Even the great Avicenna discovered the benefits of black cumin. For more than 8 thousand years, the product has been widely used in Eastern medical practices as a tonic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. The medicinal plant is often mentioned in Ayurvedic literature as one of the few successfully used in the treatment of cancer. It is believed that Kalonji cleanses the lymphatic system well and stimulates the thymus gland, thereby exhibiting a strong immunostimulating effect.
The benefits and harms of black cumin
At the end of the last century, Indian scientists conducted a series of large-scale studies that discovered the high antimicrobial effectiveness of the plant.
It turned out that black cumin has a therapeutic effect superior to that of some synthetic antibiotics. At the same time, the product does not affect the beneficial intestinal microflora and does not cause other side effects. Based on modern research and the centuries-old experience of our great-grandfathers, we can highlight several main directions of the impact of black cumin on the body:
- maintaining heart and vascular health;
- prevention of inflammation and infections;
- fight against atherosclerosis;
- oncology treatment;
- strengthening arterial walls for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, thrombosis.
As for harm, there are practically no side effects from using black cumin. In case of individual intolerance, allergy symptoms may occur: skin itching, rash and redness.
Beneficial features
The use of black cumin seeds gives good results in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. In addition, the use of nigella is not addictive and does not provoke allergic reactions (cases of allergies are quite rare).
Medicinal properties of nigella damask:
- has an antispasmodic effect;
- acts as an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agent;
- stimulates the human immune system;
- used as a prophylactic against cancer;
- is a natural regulator of the body's sensitivity to insulin, often used to support the body in diabetes mellitus;
- has a beneficial effect on the liver and kidneys;
- acts as an antioxidant, as well as a bronchodilator and antiallergic agent;
- improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails;
- increases performance, relieves headaches;
- reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood;
- promotes rapid healing of wounds and abrasions.
Areas of application of kalonji
For a long time, scientists have understood the healing properties of Nigella sativa, especially in relation to the prevention and treatment of diseases. During the research, it was discovered that black cumin contains fatty acids, phytoestrogens, vegetable protein, carotenoids and many vitamins. All these substances balance the body’s energies and have a beneficial effect on the course of vital processes.
The spicy peppery taste combined with a bright nutmeg aroma makes kalonji an almost universal spice. The spicy spice is especially valued in the East, India and Africa. Caraway seeds are added to meat and fish dishes, used in baking confectionery, canning vegetables and preparing tonic drinks.
The cleansing and deodorizing properties of kalonji have found application in cosmetology and dermatology. Oil, cake and seed extract are used to treat inflammation and suppuration of the skin, acne, and increased sebum secretion. The natural product is also useful for hair.
For what diseases is the product indicated for children? Can it be used on newborns?
In a family with a baby, cumin seeds can replace many medications. If you prepare a special decoction, you can use it to do enemas for bloating, colic or constipation. The following tricky recipe will help you cope with otitis in a child: cut out a cube in the upper part of the onion head, make a hole with a knife, pour a teaspoon of seeds into it, and cover with the cut out part of the onion. Such an onion is baked, and while it is still hot, the juice is squeezed out. A few drops are instilled into the ear and covered with cotton wool. This should be done twice a day.
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Let us remind you that any experiments with your health, and even more so with the health of a small child, using folk remedies should only be carried out with the permission of a specialist who will tell you whether there are contraindications and advise on the optimal dosage specifically for your baby.
What does black cumin help with: uses and contraindications
Nigella sativa has long been recognized in both alternative and mainstream medicine. The seeds and oil of the plant are used both in pure form and as an additive to other folk and medicinal preparations.
What cures Kalonji? As a medicine, black cumin is especially effective in treating the following ailments:
- female gynecological diseases, menstrual cycle disorders, infertility;
- joint pathologies, rheumatic pain;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract (helminthic infestations, gastritis, dysbacteriosis, indigestion, cholelithiasis);
- damage to the urinary system (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, bladder stones);
- inflammation of the prostate gland, impotence.
Black cumin is often used in the complex treatment of tuberculosis, colds and viral infections, and sinusitis. Nasal drops and solutions for inhalation are prepared from the oil; the seeds are taken in pure form or used for brewing teas.
Nigella sativa is effective in the treatment of all kinds of skin lesions - psoriasis, fungus, eczema, urticaria, warts, lichen, herpes. Moreover, in Muslim countries the plant is even prescribed for vitiligo, and this disease is considered one of the most intractable dermatoses.
Kalonji also helps with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent). Recently, this type of endocrine disorder is increasingly being diagnosed in people under 40 years of age and even in children. It is often accompanied by obesity and metabolic disorders.
Mentioning black cumin in their treatises, ancient healers claimed that it was the best remedy for hemorrhoids. With its help, you can facilitate bowel movements, relieve a person from pain, bleeding and discomfort caused by itching inside the rectum.
Nigella sativa should be used with caution by women who are heavily pregnant and people with individual intolerance to the components of the plant. Excessive amounts of the product may trigger premature uterine contractions or cause allergies.
Features of treating children with caraway seeds: how to drink correctly
Kalonji-based preparations are most often given to children to strengthen the immune system and protect against viral diseases in the autumn-winter season or when entering kindergarten. The plant perfectly protects against colds, flu, sore throat and nasal congestion.
Attention. This remedy can be given to children only after consultation with a pediatrician and not earlier than three years of age. The dosage should be half that of an adult.
To avoid allergic reactions, it is better to use local treatment methods. These can be rubbing with oil, nasal drops, inhalations, ointments and aroma lamps.
Compound
100 grams of seeds contain about 19 grams of protein, 14 grams of fat and 12 grams of carbohydrates, the calorie content is 333 kcal. The vitamin and mineral composition of cumin is unique and rich.
Substance | Contents per 100 grams of product |
Cellulose | 37 g |
Calcium | 690 mg |
Magnesium | 258 mg |
Sodium | 16 mg |
Potassium | 1350 mg |
Phosphorus | 565 mg |
Iron | 16 mg |
Zinc | 5.5 mg |
Selenium | 12 mcg |
Vitamin A | 17 mcg |
Thiamine | 0.38 mg |
Folic acid | 10 mcg |
Vitamin C | 20 mg |
Vitamin E | 2.4 mg |
Vitamin PP | 3.6 mg |
Cumin is also rich in healthy fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 and contains 0.15 g and 3.122 g of these substances, respectively.
Secrets of using and treating diseases with black cumin: detailed recipes
The seeds of the plant can be used to prepare various decoctions, teas, tinctures, crushed into powder or pressed into oil - it all depends on what diseases the drug will be used to treat.
Advice. An extract can be prepared from the seeds by mixing it with honey or sugar. In this form, the healing properties of the product will last much longer. It is better to keep the mixture in the refrigerator.
After pressing the oil, what remains is cumin cake - a high-protein, nutritious addition to the diet. Meal is widely used in dietary and vegetarian cuisine, as well as as a cosmetic product. It retains at least 15% fatty acids and concentrates a huge amount of proteins, vitamins and microelements.
You can read about black seed oil and its uses here.
Benefits of black cumin for women
A woman is an amazing creature, strong and at the same time weak, hardened in battles with difficulties and requiring care and attention. And what, if not black cumin, can provide the fair half of humanity with complete care, maintain health and activity for many years, and protect from diseases.
Attention. Recent research has discovered new properties of kalonji. It turns out that regular consumption of plant seeds protects women after 40 years of age from osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome.
For gynecological problems, it is recommended to douche with a decoction of black cumin or insert tampons soaked in oil. The medicinal solution is prepared from 1 tsp. crushed seeds brewed with a glass of boiling water. Simultaneously with local use, cumin is taken orally with hot milk.
The benefits of nigella sativa for women suffering from infertility are immeasurable. In this case, traditional healers recommend taking a mixture of fenugreek seeds, radishes and black cumin in equal quantities. The raw material ground in a mortar is mixed with honey and consumed twice a day with a glass of milk.
Arab doctors give interesting recommendations about taking black cumin during pregnancy. Thus, specialists who practice treatment according to the Sunnah advise women in an “interesting situation” to drink 1 tsp daily on an empty stomach. oil, washed down with honey dissolved in cool liquid. This therapy should be carried out until 32 weeks of pregnancy.
In the future, to facilitate childbirth, you can use a hot decoction of black cumin seeds, sweetened with honey. The drink activates uterine contractions, gives strength and speeds up the birth of the baby.
Kalonji in cosmetology
Black cumin oil is most often used to care for hair and facial skin. This product, unique in its composition, can be used independently or added to ready-made creams, masks, shampoos, balms and rinses.
The cosmetic product cleanses oily acne-prone skin well, prevents the appearance of acne, and normalizes sebum secretion.
For a better effect, you can prepare a drying mask:
- Dilute a teaspoon of white or pink clay with water until a thick paste is obtained.
- Add 5 ml of cumin oil to the mixture and mix.
- Apply the mixture to your face and hold until it dries.
- Wash with cool water.
It is recommended to do this procedure 1-2 times a week. You can apply pure oil to the pimples that appear and let it absorb.
Face and body masks with black cumin have not only anti-inflammatory, but also a pronounced rejuvenating effect. The skin is tightened and smoothed, complexion and tone improves.
The following composition will help cope with the first signs of age:
- caraway oil - 1 tsp;
- potato starch - 2 tsp;
- quail egg - 2 pcs.
The ingredients are mixed and applied to cleansed skin. After 15, wash off with warm water.
Advice. Black cumin oil solution can successfully replace night care. To do this, it is gently beaten into moisturized skin or mixed with a portion of cream.
The use of a natural product is very beneficial for hair, especially with brittleness and hair loss. Kalonji strengthens roots well, fights dandruff, eliminates itching and irritation of the scalp.
Revitalizing hair mask with black cumin:
- coconut oil - 1 tbsp. l.;
- cumin oil - 1 tsp;
- alcohol solution of red pepper - 5 ml.
The ingredients are mixed and rubbed into the scalp. If there is no irritation, the amount of pepper tincture can be increased. Keep this composition for 2–3 hours. Wash off with regular shampoo.
Black cumin for weight loss
Everyone knows how difficult it is to lose weight. During weight loss, it is necessary to strictly count the number of calories, fight appetite, monitor the condition of the skin and general well-being. Black cumin will help you cope with so many tasks.
How to take seeds for weight loss? Nutritionists recommend the following recipes to combat excess weight:
- A tablespoon of seeds (without a slide) is poured into ½ liter of boiling water and heated over low heat for 10–12 minutes. After cooling, filter and take 125 ml half an hour before meals.
- The seeds are ground into powder and poured into a glass container. Use 1 tsp. daily on an empty stomach with water and honey.
The use of black cumin for obesity is not limited to the seeds. Volatile oil gives an excellent effect. How to take it?
There is a certain scheme that must be strictly followed:
- For the first week, drink 1 tsp of oil. on an empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast.
- From 8 to 15 days, the evening dose is added to the morning dose - the product is consumed in the same amount 30 minutes before dinner.
- Starting from the third week, they return to the original scheme, but the volume of oil is increased to 2 tsp. per serving.
- From 22 pm an evening reception is added.
Treatment is continued for 2.5–3 months. After a 14-day break, consumption of the fatty product can be resumed. Judging by the reviews, this method of losing weight is quite effective and helps to get rid of 3-4 kilograms per month.
Black cumin seed cake will also help solve the problem of excess weight - a highly nutritious and tasty product that can be included in all diets. Meal diversifies the diet and saturates the body with essential substances.
Black cumin: benefits for men
The beneficial properties of black cumin are indispensable in the complex treatment of male genitourinary diseases. With the help of Kalonji you can cope with the following problems:
- inflammation and prostate adenoma;
- reproductive dysfunction;
- lower bladder infections.
Regular use of nigella sativum will increase male sexuality, improve sperm quality and prolong the time of sexual intercourse.
To enhance potency, 1 tbsp is recommended. l. Mix cumin powder with 2 chicken eggs. The mixture is taken every other day for a month. Instead of tea, it is good to drink a warm decoction of seeds (1 tbsp per 250 ml of water) with honey.
For prostatitis, a decoction prepared from 2 tbsp will help. l. black cumin, 1 tsp. chamomile flowers and 1 tsp. gentians. The raw materials are placed in a pot, filled with ½ liter of water and placed in the oven for 2 hours. Add a spoonful of honey to the slightly cooled drink and drink it as tea.
This treatment of prostatitis is well complemented by massage. Caraway oil is heated, poured onto the palms and rubbed in a circular motion into the perineum, scrotum, lower back and sacrum.
Black cumin for parasites: how to take correctly
Nigella sativa seeds have pronounced anthelmintic properties:
- suppresses the vital activity of worms and accelerates their elimination from the body;
- neutralize the consequences of worms in the gastrointestinal tract (heal damaged tissues, restore immunity, cleanse the blood);
- eliminates pain, spasms, belching, flatulence and other unpleasant sensations;
- revives intestinal microflora.
When carrying out anthelmintic therapy, it is very important to follow the dosage, since excessive consumption of cumin in this case can provoke a deterioration in well-being.
How to take Kalonji for worms? There are several treatment options:
- Pass 3 tbsp through a meat grinder. l. cumin seeds, 6 heads of garlic, 2 cups peeled pumpkin seeds. Add 2 tbsp to the resulting mixture. l olive oil and allspice to taste. Spread the prepared mixture on black bread and eat it instead of breakfast, washed down with caraway infusion.
- Drink 100 ml of a saturated decoction of seeds in the morning on an empty stomach (1 tablespoon of raw material per glass of water). If there is no discomfort, the procedure can be repeated in the evening.
Numerous reviews prove that black cumin is a very effective remedy for worms. The plant can not only be taken internally, but also used externally - it is recommended to lubricate the anus and perineum with oil. This method is especially effective for getting rid of pinworms.
Reviews
Black cumin oil is one of my favorites along with coconut and burdock. I took the oil internally in winter. My immunity is very weak, colds in winter are common, but while I was drinking cumin, I never got sick. The product is really very effective. But there is also a small disadvantage of caraway essential oil - the smell is unpleasant, it took a very long time to get used to it.
Galina, 27 years old, Nizhny Novgorod
I drank tea with black cumin while breastfeeding. For taste I added a slice of lemon and honey. It helped me, after a while after drinking tea I began to have more milk.
Oksana, 34 years old, Moscow
Storage conditions
To ensure that the product does not lose its aromatic and taste properties, it should be stored in an airtight glass or ceramic container with a tight-fitting lid. As a rule, the shelf life is 12 months, however, if all conditions are met, the shelf life of cumin can be extended. An ordinary kitchen cabinet with a door is suitable as a storage place: the place should be dark and dry, at room temperature.