True black cumin (Nigella sativa), or black cumin for short, was already known and popular in ancient times. Today, the ancient empirical knowledge regarding this treasure of the healing arts is becoming more widespread again and is being supported by studies. In naturopathy, the valuable oil is used to strengthen the immune system and to provide support for allergies.
What is the history of this cultivated plant?
Black cumin – which, incidentally, is not related to caraway or cumin – has a long history as a cultivated plant: archaeologists claim to have recovered a small bottle of black cumin oil in the burial chamber of Tutankhamun. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates also praised a "black flower" (Melanthion), which, according to later medical experts, could very well have been black cumin. The Islamic prophet Muhammad (approx. 570 to 632 AD) is credited with the following sentence: "Black cumin heals every disease except death." The Islamic physician Ibn Sina also mentions the medicinal plant in his standard work "The Book of Healing," written in the tenth century.
How did black cumin spread in Europe?
Black cumin originally comes from Western Asia (Turkey, Iraq). From there, it soon spread to India, Pakistan, North Africa, and Southern Europe. Emperor Charlemagne (approx. 747 to 814 AD) commissioned the cultivation of the spice and medicinal plant for the Western Empire of that time. Since that time, black cumin seed has also been widespread in Europe as a remedy and is mentioned, for example, by famous Renaissance healers. The Italian physician and botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli (approx. 1500 to 1577 AD) considered black cumin to be not only a remedy for flatulence, but also for asthma and skin ailments. The name Nigella sativa (from Latin for "black" and "cultivated") first appeared in 1753 in the standard botanical work by Carl Linnaeus.
What is black cumin oil used for in natural medicine?
True black cumin has been established for many centuries in Oriental and Asian, as well as European, medicine. It is also used today in modern naturopathy for a number of ailments. The pure oil, ideally cold-pressed from its seeds, is applied externally for skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne, or psoriasis. Since black cumin oil is said to regulate the immune system, it is also considered a natural remedy for alleviating allergic reactions such as hay fever, i.e., an overreacting immune system. However, the possible uses for black cumin do not end there by any means. Its ingredients are generally considered to be digestive, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and capable of lowering blood pressure and blood sugar.
Black cumin oil
Valuable fatty acids, popular in medicine
What interesting ingredients does the medicinal plant have?
The seeds of true black cumin, in particular, contain a number of ingredients whose positive effects on health and well-being have been proven in studies. However, since the substances have been tested individually in laboratories, there is still uncertainty about the effect of the "total package" and its complex interaction.
In any case, black cumin seeds are very rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Initial studies indicate that unsaturated fatty acids promote a feeling of satiety. The explanation: these fatty acids are said to be able to send a signal to the brain that one is full, which means it can be helpful for weight loss. Furthermore, essential amino acids can be found in black cumin, including arginine, asparagine, and serine. Especially interesting is the essential oil in the black cumin seed, whose component thymoquinone is considered germicidal and antibacterial. Bitter substances like nigellin, vitamins such as provitamin A, B, C, and E, as well as minerals like selenium and magnesium, round off the little black powerhouse.
Black cumin oil
Valuable fatty acids, popular in medicine
What else is black cumin used for?
Black cumin has been popular as a spice in Oriental cuisine for thousands of years. Even today, the aromatic seeds with a slight note of cumin are used in cooking, baking, or refining sauces, soups, and salads. For example, they are an ingredient in the Bengali spice mixture Panch Phoron, or they are sprinkled onto Turkish flatbread. In doing so, they not only intensify the aroma of the dishes, but also increase their digestibility and promote digestion. Pickling vegetables also works excellently with black cumin seeds: one teaspoon per canning jar significantly increases shelf life.
Conclusion
Black cumin oil has a long tradition in the Orient as both a medicinal plant and a spice. Black cumin is also known in Europe from traditional European folk medicine. It provides a wide spectrum of interesting ingredients, including unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, essential oil, including the component thymoquinone, and important bitter substances.
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