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NIGELLA SATIVA (BLACK CUMMIN SEED or HABBATUS SAUDA)
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Lisl Meredith Huebner, Dipl.CH (NCCAOM), RH (AHG),
a nationally
board certified Chinese Herbalist, and a Registered Herbalist with the
American Herbalists Guild. Lisl is also a certified Medicinal
Aromatherapist,
a Reiki Master an Acupressurist, an Auriculotherapist, a
photographer,
a renowned diagnostician, a teacher and a published
writer who has
enjoyed a successful private practice for fifteen years.
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- NIGELLA SATIVA -
(BLACK CUMMIN SEED/HABBATUS SAUDA)
“The Miraculous Herb from Heaven”
(Article by Lisl Meredith Huebner)
“Let fall these Black Seeds upon you,
these contain cure for all diseases except death”
-The Prophet Muhammad-
Although
Black Cumin is the moniker that most people in the West know the herb
Nigella sativa by, it’s about as closely related to Cumin Seed as
Broccoli is to Chamomile. Some of its other names are even more
confusing: Black Seed, Black Onion Seed, Black Caraway, Black Sesame,
and Roman Coriander., but Nigella sativa is absolutely unrelated to
onion, caraway, sesame or coriander. Perhaps the Biblical name “fitch”
should make a come back to mitigate the confusion, or we should honor
the holier references like “Blessed Seed” or “Herb from Heaven.”
Nigella
sativa is a charming plant in gardens; it is approximately 18” tall and
adorned with feathery leaves and white blossoms that may sport a bit of
pale blue at the tips of the petals. Take note that the popular garden
ornamental Nigella damascus (also known as “Love in a Mist”), is a
related species, but is not considered medicinal; another relative, N.
garidella is considered toxic. Nigella’s seed head is as attractive as
her flowers; a balloon-like pod that encapsulates the pale seeds opens
in the shape of a five pointed star. The small triangular seeds, covered
with fine hair turn a matte black as they dry and mature.
Growers
of Black Cumin will harvest large bunches of stalks laden with pods
before dawn to keep the dew from settling upon them, and dry them evenly
over sheets so that the seeds will be easily gathered when the pods
open. Some of the seeds are sown in September to ensure the next year’s
crop, while the bulk of the harvest is ground and cold-pressed into oil
in the traditional way. Some producers will seek to get more of the
final product by extracting the oil with solvents; these chemically
treated oils should never be used for healing. Always know your source
and do not trust “sale items.” The best oil comes from Egypt, where
traditional methods of cold expression have been passed down through
generations.
Black
Cumin is native to the hot, dry climates of the Middle East, where the
herb is so popular that more acreage is devoted to growing the Blessed
Seed every year, and families are stockpiling the esteemed herb and its
oil. Nigella sativa has a long history of healing human-kind, a
reference to its value above wheat is found in the Old Testament, Book
of Isaiah. For thousands of years the seed and its oil have been used
for health conditions ranging from asthma and allergies to wounds and
worms. A vial of the precious seed was found in the tomb of the Egyptian
King Tutankhamen, presumably to ensure his health in the afterlife.
Black
Cumin was frequently praised by the forefathers of modern medicine; In
the Cannon of Medicine by Ibn Sina (980-1037) it states, “{Black
Cumin}stimulates the body’s energy and helps recover from fatigue or
dispiritedness.” Doiscorides used the herb to treat a variety of
ailments and Hippocrates particularly favored it for liver and digestive
complaints. Modern medicine recognizes that its strong anti-bacterial
qualities make Black Cumin effective against Cholera, E. coli, and
nearly all strains of Shigella (except S. dysentriae), comparing
favorably –and it some instances outperforming- several pharmaceutical
antibiotics.
Black
Cumin seeds are very nutritious; they contain 35% oil, most of which
are Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) and 21% protein. The EFA’s like
Linoleic Acid (LA) and Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) acid help strengthen
and maintain cell integrity, heal skin conditions like acne, eczema,
psoriasis, reduce wrinkles, and heal wounds. My friends and I discovered
that Black Cumin Seed Oil (BCSO) makes an amazing sunscreen! To fancy
it up a little, we would add a couple of drops of medicinal grade
Lavender essential oil (my preference is Spike Lavender). With nothing
but this, we have all avoided sunburn, even with our fair skin!
Naturally, you will use common sense and not unduly expose yourself to
irresponsible amounts of strong sun.
Cleopatra
herself used Black Cumin to enhance her beauty and vitality; taken
internally or applied topically, the oil encourages smooth skin and a
radiant complexion. Try infusing a half cup of raisins in 8
oz of BCSO for about a week and then take one tablespoon of the mixture
daily for beautiful skin. Beauty is not just skin deep however, and
BCSO also addresses numerous internal conditions such as lowering blood
pressure, improving brain function, as well as regulating the CNS and activating the immune system.
Since
1960, over 200 university studies have been conducted on the medicinal
properties of Black Cumin. A study conducted in India in 1991 found that
the herb was 100% effective in preventing the growth of Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma, a common form of cancer. The study concluded, “It is evident
that the active principle isolated from Nigella sativa seeds is a
potent anti-tumor agent, and the constituent long chain fatty acid may
be the main active component.”
Immunomodulators
in BCSO balance the immune system in order to increase resistance to
pathogens, and protect against auto-immune diseases. Studies conducted
in 1986 and 1993 concluded that the majority of test subjects given the
BCSO displayed a significant increase (up to 72%) in the ratio of helper
to suppresser T-cells as well as an improvement of natural killer (NK)
cell function. This is profoundly important when it comes to the
treatment of various Cancers, AIDS and other auto-immune diseases. When
combined with Garlic and administered in normal dosages, the
immunomodulatory action rivals that of interferon because there are no
side effects from BCSO.
Science
has isolated more than one hundred chemical components in Black Cumin
including 15 amino acids- eight of which are essential and cannot be
produced by the body. Vitamins and minerals such as carotene, potassium,
calcium and iron, as well as mono and polysaccharides also contribute
to the overall benefits of BCSO. Thymoquinone and other volatile oils in
BCSO exhibit strong anti-cancer properties that have been shown to
increase apoptosis (programmed cell death) and can effectively suppress
leukemia and pancreatic cancer. With the addition of Astragalus, the
effect on normalizing white blood cells would be amplified.
One
of the volatile oils in BCSO, called Nigellone is a powerful
anti-histamine that is excellent for treating seasonal allergies and
asthma symptoms triggered by a histamine response. The
active properties of Black Cumin are vasodilating, mucous reducing and
relax the airways, making it perfect for the treatment of asthma and
chronic bronchitis. Taking a teaspoon of the oil twice daily in hot
water or nettles tea and a little raw honey is a delicious way to reduce
asthma and allergy symptoms without side effects. When taken long-term,
at least 3-6 months, studies have indicated that BCSO can bring up to 90% improvement in allergy symptoms.
Black
Cumin is often used as a culinary herb, and like most herbs found in
the kitchen, it has a beneficial effect on digestion. As a carminative,
Black Cumin prevents bloating, gas and cramping, as well as relieving
diarrhea and vomiting. It’s pedantic effects on the alimentary canal
does nothing to decrease the deliciousness of Black Cumin seeds
sprinkled on naan, a tasty flatbread from India traditionally baked in a
clay oven. Black Cumin seed is also a wonderful seasoning for stews,
beans, cabbage and is indispensable when making curries or garam masala.
Add
this wonderful, health-promoting seed to your spice cabinet, and don’t
forget to include it in your recipes. For even more profound effects on
your well-being, ask your herbalist for a bottle of high-quality Black
Cumin Seed Oil from Egypt and take a teaspoonful twice a day in tea. The
benefits listed in this article barely skim the surface of the numerous
advantages that BCSO can give you in the form of Vitality, Vigor,
Strength… and oh, did I mention Libido?
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