Islamic medicin: Black seed oil: 

- Nigella sativa L. -

The Muslims know black seeds and black seed oil from the sunnah of our Master Muhammad (may the choisest blessings of Allah be upon him). In Sahih al-Bukhari we can read the following hadithain (two hadith) from Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him:

”Use black seed regularly because it has a cure for every disease except death.”

and

"Allah has not sent down any sickness without sending down its cure as well."

References to the black seeds, in Arabic called habbat-u-l-baraka, the blessed herb, or habbat-s-sawda, the black herb, are found in most books on prophetic medicine (tibb an-nabawi). However, the healing properties of the seed and the oil of the seed from the plant Nigella sativa L. known already at the time of prophet Musa (peace be upon him). The the Nigella seeds is mention in the Bible and black seed oil was found in the tomb of Tut Ankh Amon.

al-Hamdu liLah, all praise belongs to God, in the last few years competent scientists has studied the active substances in the black seeds. What they found, was chemicals what has the exact same properties as Rasul Allah said. As Muslims we are not surprised. We should expect that sound science is in harmony with the Islamic teachings. Allah (azza wa jahl) has given us Islam and He is al-Khaliq – the Creator of all that exists in the seen as well as in the unseen world. Obviously, there are agreement between the Religion from Heaven and modern science.

Now I will give a short summary of the biochemical literature on the active compounds in the black seed. First of all an important reminder: I am a biologist and not a physician. You must, under no circumstances stop taking medicine you general practitioner has prescribed for you, even though you think black seed oil can cure you. Take black seed oil as a supplement to you medication and talk to you physician about it.

Black seed oil can be a healthy and protective supplement in your diet, as it has been proven to strengthen the general health, and to have positive effects on the blood, heart and liver. The reason is that compounds in the Nigella oil induce production of endogenous scavengers [i] of free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and harmful derivatives of oxygen and are the waste from the body’s normal metabolism. This waste has to be eliminated to avoid damage of other components of the cells.

In experiments where ulcer has been induced in rats has demonstrated that treatment with black seed oil improves healing of gastro-intestinal wounds. The current data indicates that the healing effect occurs by stimulation of antioxidant production, as free radicals also are produced by states of disease. As well, the oil contains very healthy fatty acids, which strengthens the immune system and can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Thus, black seed oil will be a healthy daily supplement.

By a having a relaxing effect on the bronchial muscles and the trachea (wind pipe), as well as mucolytic properties, the oil can be added to boiling water and the steam inhaled to treat symptoms light asthma and common cold.

In experiments with rats, it has been demonstrated that black seed oil can enhance healing of broken legs.

Interestingly, components of the black seed oil have an analgesic and antiinflamatory effect. The chemical thymoquinon inhibits the activity of the enzymes that are involved in pain generation in joints and tendons. Personally, by using black seed oil I do not need regular cortisone injection and other prescription drugs against arthritis.

Also, the oil can be used to treat skin conditions, such as eczema.

In the kitchen, whole Nigella s. seeds are nice spice, and can successfully be used in bread baking. The Turks uses it at the top of the bread. I use it in the dough.

And God Almighty knows best.

By a slave in constant need of his Lord,

Shahid Saif al-Islam C.G. Ossum, Ph.D, biochemistry (Email: shahid.ossum@gmail.com)

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[i] Free radical scavengers are generally called antioxidants. Red vegetables are generally rich in natural antioxidants, and the tomato contains one of the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidants. If your diet contains a lot of red meat, and maybe, God forbid, alcohol, it is recommended to eat a lot of natural oxidants, such as vegetables and black seeds.