Black Cumin, a Blessing of God

Kalonji, Black Seeds or Nigella have been traditionally used for the natural treatment of many skin and hair disorders like hair loss, premature hair graying, dandruff, leprosy and vitiligo.

Name of kalonji in Different languages
Scientific name	Nigella Sativa
English	Black cumin, fennel flower, nutmeg flower, Roman corriander, Black Caraway
Arabic	Habbat albarakah ("seed of blessing"), Habbah sauda,
Persian	Siyah Daneh, Shunez
Urdu	Kalonji, Kalwanji
Bengali	Kalo jira
Hindi	Kalunji, Kalonji
Sanskrit	Kalajaji ,krishnajira
Tamil	Karun Jeeragum
Marathi	kalonji
Russian	Chernushka Singhalese Kaluduru
German	Zwiebelsame, Nigella
Latin	Nigella
Indonessian	Jintan hitam
Malay	Jintan hitam
Sinhala	Kaladuru or Kalu duru
Talugu	Nalla jilakarra

Black Seed/Nigella

Black seed or kalonji is a traditional herbal remedy for hair loss, dandruff and premature graying of hair. It is also good in many skin disorders.
The black seed also known by different names like Nigella, love-in-a-mist, fennel flower and nutmeg flower refers to an annual flowering plant with peculiar deep black seeds. The flowers are delicate, and usually colored pale blue and white, with 5-10 petals. The seeds are small with sharp edges and a deep black colour. These have a some how pungent smell and a bitter spicy taste. Sometimes they are confused with "onion" seeds or black cumin or caraway.
The black seed or kalonji as it is invariably called in most parts of the world due to large South Asian immigrants, is believed to be a native Mediterranean plant. Its main application area is Turkey, Lebanon and Iran from where its usage has spread to Pakistan, India and Bangeladesh. Now a days, it is cultivated all the way from Egypt to India and where as it is wildly grown too. It is an important part of Indian and bangali cuisine where it is used particularly for vegetarian dishes and chatneys. It is a vital ingredient of all types of Indian pickles.

Historical Uses

• Cultivation of black seed has been traced back more than 3,000 years to the kingdom of the Assyrians and ancient Egyptians. A bottle of black cumin oil was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, perhaps to protect the ruler in the afterlife.
  
• Black seed was a vital ingredient in many Egyptian dishes. Physicians of the pharaohs used the seeds as a digestive aid after opulent feasts and as a remedy for colds, headaches, toothaches, infections, inflammatory disorders and allergies.
• Black seed oil has been a beauty secret of women since ancient times. Queen Nefertiti, praised for her exquisite complexion, was an avid user of black seed oil.
• Pliny the Elder crushed black seeds, mixed them with vinegar and honey, and applied the paste to snake bites and scorpion stings.
  From Kalonji- By Dr M. Laiq Ali Khan
• Ibn Sina (Avesena-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, east or west, refers to black seed as the seed that stimulates the body's energy and helps recovery from fatigue or dispiritedness.

Medicinal Uses of Black Seeds or kalonji

As mentioned the minute seeds of kalonji have been used for medicinal uses for a vey long period. It has been invariably used in Asia and Africa for the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases as well as to promote general well being.
Traditionally it has been used to treat ailments including bronchial asthma and bronchitis, rheumatism and related inflammatory diseases. It has been a valuable natural remedy for conditions related with digestive system and respiratory system. It is also well known to boost immune system and to increase milk production in nursing women. Additionally it has a great role in the treatment of allergic disorders like asthma, allergic sinusitis. At the same time it is also a great source of natural medicine for many hair and skin disorders.

Modern Research on Black Seeds

In 1959, two egyptian researchers isolated the active principle nigellone was isolated from Black Seed's essential oil. Since then numerous scientific studies are carried out to understand the composition and health benefits of these minute grains. Recent Scientific studies have shown that;

• Black Seed is a valuable source of protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, C and niacin as well as minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc.
  From Phytochemicals of Nigella sativa seeds. Food Chemistry
  
• Black seed proves to have an ant histamine, ant-oxidant, anti-biotic, anti-mycotic and broncho-dilating effect.
  Study of Black seed oil on humans, American Scientists.

Kalonji (Black Seed) for Skin & Hair Disorders

Although black seeds are today used throughout the world, its use as a medicine is more prominent in traditional Islamic as well as Ayurvedic medicines. Beside its many uses kalonji has direct effect on skin and hair and have been used both topically and orally for many skin problems.

Hair Loss Treatments with Kalonji

Black seed or kalonji has been traditionally and successfully used in the Middle and Far East countries for centuries to treat many systemic ailments as well as different skin and hair disorders, hair loss being one of them. It is believed to promote healthy hair growth and stop hair fall. A regular use of black seed oil is known to strengthen and thicken hair. There are multiple ways to use kalonji/nigella for hair loss.

Massage Kalonji Oil

You can easily get kalonji oil from any herbal store or many times from regular grocery shops. A direct application of black seed oil over the scalp and hair is believed to stop hair loss over a month or so. All you need is to massage the oil thoroughly into hair at least once a week. Let the oil work for one to two hours before shampooing. A good thing about black seed oil is that unlike common hair oils (like mustard oil, coconut oil, olive oil)it makes your less oily, however the bad thing is its pungent peculiar smell that make it difficult to use.

Take Kalonji Orally

A well documented way is to take a pinch of nigella seeds with a glass of water. The best way to take this is early morning empty stomach about fifteen minutes before break fast. This remedy is known to regulate digestive system and cure large number of gastric and other systemic disorders. Beside organic problems it also effects skin and hair. When taken for long, this simple remdy is believed to arrest hair loss and promote new hair growth even in elderly patients. This also makes your hair stonder, thicker and easily manageable. However the remedy requires to be continued for a long time (for 1-2 years) before you get any significant result.

Kalonji oil and Lemon

Another home remedy for hair loss is to use balck seed oil after the application of lemon juice. This is well documented remdy and it has its origin probably from Ayurvedic medicine. The proceedure is to first scrub the scalp thoroughly with lemon and leave it for 15 minutes. Now shampoo and dry. Afterwards apply kalonji oil to whole scalp. This treatment requires to be continued for at least 6 weeks.

Black Seed Powder

Still another way is to powder the kalonji seeds, mix this powder with water and apply this over the bald areas. This is known to promote hair growth and halt hair loss.

Take Black Seed Oil Orally

It has the same effect as that of taking kalonji seeds orally. The usual dosage is half to one tea spoon daily.