An annual herbaceous plant, Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) is believed to be indigenous to the Mediterranean region but has been cultivated into other parts of the world including Saudi Arabia, Northern Africa and parts of Asia.

Being no more than 3mm in length, Black Seed originates from the common fennel flower plant (Nigella Sativa) of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Nigella Sativa is sometimes mistakenly confused with the fennel herb plant (Foeniculum vulgare).

The plant has finely divided foliage and pale bluish purple or white flowers. The stalk of the plant reaches a height of twelve to eighteen inches as its fruit, the Black Seed, matures.

Nigella Sativa reproduces with itself and forms a fruit capsule which consists of many white trigonal seeds. Once the fruit capsule has matured, it opens up and the seeds contained within are exposed to the air, becoming black in colour (Black Seeds).

Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) was discovered in Tutankhamen's tomb, implying that it played an important role in ancient Egyptian practices. Although its exact role in Egyptian culture is not known, we do know that items entombed with a king were carefully selected to assist him in the afterlife.

The earliest written reference to Black Seed is found in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. Isaiah contrasts the reaping of black cumin with wheat: 'For the black cumin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over the cumin, but the black cumin is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod' (Isaiah 28:25,27 NKJV).

Easton's Bible Dictionary clarifies that the Hebrew word for black cumin, 'ketsah' refers to 'without doubt the Nigella sativa, a small annual of the order Ranunculaceae which grows wild in the Mediterranean countries, and is cultivated in Egypt and Syria for its seed'

In the Greco-Arab/Unani-Tibb system of medicine, which originated from Hippocrates, his contemporary Galen and Ibn Sina, Black Seed has been regarded as a valuable remedy in hepatic and digestive disorders and has been described as a stimulant in a variety of conditions.

Ibn Sina (Avicenna 980-1037), most famous for his volumes called 'The Canon of Medicine' regarded by many as the most famous book in the history of medicine, refers to Black Seed as the seed 'that stimulates the body's energy and helps recovery from fatigue or dispiritedness'

Black Seed is also included in the list of natural drugs of Al-Tibb al-Nabawi, and the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was noted to have said to 'Hold onto the use of the Black Seed for it has a remedy for every illness except death' (Sahih Bukhari).

From a scientific perspective, the reference to Black Seed as 'having a remedy for all illnesses' may be closer to the truth than one might imagine. Recent research has provided evidence which indicates that Black Seed contains an ability to significantly boost the human immune system if taken over time.

Nutritional Values of Blackseed
Monosaccharides (single molecule sugars) in the form of glucose, Rhamnose, Xylose, and Arabinose are found in the Black Seed.

The Black Seed contains a non-starch polysaccharide component which is a useful source of dietary fibre.

It is rich in fatty acids, particularly unsaturated and essential fatty acids.

Fifteen amino acids make up the protein content of the Black Seed, including eight of the nine essential amino acids.

Black Seed contains Arginine which is essential for infant growth.

Black Seed contains carotene, which is converted by the liver into vitamin A, the vitamin known for its anti-cancer activity.

The Black Seed is also a source of calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium.