{"id":4691,"date":"2020-08-21T16:40:26","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T16:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wondermentgardens.com\/?p=4691"},"modified":"2020-08-21T22:09:50","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T22:09:50","slug":"black-cumin-herbal-interlude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wondermentgardens.com\/black-cumin-herbal-interlude\/","title":{"rendered":"An Herbal Interlude with Black Cumin (Nigella sativa)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Family \u2013 Ranunculaceae or Buttercup family<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Black Cumin is an AMAZING herb.\u00a0 I became aware of it only recently during my study of herbs to help with COVID-19, for which, by the way it is perfectly suited. In terms of COVID, the seeds of this plant harmonize and strengthen the immune system while addressing almost all related symptomology. But, beyond COVID, Black Cumin is well studied and documented with uses that range from helping to stabilize and protect the nervous system, to improving mood, memory, and cognitive function. Black Cumin is often be used as a medicinal agent to protect and heal bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Additionally, it is frequently used to address gut dysfunction, reduce inflammation and to support and heal respiratory illness, not to mention that the oil is very helpful both internally and externally for pain. Believe it or not, that is not all. The uses go on and on. The prophet Mohammad said of this herb that it cures everything except death. Wow, no wonder these little black seeds have been used as medicine forever.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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To learn more about using Black Cumin for the herbal treatment of COVID-19 read the following:<\/p>

  1. The Early Stages of COVID-19, Active Infection.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  2. COVID-19 The Clinical Observation Stage<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The following article contains affiliate links.\u00a0 Please assume, that if there is a link, I am an affiliate.\u00a0 That means, if you purchase a product through one of the links, I make a commission at no additional cost to you.\u00a0 I appreciate it each time you click on or make a purchase from one of my links.\u00a0 Rest assured, only superior products are suggested.\u00a0 Ones that I truly feel confident about.\u00a0 Thank you for your support.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Common Names<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Nigella sativa means \u201cCultivated Black Seed.\u201d Niger means black. Nigellus is for blackish or dark. Then Sativa means cultivated.\u00a0<\/p>

    The plant Nigella Sativa (NS) is known by so many names around the world that it is impossible to name them all here. In English, the most used names include Blessed Seed, Black Seed, Black Cumin, Black Caraway, Fennel flower and Love in the Mist (I like that one).\u00a0 In Sanskrit and in the Arabic Unani-Tibb system of traditional medicine, Nigella sativa is called Kalonji. Kalonji is also an important trade name for the herb in the middle east. In Southwest Asia, Black Cumin is known as Karayal.\u00a0<\/p>

    I know a lot of herbalists in the U.S. who simply refer to the plant as Nigella. However, it is important to know and understand the idea of species and genus if you\u2019re going to use herbs medicinally. There are approximately 14 species of nigella. Sativa is the only one commonly used in healing. Remember the purpose of the name game is to be sure of what you\u2019re getting. When placing an order or talking to an apothecary, N. Sativa is the one you want.<\/p>

    Interestingly, most common names vary depending on people, where they live and how their using the herb. If you\u2019d like to dive into more of Nigella Sativa\u2019s names and etymology, go to this website:\u00a0 Theblessedseed.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    History and Background<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Black Seed or Black Cumin is an annual flowering plant native to southwest Asia. The small black seeds have been used for centuries to treat diseases of the immune, digestive and respiratory systems. Wild NS can be found growing in parts of northern Africa, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and possibly parts of India. However, the plant has been widely cultivated since people started cooking and needing medicine. Therefore, most of what is sold in commerce comes from farmed crops.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Black seed has been considered a panacea in Islamic traditional medicine for centuries. The prophet Mohammad mentioned it in his hadith; the Egyptian Pharaohs reportedly used it. Black seed oil was even found in the tomb of King Tut. The Bible describes the herb as \u201ccurative black cumin\u201d (Isaiah 28:25). The Greeks called it \u201cMelanthion\u201d meaning little black seed, where it was used mainly for women\u2019s complaints.\u00a0<\/p>

    Yet, Black seed was not only used for medicine. It has just as long a history as a culinary spice and beauty aid. Egyptian doctor, Mohamed Saleh, MD. said in his book, Black Cumin, the Magical Egyptian Herb<\/em>, that it would be hard to imagine middle eastern or Persian cooking without this tasty spice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Description of the Plant Nigella sativa<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Nigella Sativa is a hardy annual plant that grows between 8 and 24 inches tall, stabilized by a well-developed tap root. The leaf structure is deeply divided with narrowly linear to threadlike leaf segments. The flowers range in color from white, yellow, pink, pale blue, or pale yellow. Each flower has 5 to 10 petals and numerous stamens. The flowers mature into a fruit capsule that contains several black triangular or pyramid shaped seeds.<\/p>

    The plant is reported to grow in a variety of soils but does best in sandy soils and in climates with strong, direct UV rays.\u00a0 It is perfectly suited to its homeland in the middle east.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Chemical Composition of Nigella sativa<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The Chemical composition of Black Cumin is complex, containing more than 100 active constituents. Most of the constituents are tied into a natural combination of fatty acids, volatile oils, and trace elements. In fact, Black Seed contains 21% protein, 35% essential fatty acids, 38% carbohydrates and 6% other ingredients.\u00a0<\/p>

    One of the active healing agents in Black Cumin is the volatile oil Nigellone, which has immune harmonizing effects. Another active constituent, nigellin, enhances the appetite and stimulates digestion.\u00a0<\/p>

    More, the volatile or essential oil of these wonderful seeds contain quinone constituents. Being especially high in thymoquinone (TQ), a highly prized healing agent, TQ is shown to have neuroprotective qualities and is thought to be at least partially responsible for its analgesic, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Other functional components of the NS oil include p-cymene, carvacrol, thymohydroquinone (THQ), dihydrothymoquinone (DHTQ), \u03b1-thujene, thymol, t-anethole, \u03b2-pinene, \u03b1-pinene, and \u03b3-terpinene.<\/p>

    As an important note, not all black cumin products are the same. Most of the Black Cumin oil on the market contains between .5 and 1.2% essential oils. The more essential oil in the seeds, the better the healing benefit. Moreover, the plants grown in sandy soil with intense sunlight typically contain more essential oils and fatty acids. I know of one company who makes an oil containing up to 3% essential oils, a very superior product. To find out more check them out at blessedseed.com.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Therapeutic Actions or Properties of Black Cumin<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The therapeutic actions of Nigella sativa include uses as an antibacterial, antifungal, antihistaminic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive (helps the sensory neurons block the detection of painful or injurious stimulus), antioxytocic (counters uterine contractions), antiparasitic, antiviral, diuretic, hepatoprotective (protects the liver), hypoglycemic (balances blood sugar), immune-potentiating, wound-healing, and as a respiratory-stimulant.\u00a0<\/p>

    For an explanation or definition of therapeutic terms please click here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

    Black Cumin is pungent, aromatic, slightly bitter, restoring and relaxing.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Parts or Preparations Used<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The whole seed, oil, and standardized extracts are most used for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic purposes. The little black seeds can be prepared in a wide variety of ways including tea, tincture, salves, ointments, syrups and more.<\/p>

    It is important to know that only cold pressed oil is used for healing. All oils extracted through chemical or heat processes should be avoided because they destroy the valuable unsaturated fatty acids.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Standardized extracts usually take the form of capsulated oil and are standardized to 500 mg. Each batch is tested for impurities and measured for active constituents, which is handy way to take your Black Cumin if you prefer a capsule.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The Blessed Seed company has high quality cold pressed oils, herbal extracts, bulk seed and standardized extracts.\u00a0 These guys have great products, with very high essential volitle oil content.\u00a0 Where other companies products average 1.5% oil, these guys offer products up to 5% oil.\u00a0 To check them out or purchase their high quality products go to https:\/\/theblessedseed.com\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Medicinal Uses<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Down through history, Black Cumin was considered a panacea or \u201cheal all\u201d by the people of Middle Eastern and Southwestern Asian countries. Some have even referred to it as magic. Although I do not know that any herb will heal everything, this is a certainly a versatile and effective herb. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Immune system and Black Cumin<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The wide range of healing abilities demonstrated by Black Cumin stem from its ability to stabilize, harmonize and strengthen the immune system.\u00a0<\/p>

    Our immune system is a large and complicated system. The main purpose of which is to fight off outside invaders and help our body heal itself. The immune system protects us from a host of microorganisms and pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungus, and the like. It also stimulates wound healing, prevents cancer by removing mutated cells, and is responsible all phases of the inflammatory response.\u00a0<\/p>

    We could, if you like, think of the immune system as an army protecting us and fighting off invaders. Like an army, our immune system contains not only soldiers (killer cells), but peacekeepers (suppressor cells), strategists (B cells or memory cells), clean up cells and more. Plus, Immune cells are in every part of our body. Everything works together to keep us healthy, healed and well.<\/p>

    When the immune system is out of balance, problems happen. Say there are too many killer cells, (these are the ones that attack and kill invading pathogens). The result is that our system starts to attack itself, confusing healthy cells with dangerous ones. When this happens, we may experience auto-immune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, liver and kidney problems, or allergies to name a few.<\/p>

    If we do not have enough killer cells or if we have too many suppression cells, we may become more susceptible to infectious disease like colds or flus. Chronic infections are another possible outcome of too few killer cells, as are those mystery illnesses that seem to linger, the undiagnosable problems we start to think are in our own minds.\u00a0<\/p>

    With Black Cumin, however, we can harmonize, strengthen, and stabilize the immune system. Helping it and us to regain lost balance. Then almost like magic, illness is resolved.\u00a0<\/p>

    Below is a long list of issues for which Black Seed has demonstrated effectiveness. All of these, like almost all dis-ease roots in the immune system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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