Both the leaves and seeds are used in cooking. In India it is supposed to cool a hot stomach, banish intestinal gas, and aid digestion. Two tablespoons of chopped coriander leaf should be eaten as soon as indigestion hits, or sprinkled on the food for prevention. In Ayurvedic medicine, an after-meal digestive aid is made by combining a teaspoon each of coriander and fennel seeds, toasting them in a dry skillet for about two minutes, until fragrant, and adding a pinch of salt. In the early US colonies it was called meeting seed because it was chewed for breath freshener during long church meetings.
Tea made from dill seed helps soothe upset stomach.
Dill seed is also rich in calcium, with 100 mg in a tablespoon. This is a classic Greek and Middle Eastern remedy for intestinal gas. They can be used as a tea, or chewed directly after a meal, as they often are in India. The tea is often used to combat infant colic. Hot fennel tea helps respiratory congestion, and three cups a day help nursing mothers produce more milk.