“In the black seed is the medicine for every disease except death.”
—Arab proverb
This is a picture of Bunium persicum NOT Nigella sativa –Read the comments to find out why.
The black seed they are referring to is Black Seed Cumin (nigella sativa). One of Mother Natures finest natural herbal remedies for “what ails ya”. You can find references in the bible about black seed and as far back as 3,000 years in the tomb of King Tutankhamun where a bottle of black cumin oil was found.
Black seed oil has been a beauty secret of women since ancient times. They say Queen Nefertiti was a devoted user of black seed oil. This powerful little seed can be used as an herbal remedy for colds, headaches, toothaches, infections, inflammatory disorders and allergies in humans and animals.
Way back to Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – August 25, 79) who mixed black cumin with vinegar and honey for a paste for snakebites and scorpion stings this herb has been used. So this little herb has been around and used for many, many years. So what kind of natural herbal remedies can you make with this little seed?
Black seed cumin is different from regular cumin; in fact, they’re not even from the same family of spices. Black cumin has been mistaken for caraway, fennel and coriander seeds because the shape of the leaf is the same and so are the seeds. Black seed cumin is a member of the buttercup (Ranunculus) family. So what can you do with black seed cumin?
Natural Herbal Remedies Made From Black Cumin
Combined with garlic it will take care of the imbalance that causes your immune cells to destroy healthy
cells. The technical term is “immunomodulatory action”. It helps your good cells stay good and balances out your immune system to help fight off illness. Some say, “The beauty of black cumin is their capacity to restore harmony”. That’s the harmony in your immune system.
The most remarkable results are achieved with allergies and asthma. Black cumin has positive effects on circulatory, respiratory and the digestive track. And it does wonders for strengthening and stabilizing the immune system. It is used to treat skin conditions ranging from acne to psoriasis.
It’s also effective for colds, headaches, toothaches, and infections. This little seeds complex chemical structure has over one hundred active ingredients. That means it can help with just about anything and I mean anything, you have wrong with you.
A cure all it’s not but what it does do is strengthen your immune system so it can fight off anything that comes your way.
Culinary Uses of Black Cumin
If you’re like the Indians of India, you will use it like you do salt and pepper. As a matter of fact, it can be ground and used as pepper. It has a taste like spicy nutmeg. You can add a few seeds to your tea or coffee for that extra boost of energy. To make a tea with black seed cumin: use a teaspoon of seeds, cover with water and let steep for 10 minutes.
I have to tell you this because it was so funny…I asked a friend of mine in India if he used black cumin and he said yes, of course, everyday. I ask if he could send me some because there aren’t any stores in my area that carry it. And he said, “Here everyone will laugh if I tell them what you said ….. black cumin seed is so common . . . it’s like salt or sugar”.
So if you can’t find any local be sure to make a friend in India so they can send you some seeds to grow in your own garden so you’ll always have a fresh supply.
This amazing herb can also be used to purge parasites and worms, detoxify, and ameliorate amoebic dysentery, shigellosis, abscesses, old tumors, ulcers of the mouth and rhinitis. Recent research confirms these uses for humans, dogs, cats and horses.
Quite the little seed, isn’t it? And I haven’t even touched on half of what it can do…more later…Since I don’t want this post to be too long and I have a lot more to say about black cumin, I will continue this in a couple other posts.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you like the herb.
Click here to see a whole book on the The Healing Power of Black Cumin
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello i usually pay most sites no attention , however i am such an avid believer in this beautiful little seed i had to say something ! I have been taking Black seed oil for about 7 days now and i can say that this has become a new way of life . On the first day of its use i felt the effects ! When i thoroughly researced it i found my findings to be incredible ! As we move closer to the future we tend to move futher away from the advice of the past . However those who have eyes to see , will realize the beauty of elements that this planet has to offer beyond Gold and Oil . Now i am more than happy to share the secrets and harmony that this little seed has to offer with those who are willing to listen …..
Hi,
What an interesting article. However, I do have one query. Are you referring to Black Cumin (Bunium Persicum), also known as Shahi Jeera/Zireh Kuhi? Because you have given the seed the Latin name of Nigella Sativa, which is actually Nigella Seed, known as Kalonji/Siyah Daneh, and looks and is completely different to the seeds illustrated in the photograph.
I have been reading up on Ayurveda and the properties of herbs and spices and was searching online to see if I can find any evidence supporting claims for cumin being okay for cats to ingest.
My Somali kitten always seems to have the runs despite being recently wormed. So I thought it best to let it have a small amount of a yoghurt and water mixture mixed with a little powdered cumin for digestion and a healthy gut.
Your article states that Black Cumin “can also be used to purge parasites and worms”, which is just what I was looking for!
Well I hope you can clear up this confusion so I can commence the holistic treatment of my cat.
Many thanks and warm regards.
Rej
You are right…I put in the wrong picture. The picture at the top of the post is, as you say, Bunium persicum, also called black cummin, black jeera, black caraway, and Kashmiri cumin and this is a picture of Nigella sativa, called Black Cumin Seed, kalonji or nigella.
I am sorry for my folly and I hope to never do it again. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Also, cats are meat eaters so don’t you think giving them yoghurt is what’s causing the runs? Not being a cat person but just using common knowledge about cats it seems to me if you stop giving them yoghurt they’ll stop having the runs. What do you think?
Ah, thank you for clearing that one up.
No, I do not feed my cat yoghurt. I do, however, allow him half a teaspoon once a month to balance the bacteria in his gut and this always seems to settle his stomach for a couple of weeks or so.
From my readings I have found yoghurt to be a sour, heating food, as opposed to the general false knowledge of its soothing, cooling properties. Meat, which is what my cat eats at every meal, is also warming and too much heat in the body can cause complications later on in life.
So I wanted him to try this specific concoction (when yoghurt is mixed with water it becomes cooling and is much easily digested) with the spice to further aid digestion and fight parasites.
It was just a spot of home remedying and to save the £60 visit to vet just for worming tablets.
Since I have started reading I have used only the correct diet for my body type, herbs and spices to cure all my ailments. My immunity has boosted and I feel generally more motivated and happy as opposed to sluggish and pessimistic.
I would have thought specific Ayurvedic treatments would also work for animals.
Cumin really is a fantastic spice and can be so versatile for many home remedies.