From prophetic, scientific perspective: Spotlight on Black Seed (II)

Islamic/Prophetic medicine The Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, say “This black seed is a healing for ALL diseases except AL – SAM (Death)”. Ibn Sina prescribed it for treatment of headaches, migraines, paralysis and facial nerves. The crushed seeds mixed with honey and drunk in hot water for kidney and bladder […]

Islamic/Prophetic medicine
The Prophet, blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, say “This black seed is a healing for ALL diseases except AL – SAM (Death)”. Ibn Sina prescribed it for treatment of headaches, migraines, paralysis and facial nerves. The crushed seeds mixed with honey and drunk in hot water for kidney and bladder stones. In Arabic folk medicines, it’s eaten with raisins to strengthen the body. Black seeds in UnaniMedicine help against cold ailments and as well help the body to absorb medicine quickly.
Medicinal uses
One of the oldest plants to be used medicinally, it helps in eliminating flatulence, relieves leprosy, phlegm fever and open clogs (Unani Medicine).
When grounded and mixed with honey and taken with warm water, it dissolves the stones that appear in the kidney and prostrate. Black seed has diuretic effect, increases the flow of milk and menstruation.
Chemical Constituents of Seeds:
1.4% of dry weight melantin glycoside bitter glycoside (Nigellin) 1.4% pungent essential oil
Fatty oils (30.8 – 44.2% mostly glycerol esters), 20% Proteins, 32-37% carbohydrates, Vit. E Chemical Composition of Leaves: 2.2g vitamin C/100gm of dry weight, Flowers – very high vitamin C.
Health tips
1. Take 5 to 7 seeds, crush with addition of few drops of oil (Olive or black seed) and drop in the nostrils, for cold conditions.
2. Black seed oil helps against snake bites, haemorrhoids and spots.
3. 25gm of black seed in 1litre of water taken 4 times a day is suitable for management of gasping and hard breathing
4. 1 teaspoonful of powdered black seed + 1 teacup of boiled vinegar is used to rinse mouth and relieves toothache.
5. The above solution, wrapped in bandage heals spots, skin ulcers, acute mucus and hard tumors.
6. Solution number 4 is suitable as anti-dandruff
7. 25gm in a litre of water taken 4 times daily helps against dog bite.
8. Application of black seed oil in the nostrils helps against facial paralysis and tetanus
9. Addition of oil of 5-15 drops of oil, according to the age of the person, to tea or boiled with chamomile or moringa flowers and taken 3 times daily treats stomach, bowel pains, chronic coughs and asthma.
10. Black seed oil is used in treatment of chronic eczema
11. A cup of milk + honey + ½ teaspoon of crushed black seed once daily is good for erectile dysfunctions.
Scientific Research (Soviet Union, Uzbek) on Medicinal Uses
1. Tincture of extracted seeds has calming properties and excellent as mouth wash. The essential oil has laxative and anti-flatulence properties.
2. Tincture of vinegar and black seed is remedy used as worm expellants especially tape worms.
3. The tincture is also a good remedy for cold, flue and throat infection.
4. German researcher, Gessner, confirms the benefits of black seed in increasing production of bile and milk.
5. Research from the faculty of Pharmacy in the University of Alexander (in 1960) led to the extraction of oil Nigellon from black seed for the management of Asthma with positive results when diluted and given orally, 15 drops 3 times daily.
6. Some researchers from the Research Institute of Springfield, Florida confirm the role of black seed in strengthening the immune system and protection against germs and harmful biological factors. It increases Lymphatic helper T and inducer T cells after treatment, from 1.19% to 1.85%.
(Article by Dr. Abdullah Abdur Razzaq Al-Saed entitled Istitifa’ Bil-Habbat Al-Sawde September, 1989).
Nutritional uses
• Black seed is regarded as spice. Added to pastries, bread and pies.
• It is added to cucumber and egg plants when making pickles
• Black seed can be added to sweets, cakes and mixed with nuts such as groundnut and sesame seeds.
• Crushed seeds should be added to milk or yoghurt
• The plant is easy to grow and gives the Bees abundant and sweet nectar, that’s why it’s often called “Honey Yielding Plant”.
In summary, the prophetic sayings and usage of black Cumin/seed has been reaffirmed by modern science and should hence boost the usage by Muslims and humanity in general.
(Concluded)