Gray hair and wrinkles can be a testimony of wisdom. But in a stressful world we often get caught up in equating our worth with productivity that could weigh on us post-retirement. Everyone, at every stage of life is a gift to the world. That said, aging does bring preventable and costly health challenges that we need to face squarely, from heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, arthritis, dry skin, falling hair, cognitive decline, stroke and cancer. There is also the possibility of depletion, loneliness and ageism. So, how can we look after ourselves better to ensure we are physically and mentally stronger as we age? Ayurveda is a holistic mind-body science which supports people through a comprehensive approach to live a healthier life right into their sunset years. It emphasizes that aging ( Jara ) is a natural process just like the seasons. It does acknowledge natural degenerative changes but recommends prevention, building resilience and an anti-aging regimen through its br
Thought for the day:
There is healing in black seed (haba sowda) for all diseases except death – Prophet Mohamed.
‘Seed of blessing’ (Haba al-barakah) and ‘the cure for all diseases
except death’ are the two sacred phrases that establish the sanctified
and miraculous uses of Black cumin seeds, botanically known as Nigella
sativa.
These magical seeds have been used in various medicinal practices
across the world for treating and preventing an extensive range of
illnesses including cancer, asthma, diabetes, jaundice, diarrhea,
dysmennorhea, hypertension, bronchitis, gastrointestinal problems and
numerous other health disorders. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae
plant family.
Black cumin seeds are popularly known as Kalaunji or kala jeera in India. The Ayurvedic
or Sanskrit names of this herb are Susavi, Sthulajiraka and Upakunci.
The other common names of this herb are Nigella seed, fennel flower,
black caraway, nutmeg flower and Roman coriander.
Black cumin seeds have been recommended in the Ayurvedic medicine in
the treatment of cancer, liver damage, anemia, arthritis, rheumatism,
hemorrhoids, dysmennorhea, cephalagia, intestinal worms, psoriasis,
asthma, headache, toothache, auto-immune diseases, halitosis and
microbial infections.
Historical uses and importance of Black cumin seeds:
Black seeds or Nigella sativa is an annual flowering plant and is
indigenous to southwest Asian countries. The earliest archaeological
evidence about this medicinal herb is said to have been found in the
ancient Egypt in many places including the Tutankhamun’s tomb, where the
Egyptian Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty was entombed with Black cumin seeds.
Nigella or the Black cumin seeds play a key role in the Islamic
history of healing as it has been reported by Abu Hurairah as “I heard
Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘There is healing in black seed (haba sowda) for all diseases except death.”
in a hadith (Sahih Bukhari), which means an Islamic writing. Trusted to
treat various diseases, Black cumin seeds were also used as a condiment
all over the world and Black cumin powder taken with honey is said to
treat asthma and bronchitis.
Black cumin essential oil was used as an antiseptic oil and a
tincture made with these seeds were used in the treatment of diarrhea,
dysmennorhea, skin eruptions, loss of appetite, vomiting and intestinal
worms. Even today Nigella seeds are used in the Middle East countries
for treating asthma, rheumatism, bronchitis, cancerous tumors and other
inflammatory conditions.
Nigella sativa was also used by the kings and Pharaohs for augmenting their immunity and state of health. Beauty
queens like Cleopatra and Queen Nefertiti used this oil for enhancing
and retaining their natural beauty and for supporting their immune power.
It is for all these incredible reasons, Black cumin seeds were called
as a Panacea in the traditional Egypt, meaning the cure for all diseases
and evils.
With more than 3,000 years of use in the European, Asian and Western
countries, Black cumin seeds have been mentioned in the Biblical
writings in the book of Isaiah of the Old Testament, where the reaping
of Black cumin seeds is compared with the reaping of wheat. It is
mentioned as ‘ketzah’ in the Bible where the word ketzah refers to Black
cumin in Hebrew.
The most renowned Greek physician, Dioscorides recorded the use of Black cumin seeds for treating stomach pain, headache, intestinal parasites, nasal congestion and sinus problems.
Avicenna talks about Black seeds in his book “The Canon of Medicine”,
for invigorating the natural energy of the system, granting
encouragement, alleviating mental and physical sluggishness, and for
improving metabolic functions.
Hippocrates recommended Black seeds for assisting hepatic problems
and digestive disorders. It gained greater importance in the Indian,
Roman, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese and Arabian civilization as a proven
historic remedy for cancerous growths, liver problems, kidney
infections, epilepsy, tonsillitis, Alzheimer’s disease, wrinkles, weak
immunity, cough, insomnia, snakebite, piles, ophthalmia, paralysis and
also as a galactogogue for increasing breast milk in nursing mothers.
Chemical constituents and remedial properties of Black cumin essential oil:
The most significant therapeutic properties of Black cumin oil are
antioxidant, anti-microbial, analgesic, bronchodilator,
hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, hypotensive,
anti-ulcer, renoprotective, anti-hypertensive, anti-fungal,
anti-cholinergic, anti-diabetic, interferon inducer, anti-bacterial,
leukotriene antagonist, immunomodulatory, gastro-protective,
nephroprotective, anticonvulsant and anti-asthmatic.
The major chemical components contributing to these therapeutic
values of Black cumin oil are thymoquinone, p-cymene, nigellone, pinene,
dithymoquinone, beta sitosterol, thymohydroquinone, limonene,
citronellol, carvone, t-anethole, carvacrol, and 4-terpineol.
Black cumin seeds are also enriched with crystalline, myristic acid,
palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic
acid, proteins, vitamin B1, B2 and B3, calcium, copper, iron, zinc,
folic acid, and phosphorous along with linoleic acid, the omega-6 fatty
acid and alpha-linolenic acid, which is the anti-inflammatory omega-3
fatty acid.
Ayurvedic health benefits of Black cumin essential oil:
Ayurveda is a blessed healing system that considers human body as a
temple where the soul dwells in like the Almighty. It is for this noble
reason Ayurvedic principles instruct on keeping the mind and body happy,
clean and free from worries for leading a harmonious life.
This disciplined approach rests on Mother Nature for everything, as
it strongly believes that every single thing on earth is a part of
nature and the wellness and illness of any living thing depends upon its
harmony and disharmony with nature itself. Nature is made up of five vital elements like earth, water, fire, space and air and everything on earth has a combination of these five elements.
If you take a human body, earth is present in the form of bones and
muscles, fire is the energy required for numerous functions of the body,
air is what we breathe, water is present in the form of blood and other
fluids in the system and space is the representation of the soul, which
is the only difference between a living and non-living thing.
According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique part of nature
with a unique individual constitution known as prakriti, which is a
combination of three dynamic biological energies known as doshas. They are vata, pitta and kapha.
Every person has a predominance of any one of these doshas that has
an upper hand in determining the personality, traits, and behavioral
attributes of person. When there is an absolute balance between these
doshas as per nature’s law there is hale and heartiness and doshic
imbalances due to lifestyle changes, climatic conditions and unhealthy
habits leads to sickness.
Every treatment in Ayurveda commences with an attempt to recognize
the unique individual constitution of a person. This assists in
analyzing the mental and physical characteristics of a person along with
their individual constitution. The credibility of Ayurveda lies in its
distinctive way for treating individuals in a unique manner by
prescribing natural remedies that suit their prakriti even if a group of
people are affected by the same illness.
The key Ayurvedic remedies are herbs, plant essential oils, simple
physical exercises, yoga, meditation, prayers, Pranayama (breathing
exercises), Ayurvedic massaging, Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification
techniques) and Ayurvedic routine.
Black cumin essential oil is said to pacify vata and kapha doshas and augment pitta energy. It’s time to look into the Ayurvedic health benefits of Black cumin essential oil.
1. Excellent natural remedy for the 8 major types of Cancer:
The most amazing thing about Black cumin seeds is its potency to
fight against various types of cancers. Dr. Gary Null of the Progressive
Radio Network says “Black cumin oil is probably the single most
important oil you can put in your system. Every time you take black cumin you are stimulating your immune system to fight on your behalf and increase natural killer cells.” With its potential to improve the immune system, Nigella seeds have been used successfully in the treatment of HIV and cancer.
Various studies conducted by numerous researchers have proved the efficacy of Black cumin seeds in treating different types of Cancer
and the most prominent and life-threatening ones among them are brain
cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, breast cancer, liver cancer, colon
cancer, oral cancer and cervical cancer.
Among these, pancreatic cancer, regarded as the fourth leading cause
of deaths due to cancer and various studies conducted by Dr. Hwyda
Arafat at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson proved that Nigella sativa seeds were promising in treating pancreatic cancer with an amazing result of 80% death of cancer tumor cells.
Another study by the China Medical University, Taiwan proves that the
presence of thymoquinone in Nigella seeds stimulates apoptosis in oral
cancer cells.
A 2013 review named, ‘A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella
sativa: A miracle herb published in PubMed has listed the antioxidant
and anticancer effects of Black cumin seeds and most of the studies
indicate that thymoquinone (TQ) is responsible for enormous beneficial effects of Nigella seeds in fighting against various types of cancers.
According to the Cancer Research Laboratory of Hilton Head Island, USA, Black cumin seeds proved very effective in the treatment of tumor therapy, without any hazardous side effects of general chemotherapy.
This study also said that these little seeds boosted the immune
system, controlled the growth of tumors by 50% and augmented the growth
rate of bone marrow cells by 250%. This study was concluded with the
greater result that “black seed oil is an ideal candidate for use in cancer prevention and treatment, and that it has remarkable promises for clinical use.”
Dr. Hwyda Arafat also says, “Nigella sativa helps treat a broad array
of diseases, including some immune and inflammatory disorders. Previous
studies also have shown anticancer activity in prostate and colon
cancers, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.” He also
recommends taking 1 teaspoon of Black seed oil mixed with ½ teaspoon of
honey before breakfast and before going to bed for increasing the immune
power and for enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the body for
fighting against free radicals and cancerous cells.
Skin is the largest organ of the human body and is the fastest medium
for transmitting the remedial properties of medicines. This is done by
quicker absorbing and passing on the therapeutic values of the medicines
to the bloodstream, through which the corresponding organ or part of
the body gets treated promptly.
Massaging your system with 10 drops of Black cumin oil mixed with 5 drops of Garlic oil
along with 10 ml of coconut oil can assist in increasing your immune
power, granting you the endurance to fight cancer, increasing the death
of cancerous tumors and preventing the growth of new cancerous cells.
You can also add 3 to 4 drops of this oil to warm bathing water every
day for long lasting fortification, especially against microbes like
bacteria, virus and fungi.
2. Grants flawless beauty to the skin and hair:
Black cumin seed oil is the cherished secret behind numerous beauty
queens like Cleopatra, where the queens used this oil to enhance the
natural beauty of their skin, hair and nails. From the ancient times,
Nigella seeds and its oil have been used in the treatment of numerous
skin problems like psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles, acne, burns, allergies,
wounds and for moisturizing dry skin.
Mixing 4 drops of Black seed oil with 2 ml of olive oil and massaging
gently on your facial skin and neck can help in improving your skin
complexion and suppleness of your skin. Massaging your skin with 10
drops of Nigella oil mixed with 10 ml of sesame oil daily before bath,
can assist in treating dry skin and can help in retaining the natural
moisture of your skin. You can also mix 2 drops of Black seed oil with 1
ml of coconut oil or your mild skin care cream and apply it on wounds
and other skin infections for quicker remedy.
Nigella seed oil is indeed a boon for people suffering from hair
loss, dry hair, rough hair and split ends. Massage your scalp gently
with 10 drops of Nigella oil blended with 5 drops of rosemary oil and 5 drops of lavender oil
along with 10 ml of sesame oil for reducing dandruff, strengthening the
hair follicles, promoting hair growth and for adding shine and luster
to your hair naturally. Leave this blend on your scalp for half an hour
and wash it gently with a mild shampoo mixed with 2 drops of Black cumin
oil for better results.
3. Relieves asthma and other respiratory infections:
The best folklore remedy for treating severe cough and asthma is the
natural tonic prepared by mixing Black cumin seeds powder along with
honey and garlic. This tonic was trusted to enhance the immune power
that can help in fighting against the harmful micro-organisms that
worsen respiratory infections. Numerous studies have proved the
anti-asthmatic effects of Black seeds oil on the asthmatic airways.
A popular study on Thymoquinone, the main active component of
Nigella sativa seeds have been proved superior to the drug fluticasone
in the treatment of asthma in an animal model. Inhaling the
soothing aroma of this oil by adding 2 drops of this oil in steam
inhalation followed by a gentle massage of your throat, back and chest
with 2 drops of Black cumin oil mixed with your vaporizing cream can
relieve you instantly from cold, nasal congestion, blocked nose, throat
pain, headache, sinusitis and migraine pain.
4. Alleviates rheumatism, arthritis and other inflammatory problems:
According to Ayurveda, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions
in the body general occur due to the accumulation of excess fluid
deposits, salt, calcium deposits, improper blood circulation and toxic
remains from improper digestion. This is mainly caused by the excess of
kapha dosha leading to water retention, sluggishness, swelling, pain and
inflammation.
Black cumin seed has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cytotoxic properties that help in treating various inflammatory conditions. With its hot potency and warming qualities, Nigella oil is an excellent Ayurvedic remedy for reducing excess kapha deposits.
Massaging the painful and affected parts with 5 drops of Black cumin
oil blended with 1 drop of Garlic oil along with 3 ml of coconut oil can
help in improving blood circulation, eliminating toxic substances,
excess water content, salt and uric acid through urine and sweat. You
can also add 2 drops of this oil in warm bathing water or in hot or cold
compress for improved results.
5. Treats liver and kidney disorders:
Black
cumin oil has immense nephroprotective and hepatoprotective properties
that protect the liver and kidneys from the harmful effects of free
radicals, toxic substances and uric acid. It also helps in treating
liver problems and kidney disorders and this healing effect is
attributed to the major chemical constituent of Black seed oil known as
Thymoquinone. This component protects the system from the hazardous
effects of other diseases or chemical substances.
Other health benefits:
There are more than 500 proven studies on the varied healing effects of
Black cumin seeds in the treatment of high blood pressure, helicobacter
pylori infections, type 2 diabetes, injuries caused by chemical weapons,
cardio-vascular problems, epilepsy, gastro-intestinal problems,
fatigue, constipation, tapeworms, anemia, dementia, menstrual
discomforts, jaundice, dandruff, bronchitis, candida and callosities.
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You can get Black seed capsules from iHerb https://fas.st/-Vo8I
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