Dill-Fennel Hildegardian Preparation for Sinus Congestion

Whether chronic or seasonal, sinus congestion is always uncomfortable and unwelcome. Stuffy nasal passages, pressure, and that heavy feeling around the sinuses can make even an ordinary day more difficult.

If you’d like to learn an easy-to-prepare traditional Hildegardian preparation for soothing tired, congested sinuses, watch our video and follow the recipe below. 🌿

This simple preparation combines fresh fennel greens and dill, gently warmed on a clay saucer so that their aromatic vapors can be inhaled. What makes this preparation especially interesting is that Hildegard’s approach does not end with inhaling the herbs—the warmed herbs are then eaten with spelt bread.

It is one of the many traditional preparations found in St. Hildegard’s writings that can become part of a seasonal wellness routine.

Dill-Fennel Preparation

Ingredients

• 1 part fresh fennel greens
• 4 parts fresh dill
• Spelt bread, for serving
• Fennel tea, optional, to drink afterward

You Will Also Need

• A jar or freezer-safe container
• A food-safe clay saucer suitable for gentle heating

Any food-safe clay saucer suitable for this purpose may be used. For those who need one, Hildegard’s Way also offers a food-safe clay saucer in our store.

Preparing the Herb Mixture

Finely chop the fennel greens and fresh dill.

Transfer the chopped herbs to a bowl and mix thoroughly so the fennel is evenly distributed throughout the dill.

Place the mixture in a jar or freezer-safe container. Keep it in the freezer so you have it ready whenever you would like to prepare the remedy.

How to Use It

Place a food-safe clay saucer on the stovetop over low heat.

Add approximately 1 tablespoon of the fennel-and-dill mixture to the saucer.

Allow the herbs to warm gently. As they heat, breathe in their pleasant aromatic vapors. The warmth and aroma make this a wonderfully relaxing traditional preparation when the nose and sinuses feel stuffy or congested.

The herbs should warm and gently brown rather than burn.

An Important Final Step: Eat the Herbs

Don’t throw the warmed herbs away!

This is an important part of the traditional Hildegardian preparation. Once the herbs are gently browned, remove them from the saucer and sprinkle them over a slice of spelt bread.

Eat the bread together with the warmed herbs.

You can follow the preparation with a warm cup of fennel tea.

A Simple Preparation for the Seasonal Wellness Cabinet

One of the beautiful aspects of St. Hildegard’s approach is the simplicity of many of her preparations. Familiar foods and herbs—prepared in a particular way—were often at the center of her recommendations.

This dill-fennel preparation is especially convenient because the herbs can be chopped and mixed ahead of time and stored in the freezer. When seasonal congestion arrives, the mixture is already prepared and ready to use.

Watch the accompanying video to see exactly how we prepare and use this traditional Hildegardian recipe.

This article shares a traditional preparation associated with St. Hildegard of Bingen for educational purposes. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Persistent, severe, or worsening sinus symptoms should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.