Black seed (also known as Nigella sativa, black cumin, fennel flower, kalonji, black caraway, and Roman coriander), is a plant that has been used as a natural remedy for centuries.
Commonly grown in southern Europe, the Middle East, and southwest Asia, uses of black seed go back more than 2000 years. While not the most popular remedy, it was still one of the earliest cultivated plants in human history and could be used to cure a wide array of ailments, including allergies and migraines, as well as illnesses such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
Black Seed in Islam
Black seed’s medicinal properties are also revered in Abrahamic religion, especially in Islam, where it is mentioned in hadith, that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) once said: 'This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam (Death).” (Bukhari)
In Arabic, black seeds are called Habbatus Sawda or ‘Habbat al Baraka’, which translates to ‘Seeds of Blessing’. Likewise, in all the statements the Prophet (PBUH) made on the 37 ailments and 61 medicinal plants, herbs and shrubs mentioned in Hadith, black seed was described as the most important for healing.
Can Black Seed Actually Cure Almost Any Disease?
The status of black seed as a prophetic medicine has made it a popular subject of study among global scientists and researchers. So much so that extensive phytochemical, pharmacological, microbiological and toxicological studies have been done on the healing properties of black seed and black seed oil.
Since 1959, more than 200 universities have conducted scientific research projects on black seeds. This makes black seed, to date, the plant with the highest number of scientific research carried out around the world.
In the hundreds of scientific researches that have been done on black seed and its oil, it was found that the plant can effectively cure 129 different types of ailments. This includes 17 types of cancers, diabetes, AIDS and hypertension. For hypertension and blood pressure, in particular, recent scientific research also shows that black seed can effectively cure these illnesses without causing harmful side effects.
Due to the findings of modern research, scientists have begun to acknowledge black seed as one of the most potent natural medicines known to science. As there has been no other plant known to have such a wide range of healing capabilities as black seed, the plant is referred to as all-in-one therapy, a cure-all herb, a universal remedy and a magical herb. All these findings and acknowledgements of black seed alone prove the authenticity of the Prophet’s (PBUH) statement in Hadith.
Other Benefits of Black Seed
Black seed offers a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron and zinc. It also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic properties that protect the body from cell damage and chronic diseases. Aside from being beneficial for sore muscles, black seed may even help with neuroinflammation (inflammation of brain tissue) in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
When taken as a supplement, black seed oil has been shown to help people combat obesity and metabolic disorders as it lowers cholesterol. Black seed oil supplements can also help with type 2 diabetes, lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the risk for future diabetes-related complications.
Outside of medicine, black seed oil can also be applied on the skin, as some studies have demonstrated it to be effective against eczema, psoriasis and acne.
How Do I Use Black Seed?
Traditionally, the seeds and oil of the black seed plant were consumed raw or lightly toasted, practices that continue to persist through to the modern age. But black seed remedies can also come in other forms, such as black seed gummies or black seed oil gummies and capsules, and in different flavours so they can be easier to eat and digest. Today, black seeds and black seed oil in all its forms are common in supermarkets, chemists and specialist stores all around the world.
No matter how it’s consumed, as oil, capsules, gummies or by itself, black seed in all its forms remains a good, all-rounded supplement that helps with a number of ailments and illnesses. Explore our black seed and black seed oil range available at Darussalam today!