The healing properties of black cumin and possible harm

What's the benefit?

Experts in the framework of studies have proven that thanks to nigella, a large number of a wide variety of diseases can be cured. Moreover, the product does not cause allergies, addiction, and has virtually no side effects.

Let's look at the effects of black cumin:

• eliminates pain;
• has an antifungal, antiseptic effect;
• it is an effective hepatoprotector that has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
• regulates blood sugar levels;
• lowers blood pressure;
• has a beneficial effect on kidney function, removes excess fluid from the body, preventing swelling;
• natural antioxidant;
• stimulates the immune system.

In addition, black cumin spice prevents the appearance of malignant and benign formations.

Indications for use

Damascus nigella is often used in folk medicine. This is a universal plant that not only helps relieve the symptoms of the disease, but also completely cures some of them.

List of diseases that can be cured with black cumin:

• diabetes mellitus (nigella helps reduce blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and also increases the level of beta cells);
• epilepsy (acts as an anticonvulsant during seizures);
• arterial hypertension (reduces high blood pressure);
• drug addiction (the use of nigella seeds is effective in the treatment of drug addiction);
• hormonal disorders (stabilizes the balance of the level of a hormone such as testosterone);
• insomnia;
• bronchial asthma;
• rheumatism;
• flatulence;
• constipation;
• various diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, cough, pneumonia);
• hepatitis;
• tuberculosis;
• neuroses and depressive states;
• gout.

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Some scientific studies prove that nigella is also effective in the treatment of cancer tumors. Quite often, black cumin seeds are used in cosmetology. Decoctions of the plant are used to treat acne, ulcers, fungal diseases, and warts.

For older people, consuming nigella will help normalize sleep, restore performance and increase concentration. Cumin seeds will help people who want to lose weight.

Black cumin seed flour is used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the genitourinary and digestive systems, as well as the respiratory system. But despite the fact that nigella is a very useful plant, you should consult your doctor before using it.

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General information about seasoning

Externally, black cumin has a drop-shaped shape and is very small. The aroma is multifaceted, combining oregano, nutmeg, and strawberries. The taste is tart, sweetish, with a slight bitterness. The spice is used in the East, it is added almost everywhere: in baked goods, salads, even in drinks. Can also be used for pickling and pickling vegetables and fruits. Arabs brew coffee with black cumin and boil milk.

Store cumin, like all spices, in glass containers in a dry and cool place. Maximum shelf life is 1 year.

Interesting Facts

1. The leaves of the plants themselves contain a large amount of vitamin C, so many recommend consuming them as food: adding them to salads.
2. The seeds have a pronounced strawberry flavor, but they also have a bitter taste.
3. The plant is often used as a decorative plant. They are planted in flower beds and even used to create bouquets.
4. Snakes, moths and mosquitoes cannot stand the smell of this seasoning.

In India, cooks fry black cumin seeds in mustard oil. It is believed that this makes their taste and aroma brighter.

Nigella is used in cooking - with the addition of it you can prepare a lot of fish, vegetable, and meat dishes. Add to drinks and desserts. In addition, there are many healing recipes based on black cumin.

Contraindications for use

The most important reason why many people do not use nigella to treat diseases is individual intolerance to the various components that make up the plant.

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People who need organ transplants should not drink nigella decoctions. Due to its strong immunostimulating effect, black cumin can help ensure that transplanted organs are rejected by the body.

Since the plant helps improve blood circulation, it is not recommended to drink it for patients with severe heart diseases and people after heart attacks. It is also contraindicated for thrombophlebitis and bleeding disorders.

Nigella can also have a negative effect on people suffering from gastritis, cholelithiasis, and stomach ulcers. It should also be used with extreme caution by women who are breastfeeding. It should not be used by pregnant women either, as the plant can cause miscarriage.

You can learn about the medicinal properties and methods of preparing potions from the following video:

Black cumin helps with various diseases. Decoctions and infusions of the plant's seeds act as an anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and tonic. Black cumin is especially effective for asthma, gastrointestinal diseases, and respiratory system diseases. Like any other medicinal plants, cumin should be used very carefully for treatment. You should not self-medicate without consulting a doctor.

Traditional medicine recipes

Many healers recommend regularly eating nigella seeds in order to increase overall tone, strengthen the body's defenses, increase efficiency and protect oneself from a number of pathologies. Naturally, if a disease has been diagnosed, folk recipes will not be enough, but as a preventive measure or auxiliary therapy, black cumin seeds will help you heal faster.

• For colds. You will need 1 tsp. seeds and 1 liter of water. Grind the seeds into powder and pour boiling water over them. Leave for 10 minutes. The resulting decoction is used for inhalation - nigella has a powerful antiseptic effect and kills germs.
• Cough. It is also recommended to use the product if you need to speed up the release of sputum and clear mucus from the bronchi. You will need 1 tsp. nigella, 500 ml milk, soda – 15 g. Prepare the decoction as follows: pour the seeds into the milk, after which the mixture is put on low heat and brought to a boil. At the end, add soda, cool, strain. Take 100 ml of decoction daily.
• Haemorrhoids. The seeds help get rid of this disease due to the fact that they stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, facilitate the process of defecation, and help eliminate inflammatory processes. You can prepare an ointment: it is applied to the problem area 2 times a day. For cooking you will need seeds - 30 g. and black cumin oil 15 ml. Fry the seeds in a dry frying pan until the raw materials are completely burnt. After it has cooled, grind it into powder and mix with oil. The duration of treatment is 1 month.
• Worms. The spice will also help get rid of parasites. You will need cumin - 10 g, as well as chopped onions - 15 g. Fry the seeds, mix with onions, which are previously crushed to a mushy state. Take 15 grams in the morning. in 30 min. before meals.
• Women's diseases. If a woman suffers from cycle disorders, erosion, or there are neoplasms, then douching with the addition of nigella can be done. You will need 20 g. seeds, 1 l. water. Grind into powder, pour boiling water, leave for 1 hour. Douching should be done once a day, at night. It can also be used for infertility - if the problem is caused by hormonal imbalance or the presence of inflammatory processes in the body. 1 tbsp. The seeds need to be crushed, add 1 glass of water to them. Simmer in a water bath for 15 minutes; when the solution has cooled, strain. Take 50 ml before meals twice a day.
• Gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, ulcers, colitis). The composition of black cumin is rich in antioxidants and beneficial elements, and therefore the seeds have a carminative and laxative effect and have a positive effect on the condition of the mucous membrane. It also helps reduce the acidity of gastric juice. You will need a glass of water and 1 tsp. seeds They are crushed, poured with boiling water, after which they are left in a thermos for 1 hour. Strain and add honey if desired. Drink tea 20 minutes before meals, twice a day (divide the glass in half).

Botanical description

Nigella nigella is a herbaceous annual with branched stems from 30 to 60 cm high, pinnate and sometimes palmately dissected lacy alternate leaves, the upper of which rise above the flower like an openwork blanket. Nigella flowers are large - up to 4 cm in diameter, bisexual, solitary, with five sepals resembling petals, colored blue, white or yellow.

In flowers of double varieties, the sepals are arranged in two, three or four rows. Nigella petals are transformed into nectaries. The nigella fruit is a flattened or swollen capsule consisting of five leaflets containing matte, ovoid, black nigella seeds.

In decorative floriculture, nigella flowers are an important element of landscape design: they are planted along hedges and borders, in flower beds, in rockeries, on alpine hills, and they are also used as an element of flower arrangements.

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Drinks with nigella added

The seasoning gives drinks an unusual taste and wonderful aroma - so recipes for healthy drinks based on this product were invented. Let's take a closer look at the recipes:

1. With cinnamon and honey. 5 gr. ground seeds, 10 gr. cinnamon, 1 tsp. honey Pour boiling water over everything. The taste is bright, slightly tart. This tea will be an excellent solution if you want to remove swelling, remove toxins, and speed up metabolism.
2. Lemon juice and honey. Surely everyone has heard about the benefits of warm water with the addition of honey and lemon - usually experts recommend drinking such a cocktail on an empty stomach. There is another option: 1 tsp. honey, juice of half a lemon, half a teaspoon of chopped nigella. Infuse the seeds in boiling water, then add the rest of the ingredients. Drink 20 minutes before breakfast.
3. Orange juice and nigella. The drink will help restore the body's defenses, relieve chronic fatigue, and energize you for the whole day. The seeds need to be ground (1 tsp) and mixed with a glass of orange juice. Drink in the morning, after meals.

Vitamin drinks based on nigella seeds are an excellent alternative to tired teas. You will be pleasantly surprised by the taste, and after a week of regular use you will feel the result: the general condition of the body will improve, your performance will increase, and chronic diseases will no longer bother you.

Caring for Nigella in the garden

Growing conditions

Since Nigella does not like mulch, you will have to regularly weed and loosen the area after watering. As for the frequency of watering, Nigella reacts painfully to both excessive and insufficient moisture, so it is necessary to develop a special watering regime for it.

As for feeding, caution is needed in this matter, since it is very easy to overfeed Nigella. You can avoid this if you plant seedlings or sow seeds in an area where predecessors fertilized with organic matter grew, and you don’t have to worry about fertilizers for the first half of the growing season. When nigella blooms, feed it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.

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Nigella propagation

Nigella reproduces only generatively (by seeds), by seedlings and without seedlings, in spring or before winter. The seed propagation method is described in the previous section. Self-sowing of nigella is also one of the methods of seed propagation. Other methods of propagating nigella are not used in home gardening.