All about Black Cumin Seed
Black Cumin Seed comes from black cumin, a small herbaceous plant; its scientific name is Nigella sativa. It is native to the Mediterranean region of the world -- indeed Arabic people refer to it as the 'seed of blessing' -- but is also grown in other parts of the world now, such as parts of Asia. Black seed is reported to have been used for over 2000 years. Historical recordings mention it as far back as 1400 years. Black seed was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen, implying it held an exalted status among even the highest echelons of society.
Black seed has been for a wide range of ailments and conditions: Middle Eastern countries have used it for centuries to treat bronchial asthma and bronchitis, emphysema, and congestion (some of its constituents have been shown to harbor antihistamine-like properties) Other uses include a remedy for rheumatism, to treat gastrointestinal conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation and haemorrhoids. Perhaps more importantly, black cumin seed is used to boost immune system function, as an anticancer agent, and to treat skin conditions, including eczema, abscesses, and boils.
Black Cumin Seed has no known toxicity, but because there is no RDA set for this nutrient, we believe one should err on the side of caution and choose a reasonable dosage from between 50 to 75 mgs until further studies are conducted. Pregnant or nursing women, as always, should refrain from using any supplement, herbal or otherwise, unless consulting their doctor first...this is especially important with black cumin seed as large doses have traditionally been used to induce abortion.
Do we personally take black cumin seed? Yes, in a product called Total Balance. It is much more than just a black cumin seed product, however, as it contains literally dozens of nutrients.
If you want to read up on why we take Total Balance over all other supplements then visit this page for the details.
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