Black cumin oil as culinary seasoning and natural remedy

Black cumin oil as culinary seasoning and natural remedy

In ancient Egypt, black cumin oil was called “the gold of the pharaohs”. That alone shows the enormous importance of this wonderful spice plant. In fact, black cumin is said to have an almost legendary healing power. It also turns the simplest dishes into real delicacies. Black cumin is a real treat and an extremely effective remedy.

Humans began using black cumin to season their food thousands of years ago. The oil goes particularly well with lentils, leaf lettuce, and raw vegetables. The seed itself is often sprinkled whole on bread and other pastries, as well as vegetable, lamb, or poultry dishes.

Our tip: Mix black cumin seeds or black curry oil in your curries or pour some on top at the table. It’s amazingly delicious and really healthy!

Countless studies have shown that black cumin is not only delicious, but also an important healing plant. For example, it has been proven that black cumin helps against chronic inflammation, viruses, bacteria, diabetes, and cancer. This Asian healing plant also lowers blood pressure, protects the liver, provides antioxidants, and relieves pain.

Even Charlemagne and the famous healer Hildegard of Bingen swore by the healing power of black cumin. And a quote from the Prophet Mohammed even says that black cumin can heal everything except death. (1)Black cumin is also mentioned once in the Bible (Isaiah 28), although some older translations refer to the similar-looking caraway. This is another reason why black cumin was gradually forgotten in much of Europe. The black cumin deserves a major revival.

Helps against many diseases and ailments

There is a wide range of specific uses for black cumin oil. In the case of acute throat inflammation, it has a demonstrably pain-relieving effect (2) and reduces the symptoms of allergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa (3). Infections caused by the notorious H. pylori gastric bacterium can also be effectively combated (4). Black cumin oil also helps in the treatment of asthma (5), high blood pressure (6), type-2 diabetes (7), and fungal diseases such as thrush (8).

Black cumin has long been used in the Middle East to treat cancer and is considered the most effective anti-cancer treatment there. In fact, it has been proven that regular consumption of black cumin can stop the growth of colon cancer (9). Researchers at the Cancer Immuno-Biology Laboratory in South Carolina have also shown that black cumin stimulates the activity of certain white blood cells. The task of these so-called neutrophils is to destroy the cancer cells before tumours develop.

The same researchers also found in their research (10) that black cumin oil generally stimulates both the immune system and the production of bone marrow.

IN SHORT, whether taken as oil, seeds, or capsules, black cumin is said to have great health benefits. That is why it makes perfect sense for it to enjoy a permanent place in every medicine chest and kitchen.

How black cumin heals: a brief explanation

Even if there are already over 650 publications in the PubMed biomedical database, black cumin’s exact mode of action is still not entirely clear. However, it seems to be thymoquinone, the main substance in black cumin oil, that is largely responsible for its antioxidant and cancer-inhibiting effects. (11) The secondary plant substance saponin is also involved in the cancer-inhibiting effect. (12) In addition, saponins are basically anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral. The wonderful interplay among the different active ingredients in black cumin does have such a positive effect on our health.

Important: in order for black cumin to develop its full health potential, it should be of excellent quality. At sasa med GmbH, we are on the ground where the black cumin is grown in Egypt. Right there at the fields. Because we are the producers of black cumin products and not just sellers. That’s why we can also guarantee that we do not use any pesticides or herbicides. ((Whether you choose our conventional or our organic products)).

And we are much more than just fair trade. Our farmers get even better prices and benefit from even better working conditions. That’s what we call supporting our local community.

Take a look at our black cumin products here!

List of sources

(1) – Original quote: “Abu Huraira, Allah’s blessing on him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessing and peace on him, said: ‘In black cumin there is a cure for every disease, except death.'” (Sahih Al Buckary No. 56 88)

(2) – Dirjomuljono M et al.: Symptomatic treatment of acute tonsillo pharyngitis patients with a combination of Nigella sativa and Phyllanthus niruri extract. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Jun; 46 (6): 295-306.

(3) – Nikakhlagh S et al.: Herbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativa. Am J Otolaryngol – 2011 Sep-Oct; 32 (5):402-7. doi: 10.1016 / j.amjoto.2010.07.019

(4) – Salem EM et al.: Comparative study of Nigella Sativa and triple therapy in eradication of Helicobacter Pylori in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jul-Sep; 16 (3): 207-14. doi: 10.4103/1319-3767.65201

(5) – Boskabady MH et al.: The possible prophylactic effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in asthmatic patients. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2007 Oct; 21 (5): 559-66

Boskabady MH et al.: Antiasthmatic effect of Nigella sativa in airways of asthmatic patients. Phytomedicine. 2010 Aug; 17 (10): 707-13. doi: 10.1016 / j.phymed.2010.01.002

(6) – Dehkordi FR, Kamkhah AF.: Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertension. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Aug; 22 (4): 447-52. doi: 10.1111 / j.1472-8206.2008.00607.x

(7) – Bamosa AO et al.: Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2010 Oct-Dec; 54 (4): 344-54

(8) – Khan MA et al.: The in vivo antifungal activity of the aqueous extract from Nigella sativa seeds. Phytother Res. 2003 Feb; 17 (2): 183-6

(9) – Salim EI, Fukushima S: Chemopreventive potential of volatile oil from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds against rat colon carcinogenesis. Nutr Cancer. 2003; 45 (2): 195-202

(10) – Hans Wagner: Krebs mit Schwarzkümmelöl vorgebeugt – Immuno-Biology Laboratory South Carolina – Cancer Study – auch Stimulation der Knochenmarksproduktion und des kompletten Immunsystems – Magaz. “Die Welt” – 14.9.1995

(11) – Khan et al., 2017, Majdalawieh et al., 2017, Taha et al., 2016, Relles et al.2016, ElKhoely et al., 2015

(12) – Elkady AI, Hussein RA, El-Assouli SM. Mechanism of action of Nigella sativa on human colon cancer cells: the suppression of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors and the induction of cytoprotective genes. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015;16:7943-57