#BLACK CUMIN SEED SKIN#

In fact, the extract was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, presumably to protect him in the afterlife.īlack cumin was also used as a remedy for skin diseases, dry skin, dandruff, and wounds. The pharoahs' personal doctors are reported to have offered black cumin seed as a digestive aid after large meals. In ancient times, it was a remedy for a variety of health conditions including, colds, infections, headaches, and toothaches. Some components of black cumin seed extract are as follows:īlack cumin seed has been used for centuries to treat respiratory and digestive problems, parasites, and inflammation. However, experts agree that the most important compounds contained in the extract are the fatty acids and nutrients. Rich with compounds such as nigellone and thymoquinone, black cumin seed is thought to contain over 100 ingredients many remain unknown. Temperatures no higher than 140 –176 ☏ (60 –80 ☌) are applied to the seeds to help release the oil and preserve its benefits. Most often, the extract is produced by a process referred to as cold pressing. It is only upon their exposure to air that the seeds become black. The capsule opens upon maturity, revealing lightly colored seeds. At first, the seeds (the fruit of the plant) are held in a capsule in the center of the flower. The stalk of the plant, with its bluish white flower petals, can grow up to 18 inches (46 cm) in height while its fruit matures. The lower leaves are short and supported by slender stems, while the upper leaves generally grow to approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in length.

Playfully referred to as 'Love in the Mist,' the black cumin seed plant has leaves that grow in pairs. Other species, such as Turkish black cumin ( Nigella damascena ), are not used medicinally and one type, Nigella garidella, is even poisonous. The largest producers of black cumin seed are Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

Black cumin seed (also called black seed) should not be confused with the herb, cumin ( Cumunum cyminum, which is found in many grocery stores.Ĭonsidered native to the Mediterranean region, black cumin seed is cultivated in North Africa, Asia, and southeastern Europe. The fruit of the plant, the black seeds, accounts for its name. Black cumin seed ( Nigella sativa ) is an annual herbaceous plant and a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family.