Black Seed for an Inside-Out Detox

Black cumin seed, or simply black seed, are the seeds from the plant Nigella Sativa, a famous spice in traditional medicine. Black seed has literally been used to make medications for thousands of years, specifically in the Middle East region and in India as part of the Ayurveda. Black seed was used by many to treat numerous diseases, to the degree that it became known by names such as the blessing seed and the miracle herb. 

"There is nothing the black seed can't heal. Except death" The Prophet Muhammad. 

Black seed was used to treat conditions such as bronchitis, cough, flu, hypertension, liver diseases, and the list goes on and on. You are probably starting to see why the black seed can be a great detox for your body. How can the black seed detoxify your body, and how can you use it for detoxification? That's what we will explore in this article!

How Does The Black Seed Detoxify the Body?

To understand this better, we need to have a look at the health benefits of the black seed. Trust me, you will be amazed at what those small black seeds are capable of!

1. Antioxidant 

The major component of black seed is thymoquinone; it's the compound that is responsible for most of the beneficial effects of black seed, including its antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of thymoquinone was studied, and the results proved that black seed has a strong antioxidant effect.

Thymoquinone has been shown to suppress oxidative stress, the hyper-proliferative response, and renal carcinogenesis in rats [source]. Not just that, this antioxidant effect also protects the liver from oxidative stress. So, what does all of this mean to you?! In other words, it means that black seed reduces the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and cancer. With its antioxidant activity, thymoquinone scavenges free radicals from your body and prevents them, at least to some degree, from damaging the organs.

2.  Antibacterial properties 

Black seed has demonstrated antibacterial properties and is now being considered by some scientists for its antibacterial action. Black seed is effective against Helicobacter pylori, which is responsible for 95% of duodenal ulcers and 85% of gastric ulcers; this effect is not even mild, it's comparable to the effect of the triple therapy used in treating Helicobacter pylori. 

3. Antifungal properties 

If you thought we were done with the health benefits of black seed, well, let me tell you, we have just begun. On top of its antibacterial activities, black seed also possesses antifungal properties. This anti-yeast activity of black cumin seed is attributed to its phenolic compounds. 

This property is the reason black cumin seed is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of skin fungal infections. 

4. Anti-diabetic activity 

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is directly affected by your diet and lifestyle. This why has diabetic patients are always on the lookout for useful natural herbs to add to their diet and routine to help them manage and control blood sugar levels (my mom is one of those). 

 Black seed is one of the herbs that can reduce blood sugar levels and increase insulin levels. Not to mention that black seed may also contribute to the metabolism of carbohydrates in diabetic patients and protect your pancreatic beta cells.

5. Anticancer activity 

We mentioned earlier that black seed has antioxidant activity and that this activity protects against cancer, so you might be asking, "Then why are we talking about this again?!". Well, it's not just that black seed may protect you from cancer; they can actually be used as an antitumor agent.

Black seed extract can be used as an adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. In another study that looked at effect of thymoquinone on osteosarcoma, results showed that thymoquinone induced a higher percentage of growth inhibition in cancer cells. 

6. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity 

Black cumin seed has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Analgesics are compounds that ease pain.

You can apply black seed to the places that hurt or you can swallow the seeds.

7. Antihypertensive activity 

A lot of hypertensive patients use black seed to help them manage their blood pressure levels, and we can't say they are wrong! Black seed might, in fact, help reduce blood pressure. Studies done in animals have found that black seed can actually decrease systolic blood pressure. 

8. Gastroprotective properties 

In the article Ayurvedic Treatments for IBS, we mentioned how black seed was one of the spices used in Ayurvedic medicine to elevate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This is due to the fact that black seed has gastroprotective properties; they protect your stomach by inhibiting acid secretion and increasing mucus secretion. 

This makes black seed a great natural and home remedy for annoying conditions like gastritis and acid reflux. 

9. Pulmonary-protective and anti-asthmatic effects

Before I read about this effect in medical literature and reviews, I heard about it from my aunt, who advised me to swallow a teaspoonful of black seeds if I had difficulty breathing. This anti-asthmatic effect of the black seed can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory activity.

10. Improving the symptoms of seasonal allergies 

Seasonal allergies and sinusitis can turn your day into living hell when they get a hold of you. Another remedy that I learned from my aunt is to take black seeds whenever seasonal allergies clog my nostrils. For me, this one is a favorite. Black seed has antihistamines and anti-inflammatory properties that relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies and alleviate them, not to mention that its antibacterial activities make it an excellent candidate for treating sinusitis.

How to use black seeds for detoxification 

Black seed is versatile and can be used in various ways to improve health and detoxify your body. For example:

1. You can swallow the black seed

You can detoxify your body using black seeds directly. You simply take a teaspoon of black seeds and swallow it with a sufficient amount of water.

2. Boil the black seeds

For this method, take a teaspoon of black seeds and add them to a cup and a half of boiling water. Allow them to sit in the boiling water for several minutes, then drink the tea.

3. Use black seeds oil

Another method is to use black seed oil. You can use the cold-pressed oil to detoxify by applying it to your skin. You can apply it to the exposed areas of your body, or otherwise, you can apply it to the affected areas of the skin.

4. Use black seeds powder

You can also use the powder instead. Either boil the powder with water and drink its tea, or use it to make a paste and apply that paste to the affected areas. 

I don't recommend swallowing the powder because it can be irritating to the throat. 

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that the health benefits of black seed make it a very valuable natural herb and a wonderful detoxifying spice, and that adding it to your daily diet may lead to improvements in your health. But if you have a medical condition, don't replace your medications with any remedy unless you talk to your doctor first.