The Blessed Seed habbat al barakah BLACK

This site will address the benefits of black seed oil.

Sunday July 6, 2014

Nigella Sativa is the actual name for Black Seed. It has been used throughout history medicinally and an important ingredient in culinary dishes primarily in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking.

I began using Black Seed in cooking several years ago. My husband and I traveled to Egypt in 2005 for the first time and made several friends in Cairo. We met Mohamed at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany waiting for our flight to Cairo, Egypt. My husband is a member of Rotary and was wearing his Rotary pin. Mohamed was also a member of Rotary and during our wait for the flight, we began to talk with him. He gave us the name of a travel agency in Cairo. When we arrived at our hotel, Mohamed had already called his friend and we had messages waiting for us on making plans to see Egypt. It was the beginning of a friendship. They invited to their home and I inquired what the black seeds were in the bread his wife served. It was Black Seed she told me.

This was the beginning of my interest in Black Seed. I visited an Egyptian market in Tampa where I live and bought a bottle of Black Seed. I use it in cooking pastries, chicken, lamb, and as a seasoning on rice and couscous.

It was not until February 2014, I began to use it medicinally. It changed my life.

This first blog will give a historical background on Black Seed. I plan to add to this blog every Sunday.

The earliest historical reference I found goes back 3000 years to the Assyrians that referred to it as ‘tin tir’. The Assyrians swallowed the seeds to alleviate stomach problems. They also ground the seeds and used it for skin problems such as insect bites and rashes.

A bottle of Black Seed Oil was discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen. The Egyptians used it as an aid for digestion and other diseases. The oil was a part of their every day life. They also used it on their skin as a moisturizer.

In biblical times, it was used as a spice in breads and cakes. There is a reference in the Old Testament (Isaiah 28:25,27) “scatter the cumin, and cast in the principal, wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?” Black Seed comes from the Black Cumin seed.

The Greek physician Dioscoredes recorded in his writing that Black Seed (Nigelta Sativa Seeds) were used in the treatment of headaches, nasal congestion, toothaches, and intestinal worms. This was in the first century.

Hippocrates and Pliny the elder also touted its benefits.

The Persian physician, Ibn Sina wrote The Book of Healing. The book is considered a landmark in the history of human medicine. He exalted the benefits of Black Seed for the preventative and restorative benefits. He believed it stimulated energy and eliminates fatigue. He recommended it for the same conditions as Dioscoredes along with a cure for the common cold. He also said it would act as an anti-fungal. Ibn Sina is also known as Avicenna.

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam declared it “a remedy for diseases except death.”

The use of Black Seed spread to India. Ayurveda, a medical practice in India that means “the science of life,” dealing with a balance of energies and biological systems in the human body advised its use for longevity and healing of nervous disorders, and gynecological disorders.

The Romans used the seed and called it Greek Coriander  and used it as a dietary supplement.

My husband and I 2005 trip to Egypt  Gize Plateau  Great Pyramid

Sunday July 13, 2014

habbat al barakah  means "the blessed seed" in Arabic

Black seed contains 100 components and not all of them have been fully investigated.
It contains many nutrients: calcium, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folacin, pyridoxine, and protein. Scientists are creating new drugs from the black cumin or Nigella. One of its main benefits is that it strengthens the immune system. Some consider it a panacea for many diseases and health problems. It contains many fatty acids including Omega-3.
It is grown in many countries throughout the middles east.
Since 1959 there have been over 200 studies at international universities and they support the traditional uses that have been handed down over the centuries. In 1960, they isolated Nigellone and a broncho-dialating effect. Scientists at the Cancer and Immune-Biological Lab oratory reported that it stimulates bone marrow and protects normal cells against effects of certain viruses.
It is used to relieve the effects of several diseases. I will explain six common problems and how to use Black Seed. These are cures I discovered from going through many web sites. There is no guarantee that they will work for all individuals. I can only speak from personal experience and the black seed worked for me and my husband.:
1. Allergies- I take one black seed capsule in the morning and one capsule after lunch. I have done this since the beginning of February 2014. All my life I sufferd from allergies. I have not had an allergy attack since February, and have not taken any additional allergy medicene. Husband's allergies- he still still takes one allergy pill a day along with black seed, but allergy attacks not as severe.

2. Headaches - I take a third capsule if I suffer from a headache during the day and the headaches goes away.Works faster than when I take 2 aspirin. I have read that taking one tablespoon of black seed oil and rubbing it on the part of the head that hurts may help. I have never tried this, but am told by a friend it brings relief.

3.Colitus - My husband suffers from colitus and after taking two capsules of black seed oil a day, his problems have almost completely disappeared. He now can eat nuts, popcorn, and salads with no upsets. Prior to taking the black seed oil, one or two handfuls of popcorn could keep him up all night and suffer abdominal pain. He could not eat any nuts and only one salad a week.

4. Heart burn -I add a few drops of black seed oil and a teaspoon of honey to a glass of hot milk. I get instant relief.

5. High blood pressure - I take medication for high blood pressure and since taking black seed capsules I have had to cut my medication dosage in half. Husbands blood pressure has dropped since taking black seed capsules twice a day.

6. Arthritis - Prior to taking black seed capsules, I suffered pain reaching back to zip a dress, or fasten a bra. After taking black seed oil, within a week I had no more pain.

There are over a hundred uses if black seed oil and capsules I discovered on line. I have only listed six uses that I personally experienced.

Other medical problems I discovered it is used for include: asthma, diarrhea, rheumatism, skin diseases, vertigo, ear problems and dizziness, labor pains, chest pains and colds, eye pain, cancer, diabetes, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, toothaches, tonsillitis, gall stones, kidney stones, acne, gall bladder, liver inflamation, spleen inflamation, hair lossm unfluenza, fever, and the immune system to name a few.

Next week I will post some recipes using black seed.

Sample recipe for Anise cookies with Black Seed

Pre-heat oven to 350
1/4 cup butter (unsalted)     1 egg   1/4 tsp liquid anise flavoring    1 cup flour    3/4 teaspoon baking powder  1/4 teaspoon salt  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg  1/4 cup sugar (white)  3 - 4 tablespoons black seed
Directions: Cream butter, egg, and sugar
Add baking powder and spices with the flour and mix until incorporated
Roll dough into a walnut size ball and flatten slightly
Sprinkle tops of cookies with black seed
Bake 10 -15 minutes until brown around the edges on cookie sheet. (I grease the pan with shortening).

August 14, 2014 
Various names for Black Seed by Country and Language In my research I discovered that Black Seed goes by various names depending on the country and language. Here are some of them: Egypt-Black Cumin; Turkey-Carek Ota; India-Hindu-Kalomji; Russian-Chernushka; Iran (Persian) Siyah daneh; Malaysian-Karim jeerakan; Ancient Romans-Greek Coriander. Morocco (Maroccan)-Sanouj

 New Recipe for Chicken using Black Seeds 
Ingredients:

 Chicken whole- cut into pieces If preferred, buy the parts that you enjoy most. I buy a whole chicken and dive it into parts.
 1/3 cup olive oil I do not use virgin olive oil in this recipe
1 onion sliced thin
2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped. For more garlic increase to 4 cloves. I find this much overpowering, but a friend of mine uses 4 cloves in my recipe.
 1 tablespoon of black seeds salt to taste I use 1/2 teaspoon, but original recipe called for 1 teaspoon.
 1 teaspoon ground ginger
 1 teaspoon white or black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup water
fresh cilantro
 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads crumble threads
1 onion finely chopped
1 lemon quartered
Directions for cooking I use a slow cooker set on low for three hours

 Put olive oil in bottom of slow cooker and put sliced onion on top of the onion
 Mix chicken with remaining seasonings, and chopped onion. Cover and place in refrigerator an hour before placing on top of onions.
Place chicken in slow cooker and add the quartered lemon and water
I serve over couscous or Jasmine rice
Check the slow cooker does not go dry. Add more water if needed. Check chicken is tender before serving.
Add water to pot and quartered lemon. If pot begins to go dry, add a little more water. Check the chicken is tender before serving. I serve the chicken over prepared couscous or Jasmine rice.