| |  |
Home > Articles on Black (Cumin) Seed > ARTICLE: Black Seed & The Immune System
Black Seed & The Immune SystemThe Black Seed is a plant which has been
used widely as a natural treatment for more
than 2000 years. Modern experiments have
proved that Nigella sativa has a dilating
effect on bronchi, an antimicrobial effect, a
regulating effect on blood pressure and a
secretory effect on the bile. This led us to
think that it could have a stimulating effect on
the immunity.
Laboratory experiments were
carried out on healthy volunteers even though
they had some deficiency in their immunity
as proven by experiments. In the first group
that contained 27 volunteers, they were given
2 grams daily, and the black seed showed a
positive effect on the ratio of Th, Ts. This
ratio improved by 55% for those who were
given the black seed. In the second group
which contained 19 volunteers the ratio
improved by 72%. So, the black seed could
be considered as a natural stimulant of
immunity, and could play a role in the
treatment of cancer, AIDS and other
diseases that are accompanied by immunity
deficiency.
Black Seed has been used in many
countries of the Middle and Far East as a
natural treatment for more than 2000 years.
There are many Traditions that mentioned
this seed since more than 1400 years. The
active ingredient (Nigellone) was not
extracted from the oil of the black seed until
1959. The role of the cummin seed in natural
immunity was not estimated until 1986. This
study was for the authors of this research
and was presented to the fourth International
Conference for Islamic Medicine held in
Karachi in November 1986.
Means and substances:
18 volunteers who looked healthy were
divided into two groups. Group one was
composed of 11 volunteers and they were
given Nigella Sativa, 1 gram, twice a day.
The other group which was composed of 7
volunteers were given charcoal (as a
control). They were both contained in similar
capsules, so the volunteers would not know
which capsule was given to them. The
volunteers contained 11 males and 7
females aged between (12 -50) years, with
an average age of 30. Afterwards a
complete count of the lymphatic cells (B, T)
was done including Ts and Th. After 4 weeks
of taking the capsules, the whole process
was repeated. The activity of the phagocytic
cells was also measured by putting cells
taken from the volunteers together with
carcinogenic cells which were grown inside
the lab in different ratios. The ratio of the
effector to the target was as follows (10:1,
50:1, 100:1).
Results:
In most of the Nigella groups, there was a
certain ratio of enhancement whether in Th
or Ts or the phagocytic cells. At the same
time the enhancement of the immunity
system decreased in a few of them. The final
results showed an improvement in the ratio
of Th:Ts of an average of 72% . It also
showed an improvement of the effect of
phagocytic cells in ratio 187%, 29%, 7% for
the previous ratios of effector to the target.
As for the group that was given charcoal, the
final result was an increase in the ratio of
Th:Ts of 7%.
Discussing the results:
The results proved the positive role of
Nigella Sativa in the enhancement of the
immunity system. This effect was particularly
clear in the ration of Th:Ts, which could not
be found in the control. A remark was
noticed on both chains of study, the
volunteers were not very healthy. Of the
factors that should be taken into
consideration when reviewing the results:
1. The no. of volunteers for the study was
small. A larger number would give more
reliable results.
2. We used one dose of Nigella one gram
twice a day. Larger doses may have a
stronger effect.
3. The volunteers even though they had a
deficiency in their immunity (their ration of
Th:Ts is 1.2, while the normal is 2), they were
still healthy and did not suffer from cancer or
any medical symptoms causing a
disturbance in immunity.
Conclusion:
We proved through this study that taking
Nigella Sativa (Black cummin seed), orally in
a dose of 1 gram twice a day, has an
enhancing effect on the functions of
immunity. This was noticed in the
improvement of the ratio of Th:Ts and in
improving the phagocytic cells. The
importance of these results is due to the
possibility of using the black seed as a
natural enhancement of immunity in the
treatment of cancer, AIDS and other cases
of immunity deficiency.
What was mentioned in the Sunnah about
the value of the Black seed:
It is
known that the immunity system has a direct
and indirect effect on all bodily systems. Any
disturbance in the system affects all the
systems of the body as in AIDS. Also the
soundness of this system and its
enhancement would have a direct or indirect
effect on all the systems of the body. When a
human being is infected by any disease, the
power of the immunity system affects the
cure of this disease whether directly or
indirectly. We proved through this research
that the black seed enhances both
the immunity system of the body and
improves its functions.
By: Dr. Ahmed El Qadi & Dr. Usama Qandil
|
|
|
