Nature is a wonderful thing. It works so hard to provide us
with all the ingredients we need to sustain life, whether that is through the
food and fresh produce that fuels us or the amazing diversity of plants and
herbs that can help us to find balance when we are feeling out of sorts.
Every now and then I come across something that excites me
for the potential it can have in supporting our health and
wellbeing...naturally. Black seed is one of these things. If you enjoy Indian
or Middle Eastern cooking then you may be familiar with these little black
seeds as an ingredient in some of your favourite dishes. The seed is pungent
and bitter to the taste with a mild aromatic aroma. You may actually be more
familiar with some of the other names this herb is known as; Black Cumin, Black
Caraway, Black Sesame and Onion Seed to name a few. Black seed is actually more of a description than a name and this
label helps to distinguish it from the popular Caraway & Cumin seeds.
Originating from Western Asia, the plant’s botanical name is Nigella Sativa and it belongs to the Ranunculaecae family. It grows 20 – 90cm
tall with a display of delicate flowers that are usually white, yellow, pink,
pale blue or pale purple. It is the fruit of the plant that contains what has
long been referred to as the ‘miracle’ seeds.
So why such a bold claim for such a tiny little seed, and
can this ‘miracle’ be backed by scientific research? Black seed is not a new
health craze. It is has long historical use as a food and also as a medicinal
plant within traditional medicinal systems such as Ayurveda and has been
utilised in the treatment of various ailments worldwide. In Islamic literature
it has been described as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine being
referred as
‘the remedy for all diseases except death’
(Prophetic Hadith)
Avicenna (the great
Persian thinker & physician) refers to the seeds in his writings ‘The Canon
of Medicine’ as seeds that ‘stimulate the body’s energy and help recovery from
fatigue and dispiritedness.
Traditional herbal medicine has throughout the centuries,
used medicinal plants to treat many diseases. According to a review on The therapeutic potential of Nigella Sativa:
A miracle herb, by Ahmed et al, many researchers are now focusing on
medicinal herbs and thoroughly investigating them for their medicinal
properties, mechanism of action, safety evaluation and toxicological studies.
Black Seed with its rich historical and religious background is now emerging as
a ‘miracle herb’ and extensive research is bringing to the fore its diverse
biological activities & therapeutic potential.
What makes black seed so unique?
It seems that this can be attributed to the unique chemical
make- up of the plant. A number of key ingredients have been identified, each
having their own important individual roles to play, but, more importantly, in
unison, they have a synergistic action, that is, they work in unison to create
a greater combined effect. Some of the many compounds identified are Thymol,
Thymoquinone, Thymohydroquinone and Dithymoquinone and are considered to be
responsible for the seeds various medicinal properties.
In addition to these chemical constituents, black seeds also
contain protein, fat, Carbohydrate and fibre whilst being a source of various
vitamins and minerals such as copper, potassium, Zinc, Iron and beta carotene.
They also contain a fatty oil rich in ‘unsaturated fatty acids and sterols.
Black seed and its constituents have been traditionally used
for the treatment of various disorders, diseases and conditions that relate to
the respiratory system, digestive tract, kidney and lung function,
cardiovascular system, immune system support as well as for general health
& well being.
To date, the findings from numerous research studies are
affirming these traditional uses and have shown that Black Seed and its oil may
exert a multitude of health benefits ranging from antibacterial, antifungal,
antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti allergenic and anti Cancer
benefits to supporting and protecting respiratory, gastrointestinal function
and immune function. There is also evidence (Yousefi et al) of skin support,
with reported decreasing severity of hand eczema and improvement of life
quality when compared to conventional Betamethasone and
Eucerin creams.
The findings from research focusing
on the anti bacterial and anti fungal effects are particularly noteworthy in
light of the concerning issue of multi drug resistance bacteria and the rise of
the ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA which are becoming a significant public health
risk. According to the National Institute for Health (NIH) other diseases
including TB, gonorrhoea, malaria and childhood infections are increasingly
difficult to treat due to the emergence of ‘resisitance’. The NIH goes on to
say that approximately 1.7 million patients in the United States will get an
infection in hospital each year, about 99,000 of whom will die as a result. 70%
of the bacteria causing these infections are resistant to at least one drug
commonly used to treat them. It’s not just a problem isolated to the US either,
it is a worldwide problem with many cases reported of Staphlycoccus aureus
developing resistance to vancomycin, a very powerful antibiotic prescribed for
the most intractable infections.
With astounding statistics such as
these could Black seed be an alternative solution in the fight against the
‘Superbugs’? The research findings certainly suggest so. In 2008 Hannan et al
tested the antibacterial activity of Nigella Sativa against clinical resistant
strains of MRSA (methicillin resistant staphyloccus aureus). All tested strains
of MRSA were sensitive to an ethanolic extract of Nigella Sativa. In another
study, the antibacterial activity of Nigella Sativa against Triple Therapy in
the eradication of Helicobacter Pylori in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients was
carried out. The study revealed that Nigella Sativa seeds possess ‘clinically
useful’ anti H.Pylori activity comparable to triple therapy.
In addition to its strong anti
bacterial activity, Black Seeds also possess powerful ‘Anti Fungal’ properties
against different strains of Candida Albicans and against fungal infections of
the skin and nails. A 2010 study, published in the Egyptian Journal of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology highlighted how human pathogenic fungi can
acquire resistance to available anti fungal compounds and tested the
constituents of the black seed to discover if they would have an effect on 30
human pathogens including yeasts, dermaphytes and molds. The study found that
the Black seed compounds inhibited 100% of the pathogens tested.
Like the resistant superbugs,
Diabetes is also rising at an alarming rate and placing the NHS under a huge
financial burden. It is a worldwide chronic disease and according to Diabetes
UK there are around 700 people diagnosed daily in the UK with the NHS spending
a shocking £10 billion on Diabetes! This equates to £1million/hour! These
figures are disturbing when prevention could be playing a key role, especially
in delaying the onset of Type 2 Diabetes which accounts for 90% of those
diagnosed. Diabetes, is another example of where Black Seed could potentially
play a preventative and therapeutic role in the management of this chronic
condition. A 2011 study in the Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism
reported that N. sativa may be beneficial in diabetic individuals and those with
glucose intolerance as it reduces appetite, glucose absorption in intestine,
hepatic gluconeogenesis, blood glucose level, cholesterol, triglycerides, body
weight and simulates glucose induced secretion of insulin from beta-cells in
pancreas; improves glucose tolerance as efficiently as metformin; yet it has
not shown significant adverse effects and has very low toxicity. whilst a 2010
study by Bamosa et al concluded that a 2 gram daily dose of Nigella sativa
maybe a beneficial adjuvant (add on) to oral hypoglycaemic agents in Type 2
diabetic patients.
Recently (2016), a research review in the Journal ‘Advancement
in Medical Plant Research’ wrote that Black Cumin Seeds are from one of the
earliest cultivated plants in human history and one of the earliest providers
of life. It goes on to say that they have been used to successfully keep super
healthy for over 3300 years. Today, the research available on Black Seed is
indeed extensive and with ongoing research the plant poses great potential as a
natural herbal medicine, supporting health and wellbeing on a number of levels
with few reported side effects or toxicity. Many health experts and researchers
suggest that it is a true ‘Panacea’ (cure all) and may help everything from
allergies to hypertension. Bearing all the evidence and its benefits in mind...can
you afford not to have this amazing little seed and its oil among your store
cupboard staples?
Black Seed is currently available
from your local health store as capsules and oil. However, a word of caution,
due to the varying qualities of Black Seed Oil available when purchasing Black
Seed products please bear the following point in mind: Opt for Egyptian Black
Cumin which is considered to have the highest therapeutic value and that is
also organically produced.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER!! Don't forget to redeem your Discount Coupon (see below) when next in store at Bare Health, Congleton!
The content of
this article is intended for information purposes only. Always seek the advice of
your GP or healthcare professional if taking prescribed medication or
undergoing treatment of any kind.
References are
available on request.
Black Seed References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2906253/
Pancreatic cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884214/
Gastrointestinal effects of Nigella Sativa
