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Updated 22 Jun, 2020 10:18pm

Kalonji aka Black Cumin Might Be Helpful In Treating These 7 Diseases

I heard Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ) saying:

"There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death."

Kalonji or black cumin seed is perhaps the most valuable food ingredient in the world. It's a plant that people have used to make medicine for over 2000 years. Also known as nigella or by its scientific name Nigella sativa, kalonji belongs to the buttercup family of flowering plants. It grows up to approximately 12 inches (30 cm) tall and produces a fruit with seeds that are used as a flavorful spice in many cuisines. In addition to its culinary use, kalonji is known for its medicinal properties and is used worldwide for both purposes.

Due to specific properties of Kalonji, historically it has been used as a natural remedy for treating a multitude of diseases ranging from headache, toothache, nasal congestion to asthma, arthritis, and intestinal problems, etc.

There's some scientific evidence to suggest that black seeds might help boost the immune system, lower cholesterol levels, combat cancer, reduce swelling, and lessen allergic reactions, etc. Though the scientific world still hasn't fully understood its significance but they haven't seen any harmful effects of these seeds either. Here are the 7 diseases which are thought to be treated with Kalonji:

1) Inflammation:
Inflammation is a natural immune response to tissue injury and infection. Acute inflammation is harmless in most cases but chronic inflammation is dangerous to the body. Kalonji is thought to be having anti-inflammatory properties. It's used across the globe to treat inflammation.

2) Cancer:
Cancer is an abnormal production of cells that have the ability to invade and spread to other parts of the body. Kalonji is rich in antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals that may contribute to the development of diseases like cancer.

3) Diabetes:
It's believed that Kalonji can decrease blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. But it doesn't seem to work as well as the diabetes drug metformin. Raised blood sugar levels can cause many adverse symptoms, including increased thirst, weight loss, fatigue, etc. Diabetes can also lead to serious complications, such as neuropathy, heart diseases, and retinopathy, etc. So the use of black seeds is advisable for diabetics.

4) High Cholesterol Levels:
High cholesterol levels are quite dangerous as they lead to cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis. There are two types of cholesterol/fatty substances in our body. One is Low-density lipoprotein or least desired lipoprotein because it's raised levels are dangerous. The other type is High-density lipoprotein or highly desired lipoprotein because it's good for us and gives us energy.
Kalonji has been shown to be especially effective at lowering cholesterol. According to a study, people with diabetes showed that supplementing with kalonji for one year decreased total and LDL cholesterol, all while increasing HDL cholesterol.

5) Asthma:
Some researches have shown that taking Kalonji by mouth along with asthma medicines can improve symptoms of asthma. But it seems to work only in people with very low lung function before treatment and also it doesn't seem to work as well as the asthmatic meds.

6) Male Infertility:
Some studies found that Kalonji is beneficial for any man facing difficulties in impregnating a woman after a year of trying to conceive. It is believed that taking black cumin seed oil raises the number of sperms and their mobility, so it is quite helpful in male infertility.

7) High Blood Pressure:
Raised blood pressures increase the risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, like heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, etc. Some researches have shown that consuming Kalonji might reduce blood pressure.