By Salamatu Muhammad
Black Seed Cure: Historically, black seed has been used for headaches, toothache, nasal congestion, asthma, arthritis, and intestinal worms. It has also been used for “pink eye” (conjunctivitis), pockets of infection (abscesses), and parasites. Black seed is also known as Ajenuz, Aranuel, Baraka, Black Cumin.
Today, the black seed is most commonly used for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and many other conditions. Natural medicine Black cumin seed is a part of the buttercup family, the seeds are dark, thin and crescent-shaped. The seed has remarkable healing properties that make it one of the most powerful medicinal plants known to man.
Habbatus Sauda, as it is popularly called among Muslims who are familiar with the seed, is the Arabic name. Its relevance was first underlined about fifteen centuries ago and was described as a cure for all diseases, except
death. This amazing seed has been used over the years to cure various ailments and diseases. Oil can be extracted from the seed and both the seed and the oil has been found to be very therapeutically effective. The seed and oil are also used in cosmetics to improve skin and hair texture.
Even though the black cumin seed is not common in Nigeria, it is widely used among Muslims as medicine for various diseases. Regular consumption of this seed or oil can help prevent the growth and spread of colon cancer
cells; the seed is also used in preventing and treating many other types of cancer. It helps stimulate the activity of neutrophil granulocytes which is the most abundant type of white blood cells in the body, which are responsible for targeting cancer cells and eliminating them before they can develop into tumours. It also stimulates the production of bone marrow cells of the immune system, protects normal cells from the damaging effects of viral diseases and increases the number of antibodies-producing B cells.
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The black cumin seed can be sprinkled whole or ground up on food; the oil can also, be used on salads and other dishes. Black cumin seed can be used in treating the following ailment;
Heart Issues: Black cumin seed oil shows some great results in improving your overall heart health. It can reduce bad or LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Epilepsy: Black seeds have anti compulsive properties and can reduce the frequency of seizures in people, especially children, who are diagnosed with epilepsy.
Asthma: The oil can aid people with asthma. Some studies even claim it to be more potent than conventional medicine to reduce the asthmatic effect on the airways. The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties
of black seed oil relax bronchial muscles and help people fight acute asthma attacks and coughs. You could massage the oil straight on your chest, or add a teaspoon to a cup of ginger tea to find instant relief.
MRSA: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is an antibiotic the resistant bacterium that causes many deaths. Most infections occur in people who have been hospitalized or had surgery or dialysis. Black seeds
strong anti-bacterial properties show some great and promising results in killing these deadly and resistant bacteria.
Cold and Flu: Due to its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties, black seeds are an effective treatment to cure flu and colds. They soothe a sore throat, reduce fever and ease digestive issues such as
nausea, stomach upset and cramps. When you feel any of such symptoms, mix ½ a teaspoon of fresh ginger with ½ teaspoon of black seed oil, use twice a day until symptoms disappear.
Toothaches: The black seed oil fights bacteria and cures inflammation, making it a great treatment to ease toothaches. Poisoning: Black seeds are brain-friendly. Study shows that it can protect and even reverse damage to the brain due to lead poisoning.
Treat Hair loss: The oil helps reduce hair loss. Its powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties help strengthen hair follicles, which reduces hair loss. Its antifungal property prevents infections that cause hair loss. It also has a moisturizing quality that protects hair from damage, speeds up hair growth and promotes healthy hair. You can mix equal amounts of black seed oil and olive oil, warm the mixture and rub it on any bald patches; wait for at least 30 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo.
Repeat this process twice a week to fight hair loss. Type II Diabetes: Consuming black seed oil aids people to stabilize blood sugar levels improves insulin resistance and promotes cell functions. Black seed extracts help inhibit the absorption of glucose in the intestine and improve glucose tolerance; a compound found in black seeds increases the insulin sensitivity of liver cells, which helps prevent type 2 diabetes. Early research shows that taking black seed powder can improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Black seed might also improve
levels of cholesterol in people with diabetes. Doses of 2 grams daily seem to be needed for any benefit. High blood pressure. Research shows that taking black seed by mouth might reduce blood pressure by a small amount.
Research shows that taking black seed oil increases the number of sperm and how quickly they move in men with infertility. Breast pain (mastalgia).
Research shows that applying a gel containing black seed oil to the breasts during the menstrual cycle reduces pain in women with breast pain. Insufficient Evidence forA a type of leukaemia (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia). Taking black seed while being treated for this type of cancer might increase the chances of staying cancer-free once treatment ends. But it doesn’t improve overall survival. Hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Early research suggests that taking black seed oil by mouth daily might improve allergy symptoms in people with hay fever. Itchy and inflamed skin (eczema).
Early research suggests that taking black seed oil by mouth might improve symptoms in people with itchy and inflamed skin. But applying black seed oil ointment to the skin does not seem to help. A disease that attacks
the thyroid (autoimmune thyroiditis). . Taking black seed might improve some but not all measures of thyroid function in people with a disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Dry nose. Early research shows that using a
nasal spray containing black seed oil can reduce dryness, blockage, and crusting of the nostrils in elderly patients with nasal irritation.
Indigestion. Taking a product containing black seed oil, honey, and water seems to reduce symptoms of indigestion. It’s unclear if this improvement is due to black seed or other ingredients. Seizures (epilepsy).
Early research shows that taking black seed extract by mouth reduces the number of seizures in children with epilepsy. But taking black seed oil does not seem to work. Stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori (H pylori infection). Some research shows that taking black seed powder along with the drug, omeprazole might help eliminate a certain bacteria (H. pylori) in the stomach that can cause stomach ulcers.
But not all doses seem to work. Hepatitis C. Some research shows that taking black seed powder
along with the drug, omeprazole might help eliminate a certain bacteria (H. pylori) in the stomach that can cause stomach ulcers. But not all doses seem to work. High cholesterol. Some early research shows that taking
crushed black seed increases “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces total cholesterol, “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and blood fats called triglycerides in people with borderline high cholesterol.
Other research shows that taking both crushed black seed and garlic oil in addition to other products that lower cholesterol, such as simvastatin, can lead to larger improvements in blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than simvastatin alone. However, not all research agrees. Metabolic syndrome. Early research suggests that taking a specific black seed oil product twice daily for 6 weeks might reduce total cholesterol, “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and blood sugar levels in people with metabolic syndrome.Methotrexate toxicity.
Early research shows that taking black seed might reduce liver damage caused by a certain drug used to treat cancer in children with a type of leukaemia. Relieving symptoms related to opioid withdrawal.
The research also shows that taking black seed extract by mouth three times daily for 12 days might reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Osteoarthritis. Early research shows that applying black seed oil to the knee for 3 weeks can help relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis.
Early research further shows that taking black seed oil improves pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis who are already taking methotrexate. Sore throat and swollen tonsils (tonsillopharyngitis). Early research suggests that taking a combination of chance piedra and black seed by mouth for 7 days relieves pain in people with a sore throat and swollen tonsils. Birth control. Boosting the immune system.Bronchitis.Cancer prevention.Congestion.Cough.Digestive problems including intestinal gas and diarrhoea.Flu.Headache. Increasing breast-milk flow. Menstrual disorders and Other conditions.
The time, no doubt, has come for food, seeds, herbs, plants, sunlight, air, clean water, and yes, love, to assume once again their central place in medicine, which is to say, the art and science of facilitating self-healing within the human body. Failing this, the conventional medical system will crumble under the growing weight of its corruption. To the degree that it reforms itself, utilizing non-patented and non-patentable natural compounds with actual healing properties, a brighter future awaits on the horizon. To the degree that it fails, people will learn to take back
control over their health themselves, which is why black seed, and other food medicines, hold the key to self-empowerment.