited but supports gentle carminative activity.

References

Dill on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Dill on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Dill (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Dill with Pilora

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.