The black seed can be beneficial to people with varying research with Nigella Sativa (black cumin) showed a diseaases and disorders this is due to its high nutrient significant weight loss and reduced waist and hip cirvalue principally owed to the powerful antioxidant Thy- cumference ratio with reduction, triglycerides and moquinone. This antioxidant Thymoquinone has its low-density lipoprotein levels. power to relieve multiple diseases and complications due Respiratory Health to the fact that it has the ability sweep out free radicals A number of studies have indicated black cumin may from the body thus reducing oxidative stress and free be helpful for asthmatics. In one study, thymoquifatty acids that can lead to cardiovascular complications. none was found to be instrumental by reducing two Thus the black seed N. sativa can be able to help in cominflammatory mediators of asthma. The black seed plications including HIV/AIDS, extract is a bronchodilator thus the anti-asthmatic cancer, diabetes, heart health, obesity respiratory compliproperties. It is a relaxant that displays both antichocations like asthma and can improve on beauty as exlinergic (reducing spasms in smooth muscle) and anHabbat sauda (Nigella sativa) the black seed plained below. tihistaminic (blocking allergic reactions) effects. The HIV /AIDS that cures all diseases Nigella Sativa is experiencing popularity boom in treat- thymoquinone in black cumin seeds was even found Black seed, popularly known as Habbat sauda in Arabic ing HIV/AIDS as the number of scientific studies have to be superior to the asthma drug fluticasone a synis commonly referred to with different names in various affirmed. The study, published in the A frican Journal of thetic glucocorticoid. places, black cumin, black caraway, black sesame, onTraditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine, A mixture of black cumin, honey and garlic makes a ion seed and Roman coriander all refer to Habbat sauda. tells the story of an HIV patient who went into complete powerful tonic for soothing coughs and boosting imThe black seed, scientifically known as Nigella sativa, is remission after black seed treatment. The patient was munity, especially during cold and flu season or if a grassy plant with green- to blue-colored flowers and commenced on Nigella sativa 10 mls twice daily for 6 you feel like you’re coming down with an infection. small black seeds. It grows in temperate and cold climonths. He was contacted daily to monitor side-effects Beauty mates. N. sativa has long been known for its antispasand drug efficacy. Black cumin oil can even be used topically to treat modic properties, especially in gastrointestinal and respsoriasis and eczema or mixed with facial cream to piratory diseases. Black seed oil was found in Egyptian The prophet Mohammed moisturize and soothe your skin with impressive benpharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb implying its ancient use (PBUH&HH) described this humefits. This is still owed to the high levels of thymoEgyptian medicine. Ancient Iranian medical books state ble black seed as “a cure for every quinone that acts as a powerful antioxidant. that black seeds were used in digestive and gynecologic disease except death itself.” Culinary Uses for Black Cumin disorders as well as in asthma and dyspnea. The whole It is advisable to add black cumin to your cooking black seeds alone or in combination with honey are used The patient was able to recover from diarrhoea and fever in the treatment of bronchial asthma in traditional Arabi- within only 20 days and left no multiple pruritic lesions, recipes it can be added as oil or as seeds. Black cumin oil is available in supplement form, but you can an medicine. on the 187th day the patient tested negative for HIV and The seeds of N. sativa have been widely used in the its antibodies. Latter 24 months after the therapy was easily add the seeds to your regular meals. Cooking treatment of different diseases and ailments. In Islamic stopped, the tests remained negative for HIV and HIV literature, it is considered as one of the greatest forms of antibodies. healing medicine. It has been recommended for using on Cancer regular basis in Tibb-e-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine). According to the Drug Discovery Today, thymoqui-
with black cumin is popular in North Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian cuisines, with a warm, slightly bitter flavor that tastes something like a blend of thyme, oregano and nutmeg. The seeds are added to casse-
The prophet Mohammed (PBUH&HH) described this none has a long history of battling cancer in vitro and in roles, stir fries, salad dressings and baked breads, humble black seed as a cure for every disease except vivo (in “test tube” and animal studies), Thymoquinone they can be sprinkled on salads, or even added to cofdeath itself. This is one of the many contributions of the extract from black N. sativa appears to be effective fee or tea. Black cumin tea can be made by pouring prophet Mohammed (PBUH&HH) to human medicine against cancers in the blood, lung, kidney, liver, prostate, hot water over the seeds (about one tablespoon) and letting it steep for 10 minutes. and its use has cut through the ancient and modern breast, cervix, colon and skin. Diabetes By musinguzi muhsin world of health and nutrition. The black seed N. sativa, Oxidative stress decreases the efficiency of β cells of the musingubya@yahoo.com has a long history of use in traditional medical systems, pancreas, which control the production and release of References including Ayurveda and Siddha. In modern medicine the insulin. Insulin helps to lower blood glucose concentra1. Ansari AK, Sadiy HAS. Structural studies on a black seed has been widely used as antihypertensive, tion by increasing the cell absorption of glucose. Thymosaponin isolated from the seeds of Nigella sativa. liver tonics, diuretics, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite quinone from black N. sativa decreases oxidative stress Phyto Chem.1989; 27: 377-9. stimulant, analgesics, anti-bacterial and in skin disorpreserves the integrity of β cells of the pancreas. It has 2. Aqel MB. The relaxing effect of volatile oil of Niders,” Giving it big potential to handle health and nutribeen observed from studies that when people with type 2 gella sativa seed on vascular smooth muscle. Jordan tion complications that include cancer, diabetes, heart diabetes consumed two grams of black cumin per day for Ser B. 1992; 1: 91-100. complications respiratory health and also HIV/ AIDS three months leads to restoration of blood glucose. 3. Boskabady MH, Shiravi N. Inhibitory effect of Nithat has made many sub-Saharan Africa lose its produc- Heart Health tion potential. The medicinal effects of the black seed N. Thymoquinone is a powerful antioxidant benefit people gella sativa on histamine (H1) receptors of isolated sativa, is owed to its high nutritional content it is rich in with endothelial dysfunction, which is involved in many guinea pig tracheal chains. Eur Respir J. 2000; 16: 461. B vitamins, iron, phytochemicals among others. cardiovascular disorders. Even patients with age-related 4. Meini S, Ballati L, Evangelista S, Manzini S. IsWhen extracted, N. sativa produces a black volatile oil endothelial dysfunction, can restore their endolethial bufylline, a xanthine derivative, inhibits bronchoconwith a sharp tingling smell that predicts it being packed function, in part by inhibiting oxidative stress and regustrictor responses produced by stimulation of capsaiwith high levels of nutrients. The seed contains anti- lating the angiotensin system, which is involved in concin-sensitive sensory nerves in guinea pig: in vitro oxidant thymoquinone, monoterpenes such as p-cymene trolling blood pressure. and in vivo evidence. Pulm Pharmacol. 1993; 6: 279and α-pinene, nigellidine, nigellimine and a saponin one Obesity 86. of the most powerful anti-oxidant in the black seed is Black cumin is associated with anti-obesity effects, in5. Sharafkhandy A. A vicenna’s Law in Medicine Thymoquinone that is very beneficial to people with cluding reductions in body weight and waist and hip cir[translatedinto Persian]. Tehran: Ministry of Guidcumference, asthma and cardiovascular disorders. ance Publication;1990: 314.