Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with Honey and Garlic Paste

What is the Black Seed?
Its botanical name is Nigella sativa. It is believed to be indigenous to the Mediterranean region but has been cultivated into other parts of the world including the Arabian peninsula, northern Africa and parts of Asia. 

Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) is a medicinal spice that appears to be active in the dose used to season food products. It has a potent bioactive known as thymoquinone which shows promise in controlling epilepsy, allergies, and boosting the immune system.

Muslims’ use of the Black Seed:

Muslims have been using and promoting the use of the Black Seed for hundreds of years, and hundreds of articles have been written about it. The Black Seed has also been in use worldwide for over 3000 years. It is not only a prophetic herb, but it also holds a unique place in the medicine of the Prophet . 

It is unique in that it was not used profusely before the Prophet Muhammad  made its use popular. Although there were more than 400 herbs in use before the Prophet Muhammad  and recorded in the herbals of Galen and Hippocrates, the Black Seed was not one of the most popular remedies of the time. Because of the way Islam has spread, the usage and popularity of the Black Seed is widely known as a "remedy of the Prophet ." In fact, a large part of this herbal preparations popularity is based on the teachings of the Prophet .

The Black Seed has become very popular in recent years and is marketed and sold by many Muslim and non-Muslim businesses.

Its nutrients:

The Black Seed is rich in nutritional values. It contain almost 40% fixed oils and 1.4% volatile oils. It also contains around fifteen amino acids, proteins, calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium. Among its most effective compositions are thymoquinone, dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol. The magazine Food Chemistry found the Black Seed to be high in protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, C and niacin as well as calcium, potassium and iron..