Black Seed Oil's Astonishing Number of Health Benefits!

by Louise Mclean, LCCH.

I have heard such amazing things about Black Seed Oil, that I really wanted to write about its astonishing number of uses!  I once read that it will cure everything except death and is referred to as 'the seed of blessing'!  

I have not tried it yet, unlike everything else on my blog, but have just ordered it and will update this article as soon as I start using it and feeling the reported benefits!  (**See end).  I have ordered the Organic Black Seed Oil made by Kiki Health (pictured), a brand which I use and which I recommend.  It was available on Amazon and due today, so I am quite excited!

Black Seed Oil has been used in the Middle East for centuries and is native to Eastern Europe, Western Asia and the Mediterranean region.  It is a supplement extracted from Nigella Sativa seeds, also known as black cumin.  It originates as a flowering shrub that produces fruits which contain tiny black seeds that are squeezed to extract the oil. The oil contains the phytochemical Thymoquinone and this has antioxidant properties that help rid the body of harmful free radicals.

This oil is a natural remedy that will boost your overall health and well being. It is a powerful elixir and is full of nutrients and bioactive compounds that will benefit your body from head to toe. It contains essential fatty acids omega 3, 6 and 9, vitamins A, C and several B vitamins, as well as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium.

One of the top reasons to take it is that it strengthens your immune system and keeps your body's natural defences strong, stimulating the production of T-cells and natural killer cells, which fight infection and disease. It will cure sore throats in a natural way as well as inflamed tonsils by mixing honey and black seed oil in water and gargling twice a day as well as rubbing the warm oil on chest and throat.

It reportedly lowers blood sugar, so may help benefit people with type 2 diabetes and there have been clinical trials on this.  It treats arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as other inflammatory conditions such as heart disease.  It reportedly is extremely good for those with any cancerous state, including lymphoma and leukemia.

Black seed oil is an effective treatment for seizures that cause epilepsy because it is anti-convulsant.

It is also useful for asthma, improving lung function and allergies. For asthma, you can mix ten drops in two litres of boiling water in a large bowl and put a towel over your head to inhale the mixture.

It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihistaminic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, analgesic and is an immune modulator.  In addition when applied directly to the skin mixed with either olive oil or coconut oil, it improves acne and also helps psoriasis and eczema.  It apparently assists weight loss! 

Data supports the benefits of using powdered Nigella sativa to improve Hashimoto's thyroiditis and it also is good for the health of your heart by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as lowering blood pressure.

Digestive issues like bloating, constipation, acid reflux or heartburn have also responded to black seed oil, keeping the gut healthy with its digestive supporting properties. It reduces inflammation in the gut if you have inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, stimulating bile flow and enzyme secretion, thereby aiding nutrient absorption. It has a laxative effect on constipation, promoting regular bowel movements and eradicating harmful gut bacteria like H. pylori which can cause ulcers and gastritis.

In addition, it supports brain health as it contains neuroprotective compounds and the thymoquinone reduces inflammation in the brain linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.  It even reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety!

Black seed oil has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and will quell the flames of inflammation in your body.  This is because of the thymoquinone which inhibits pro-inflammatory enzymes and cytokines like COX-2, 5-LOX, TNF-alpha and IL-6.

As if all this isn't enough, one study showed that men with infertility who took it for 2 months had significant improvements in their sperm count, motility and morphology compared to a placebo group and found that testosterone levels were increased.

For ladies, black seed oil significantly improves menstrual cramps and pain, as well as regulating their cycle, due to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects. It also fights infections like Candida as it is a potent antimicrobial agent, fighting off a wide range of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

People say that black seed oil improves the health of their skin and aids hair growth and it is helpful for those with dry skin because of the nourishing vitamins A, B and EFA. It can help remove surgical scars naturally and can be applied directly on them (and presumably stretch marks after pregnancy?) For people with sensitive skin you can dilute it with olive oil or coconut oil before applying it to your skin and hair.

Another fun fact is black seed oil is very effective for insect bites If you have been bitten by a mosquito or a bee, you can apply the oil on it for immediate effect.

It will relieve earache and toothache. For earache, mix a teaspoon of olive oil with a teaspoon of black seed oil, warm the mixture and drip 4 or 5 drops into the affected ear with a dropper. Then put a scarf over your head and ear. For toothache, soak a cotton wool ball into the oil and press over the affected tooth.

The recommended dosage of the oil is 1 to 5 grams by mouth per day for 4-12 weeks and for the powder 1 to 2 grams by mouth daily for 8 to 12 weeks. You can mix the oil with fruit juice or mix into food.  It can be applied topically as an oil to your chest and throat if you feel a cold or flu coming on. You can also mix the oil with a teaspoon of honey to eat.

Further uses are as follows:  Helps prevent gallstones, hemorrhoids, headache and migraine, anemia, stimulates urine production and treats bladder and prostate problems, bronchitis, insomnia, improves eye vision, treats Hepatitis C virus, soothes burns.

As usual, care must be taken if you are taking prescription medicines as they may not interact well.  Pregnant women should not consume black seed oil as it can slow down or stop uterus contraction in labour.  Patients with blood disorders should avoid using this oil as it can result in blood clot formation, (although you can take Serrapeptase daily to dissolve blood clots).  Those with low blood pressure should be careful as it could lower blood pressure too much.  People with diabetes should not consume too much black seed oil as it can lower sugar levels too far.  Do not use before or after surgery.  

The above information was taken from articles about black seed oil on Yandex.com, a search engine that does not screen out natural health websites, unlike others!

** I started taking it on 2nd March and initially took one teaspoon per day straight off the spoon with nothing mixed.  It has a funny taste, slightly bitter and leaves the tongue feeling sweet.  On 4th March I started taking one teaspoon morning and night, which I think was a bit too much for me and perhaps one teaspoon a day is enough, as it is very powerful.  The first thing I noticed was my lungs felt clearer and my limbs lighter, with more energy. It seems to work as a messenger for all systems of the body simultaneously. I would definitely recommend it.

The Healing Properties of Slippery Elm

 

by Louise Mclean, LCCH.

Slippery Elm's botanical name is Ulmus Rubra and it is taken from the bark or roots of the Elm tree. It is native to the eastern USA and to Ontario, Canada.

It is what is known as a mucilage, which soothes and coats the mucous membranes in the body, absorbing toxins.

It is extremely beneficial to use for sore throats and respiratory problems, especially bronchitis and chest colds, as it loosens up all the mucus. I had a bad chest cold recently, feeling a bit feverish and not getting better until I took a good homeopathic remedy and also some Slippery Elm for a few days. It soothes the coughing as well.

I remember my Mother used to tell me how my Great Aunt Connie loved using herbs and swore by Slippery Elm around a 100 years ago!

It is also well known for massively easing digestive problems, as well as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation.

Slippery Elm is very good for people with any inflammatory urinary problems such as cystitis, as it soothes the lining of the urinary tract. It also acts as a mild diuretic, increasing urine output and eliminating wastes.

It is considered to be anti-inflammatory and a friend has found it extremely useful for stiffness and arthritis.  She says her stiff joints are greatly improved when she takes it, when nothing else works so well for her.

Slippery Elm is good for the skin and is reported to help psoriasis. You can also make a poultice with it to treat wounds, cuts, boils and insect bites.

Slippery Elm tastes a bit like porridge oats, when you mix the powder up with milk, yoghourt or water and eat it.  I add a little honey for flavour.

It is very nutritious and contains calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, Vitamin C, B vitamins and antioxidants.

The indigenous people of North America revered the elm tree and they taught the Europeans how to use the bark for wounds.  They say George Washington's troops survived by eating slippery elm for 12 days during the siege at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania in 1777 and if they had not done so, the outcome of the battle would have been very different.

I buy this one.

https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/slippery-elm-bark

Curcumin the Miracle Supplement & Painkiller

by Louise Mclean

Curcumin is an ingredient found in Turmeric, which has enormous health benefits for the body.  It is possible to buy this ingredient separately as a supplement.  Otherwise you would have to ingest large quantities of turmeric in order to obtain the benefits.

Firstly, it is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant  All pain in the body is caused by inflammation.  In other words, every illness which ends in 'itis', means inflammation.  All of these conditions can be helped by Curcumin.

It is therefore a natural pain killer and I personally use it instead of prescription pain killers, which are mainly opioids, that can be very addictive and cause constipation.  Some of these opioid painkillers actually kill people if taken over a long period of time and there is currently an epidemic of such deaths in western countries.

Curcumin is a micronutrient extracted from the turmeric root.  It targets signalling molecules at the cellular level and is believed to inhibit cancer cells, causing them to die off.

It is has anti aging effects and helps degenerative eye disease, as well as a host of other conditions such as osteoarthritis, heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems, and it is anti-fungal and antibacterial. 

So if you find out you have a fungal infection, such as Candida or if the fungus is in your digestive system, take Curcumin to clear it.

However, it is important to be careful when buying this supplement, that there is a beneficial amount of curcumin in it and it does not contain fillers.  This is because curcumin is rapidly absorbed and excreted, as it does not stay in the body for long.

It is possible to buy Curcumin with Piperine (which is an extract from black pepper).  This improves the bioavailability of Curcumin by 2,000% compared to other brands and is therefore more effective.  To buy this form of Curcumin, I use the one from Regenerative Nutrition.  

You would have to ingest the equivalent of 13.5 grams of turmeric per day to get the same amount in one capsule of the supplement below, as standard turmeric contains only 3% of curcumin in it. 

https://www.regenerativenutrition.com/Organic-Curcumin-with-Piperine

Read more here:  https://www.regenerativenutrition.com/Organic-Curcumin-with-Piperine

The above Curcumin is currently unavailable (January 2024) but it should be possible to buy again, so you should check back.  In the meantime, I have been buying the Life Extension Curcumin, which is also very good but the Regenerative Nutrition one has nothing but the curcumin and piperine in it and no other added ingredients whatsoever, something I love about all their products.