Black cumin ( Nigella sativa L. ) is an annual herbaceous plant from the buttercup family and is not related to caraway or cumin. The white-flowering plant grows to a height of half a meter and produces black seeds that are very popular in oriental cuisine because of their aromatic taste. But black cumin is not only used as a spice - for example on Turkish flatbread or in Thai curries. Its interesting ingredients also make it a versatile natural remedy. The oil extracted from its seeds must have been highly valued in ancient Egypt. This is indicated by a bottle of black cumin oil that archaeologists found in the burial chamber of the famous pharaoh Tutankhamun. The Islamic prophet Mohammed also praised black cumin as a true panacea.
Nowadays, there are scientific studies that have examined individual ingredients of black cumin and the oil extracted from it and confirmed its effects. The high content of linoleic acid and other unsaturated fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-9 is outstanding. Researchers are also very interested in the essential oil it contains (especially the antibacterial component thymoquinone), special bitter substances such as nigellin and amino acids.
However, the dosages used in research are often higher than those found in the seeds of the plant. The isolated examination of individual substances also says little about the interaction of different ingredients in black cumin oil. Therefore, studies are no substitute for trying it out on your own body, whether in practical capsule form or as a liquid black cumin oil preparation in a bottle.
