Nigella, Gith

Also called Black Cumin, Melanthium
Kalonji (Unani)
Kalajira, Mugrela (Ayurveda)
Zi ra nag po  ཟི་ར་ནག་པོ  (Tibetan)
Nigella glandulifera seed is called Hei Zhong Cao Zi 黑种草子 in TCM

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

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Botanical name:
Nigella sativa, N. damascena, N. glandulifera (syn. Nigella sativa var. hispidula)

Parts used:
Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry, Pungent

Classifications:
2H. CARMINATIVE.    2K. RESOLVENT
3F. LITHONTRIPTIC.    3H. LACTAGOGUE.    3O. MASTICATORIES & STERNUTATORIES    3P. ANTHELMINTIC

Uses:
1. Warms the Lungs, Clears Phlegm:
-clears thick Phlegm from the Lungs: Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh
-a bag of the seeds smelled relieves Catarrh (Dioscorides)

2. Moves Qi, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea (TCM, Ayurveda, West)
-it has been regarded as a Contraceptive (Duke)
-promotes Labor

3. Clears Damp, Promote Urine:
-Edema, Fluid retention from Cold Kidneys
-Urinary infection, Stones (TCM)

4. Promotes Milk

5. Benefits the Brain:
-Tinnitus, Forgetfulness (Uyghur)

6. Resists Poison:
-cures venomous Bites; Dioscorides listed it for Spider Bite.
-specific in Quartan and Quotidian Agues
-Traditionally used for Worms

7. Externally:
-Headache (plaster topically, Dioscorides)
-to dry Catarrh (by Sneezing, or as a Fume)
-topically for Toothache
-Lice and other Parasites
-Skin Spots and Birthmarks (applied with vinegar)
-old swellings and hardness (applied with Vinegar, Dioscorides)
-Warts, applied with old urine after having been cut (Dioscorides)


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DOSE:
1–3 grams in Powder;
2–6 grams in Decoction

CORRECTIVE:
Tragacanth

SUBSTITUTE:
Aniseed

NOTE:
The prophet Muhammad recommended Nigella as a 'cure-all'; it continues to be much used throughout the Muslim world.

Main Combinations:
1. Colic, gastrointestinal spasm and pain, with Cumin, Caraway
2. Diarrhea, Nigella with Madder, Holarrhena
3. Cough with thick phlegm, Nigella with Tylophora, Long Pepper, Adhatoda
4. To promote Urine, with seeds of Parsley, Fennel, Celery, and Licorice root
5. To promote Menstruation, with Fennel seed, Pennyroyal
6. Uterine pain from Blood stagnation, Nigella with Bdellium, Myrrh, Turmeric
7. To promote Labor, Nigella with Madder, Myrrh (as in Powder to Promote Birth)
8. To benefits the Brain and Memory, with Calamus and Frankincense
9. Worms:
i. plaster on the navel of children for Worms (Dioscorides)
ii. Nigella with Wormseed, Cannabis seed, Wormwood, Thyme (as in Electuary Against Worms)
10. Toothache, decocted with Pine wood and vinegar and use as a mouthwash. (Dioscorides)

Major Fomulas:
Syrup of Mugwort (Augustana)
Syrup of Mugwort Lesser (Bononiense)
Electuary of Bayberries (Electuarium de Baccis Lauri)

Cautions:
1. Not used in medicinal doses during Pregnancy
2. Not used in Fever

Main Preparations used:
Seeds prepared (steeped overnight in Vinegar), Distilled Water and Distilled Oil of the Seeds

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History

'According to Birdwood, it is the Black Cummin of the Bible, the Melanthion of Hippocrates and Dioscorides, and the Gith of Pliny. Ainslie mentions its use as a carminative, also as an external application mixed with sesamum oil in skin eruptions; as a seasoning for food, and as a protection for linen against insects. Forskahl, in his Medicina Kaharina, says that it is a native of Egypt, where it is called Hab-es Souda. Roxburgh believes it to be a native of Hindostan. Anyhow, it must have been long known in India, as it has a Sanskrit name, Krishna jiraka. It is said to be cultivated in some parts of Gnzerat; but I have been unable to substantiate this statement. Nigella seed is extensively used as a spice and as a medicine. The Hakeems describe it as heating, attenuant, suppurative, detergent and diuretic, and consider that it increases the menstrual flow and

the secretion of milk; also that it stimulates uterine action. They give it, too, as a stimulant in a variety of disorders which are ascribed to cold humors, and credit it with anthelmintic properties, It is sprinkled over the surface of the bread made by Mahometan bakers along with Sesamum seed. M. Canolle has recently published the results of clinical investigations undertaken in the hospital at Karikol with black cummin seed. He has observed that after doses of 10 to 40 grams of the powdered seed the temperature of the body is raised, the pulse accelerated, and all the secretions stimulated, especially those of the kidneys and skin; in doses of 10 to 20 grams they possess a well marked emmenagogue action in dysmenorrhcea. (Journal de Medecine, 1883). (Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India, Dymock, 1885)