Habbatus Sauda

Nigella Sativa a.k.a Habbatus Sauda

Nigella Sativa originates from Western Asia and is a herb that grows about 16-24 inches in height and has white flowers when in bloom. The plant is now cultivated from the Near East to India. The deep black, sharp-cornered rectangular seeds (no longer than 3 mm) are the part of the plant that is used for the preparation of products. 

The black seed is cultivated in Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, Oman, Ethiopia, Middle East, Far East, India, Bangladesh, France, Germany and the Mediterranean Basin. It also grows wild in Egypt, Syria, Asiatic Turkey and the Balkan States.

Nigella Sativa is known commonly in Arabic as Habbat-ul-Baraka (blessed seed) and in English as Love in the Mist.

Ibnul Qaiyum (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “The black seed helps against all types of cold ailments… when ground, blended with honey and drunk with some water, it will dissolve the stones that appear in the kidney and the prostate…it increases the flow during menstruation and the production of milk if it is drunk for several days… When it is heated with vinegar and placed on the stomach it will eliminate worms. It also clears up, decomposes and relieves cold symptoms when it is ground, placed in a rag and inhaled through the nose on a regular basis until the ailment is cured. Black seed oil… when twenty-five grams of it is drunk with water, it will help against gasping and hard breathing…”
[Translated ‘Medicine of the Prophet’ by Ibnul Qaiyum (may Allah have mercy upon him)

Research

Since 1959, over 200 studies have been carried out at international universities and articles published in various journals have shown remarkable results supporting its traditional uses.

The Nigella Sativa seed itself contains numerous esters of structurally unusual unsaturated fatty acids and the chemical composition is very rich and diverse. Apart from its active ingredient, crystalline nigellone, it contains 15 amino acids (including eight of the nine essential ones), carbohydrates, fatty acids including linolenic and oleic, volatile oils, alkaloids and dietary fibre, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, sodium and potassium.

Recent research on the black seed as an anti-biotic, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-bacterial, anti-bronchial and immune boosting agent has shown great promise.

The Science Behind Nigella Sativa

To date, there is a lack of clinical trials testing nigella sativa's health effects. However, the available research suggests that nigella sativa holds promise for treatment and/or prevention of the following conditions:

1) Asthma

Nigella sativa may help ease symptoms of asthma, according to a small study published in 2007. For three months, 29 adults with asthma took either aplacebo or a nigella sativa extract daily. Study results showed that those treated with nigella sativa had significantly greater improvements in the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms.

2) High Blood Pressure

In a small study published in 2008, researchers found that nigella sativa may help keep blood pressure in check. After eight weeks of twice-daily treatment with nigella sativa extract, patients with mild hypertension had a greater reduction in blood pressure (compared to those assigned to a placebo supplement).

3) Pancreatic Cancer

Findings from test-tube research indicate that nigella sativa may help hinder the development of pancreatic cancer. In a series of lab tests, scientists discovered that thymoquinone (the chief constituent of nigella sativa oil) significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory compounds found in pancreatic tumors.

Safety

Available in supplement, tea, and whole-seed form, nigella sativa is generally considered safe. However, tests on animals indicate that high doses of nigella sativa may damage the kidney and/or liver. What's more, taking nigella sativa during chemotherapy may hamper the effects of chemotherapy drugs.

Using Nigella Sativa for Health

Due to a lack of scientific support for its health effects, it's too soon to recommend nigella sativa as a principal standard treatment for any condition. If you're considering the use of nigella sativa for treatment or prevention of a specific health problem, make sure to consult your doctor before you start your supplement regimen.