What is blackseed?
The Latin name for black seed is Nigella Sativa.
In Dutch, black seed is also referred to as nardus seed, schwarzkummel, black seed, or black cumin. In Arabic, the seed is called habba sawda, and in Turkish, it is known as Çörek otu yaฤฤฑ. Black seed originally grows in North Africa, Central Asia, and Southern Europe.
Nigella sativa is an annual herbaceous plant. This plant is naturally found in the Mediterranean region, but it is also cultivated in other parts of the world, such as Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
No longer than 3 mm in length, black seed comes from the Nigella Sativa plant of the Ranunculaceae family.
The plant has finely divided leaves with a light blue to light purple or white color. The flower grows at the top of the branch, while the leaves grow in opposite directions in pairs, each on a different side of the stem. The lower leaves are small, the upper ones can reach up to 10 cm. The stem can grow up to half a meter when its fruits begin to bloom (the seeds).
Nigella Sativa reproduces by forming a fruit capsule containing many triangular seeds. Once the fruit capsule ripens, it opens, exposing the seeds to air, which causes them to turn black – hence the name.
Nigella Sativa and its seeds are also known by different names depending on the region. Some call it black caraway, others black cumin or even coriander seeds. Nigella Sativa has been used for centuries and is even known in ancient Persian tradition.
Historical use of black seed oil
Ailments like women's issues, colds, headaches, stomach problems, infertility, impotence, and fever were traditionally treated with black seed oil in folk medicine.
Black seed oil was already used in ancient Egypt; it was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
In Europe, black seed oil fell into obscurity for a long time until scientific research brought it back to attention.
What does Islam say about black seed?
ุณู ุน ุฃุจู ูุฑูุฑุฉ ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู ุฑุณูู ุงููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ูููู: (ููู ุงููุญูุจููุฉู ุงูุณููููุฏูุงุกู ุดูููุงุกู ู ููู ููููู ุฏูุงุกู ุฅููุง ุงูุณููุงู ) ููุงูู ุงุจููู ุดูููุงุจู: ููุงูุณููุงู ู ุงููู ูููุชูุ ููุงููุญูุจููุฉู ุงูุณููููุฏูุงุกู ุงูุดููููููุฒู)
Abu Hurairah reported that he heard the Prophet ๏ทบ say: "In this black seed there is a cure for every disease except as-saam.” Ibn Shihaab said, "As-saam means death, and the black seed is ash-shawaaniz" (the Persian name for Nigella seed).
This narration was transmitted by Imam Bukhari.
What does science say about black seed?
Since 1959, countless studies have been conducted on the effects of black seed. Among them are internationally leading universities and articles in various scientific journals publishing astonishing results.
In 1960, Egyptian scientists studied whether nigelline is responsible for black seed’s effect against bronchitis.
Scientists in Germany researched its antibacterial and antifungal effects. Researchers at the Immuno-Biological Laboratory studied Nigella Sativa in relation to bone marrow production, cells, and interferon. They also investigated whether black seed protects normal cells from viruses and tumor cells.
Researchers in the U.S. wrote the first global report on the anti-tumor effects of black seed, known as “Study of the effects of Nigella Sativa on humans.”
Professor Kaneez Fatima Shad published a study in the journal Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology on thymoquinone, an active compound in black seed, and its effect on Covid-19:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1440-1681.13553
Components of black seed oil
Black seed oil consists of 80% healthy fatty acids. It also contains over 100 bioflavonoids or phytonutrients that reinforce each other’s effects.
Other substances in black seed include amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, fixed and volatile oils, saturated (20%) and unsaturated (80% Omega 3, 6, and 9) fatty acids, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins, and minerals.
Fatty acid composition in black seed oil
- Palmitic acid: 11%
- Stearic acid: 2%
- Oleic acid: 25.5%
- Linoleic acid: 58.5%
- Alpha-linolenic acid: 1%
- Other fatty acids: 2%