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Black Cumin Seed Oil "Cures Everything But Death" - Its Amazing Power

「死以外の全てを治す」ブラッククミンシードオイル 脅威の力

oil stories — black cumin

There is an oil made from black seeds that rarely makes it to market: black cumin seed oil. It's beneficial for both scalp and skin, and it's one of the ingredients treasured in Nagaraaj's oils.

"A cure for everything but death"

This might sound exaggerated, but these aren't our words.

Islamic tradition records it as follows:

"This black seed contains
a cure for every illness,
except death."

These words date back to the 7th century. For over a millennium since, this seed has been passed down in Middle Eastern households, along with this verse.

When a plant is given such a grand name, it's usually not because it "worked so well," but rather because it has been a constant presence in people's lives. It's not something special, but something found in every home. It's for such things that people want to bestow grand names.


Actually, black cumin seed is not cumin.

Its scientific name is Nigella sativa, an annual plant of the Ranunculaceae family.

The cumin used in cooking belongs to the Apiaceae family, so they are completely different. It's black, spicy, and similar in size — for these reasons alone, it came to be called "black cumin."

Those black specks sprinkled on naan bread or Turkish bread? Those are these seeds.

Black cumin seed oil exists as an edible oil and cosmetic ingredient, but it's rarely found as a standalone oil in stores, making it an oil you don't often come across. Because it's an oil that's difficult to obtain, even when we introduced it into Nagaraaj's oils, we always struggled with the procurement channels for such rare oils.

Lighter than expected in the hand

Black cumin oil, when seen in person, is a clear, slightly amber-colored oil.

  • Unsaturated fatty acidsapprox. 85% of total
  • of which linoleic acidapprox. 58%
  • oleic acidapprox. 24%

Whether an oil feels heavy or light on the skin is largely determined by this composition.

Oils with high oleic acid content are viscous and tend to stay on the skin. Oils with high linoleic acid content are light and absorb quickly.

It also contains a high amount of γ-tocopherol, a component that plant oils possess to maintain their quality.

When using black cumin on the skin, I believe it's an oil that those who are "not fond of heavy oils" should try. If you drink edible black cumin oil, it has a pungent taste followed by bitterness, making it very difficult to drink. Even if it's said to be good for the body, it's hard to incorporate into one's diet. However, as the saying goes, "good medicine tastes bitter," and black cumin is one such example.

Ayurveda described this seed as "sharp"

Ayurveda interprets ingredients not by "what they are good for," but by "what properties they possess." Do they warm or cool? Are they heavy or light?

Ancient texts describe black cumin as follows:

  • TastePungent and bitter
  • NatureWarming
  • QualitiesLight, dry, sharp

This "sharp" (tikshna) doesn't refer to a blade. It means penetrating deeply and passing through narrow passages.

The body has many narrow pathways, and if they become blocked, necessary things can't reach their destination, and unnecessary things accumulate. Ingredients with a sharp nature have been believed to target these blockages.

When you chew it, you get that sharp, piercing sensation. It's astonishing to think that ancient people recorded that as its property, showing their keen observational skills.

For both dry and heavy scalps

In Ayurveda, scalp conditions are largely viewed from two perspectives.

One is dryness. It's flaky, powdery, and the hair is dry and spreads out.

The other is heaviness and stagnation. It's greasy, feels stuck, and the scalp is difficult to move.

Normally, ingredients for these two conditions are different. It would be a natural idea to separate them, using moisturizing oils for a dry scalp and refreshing ones for a greasy scalp.

Black cumin, however, has been considered to have properties that address both. Its warmth counteracts the coldness of dryness, and its lightness and sharpness address the stagnation of heaviness.

One ingredient acting on opposing conditions is rare. This is probably why this seed has been used for so long across such a wide region.


The scalp is skin. It is seamlessly connected to the face.

However, the conditions are quite different. It has the most sebaceous glands in the body, is covered by hair, and receives little air or light. It's a place prone to dampness.

Therefore, if you apply a heavy oil liberally, it's hard to wash out. A light oil is more suitable due to the conditions of this area.

And Ayurveda views hair this way:

Hair is a manifestation
of the body's internal state.

Therefore, changes in hair are not seen as just a hair problem. They are interpreted as the condition of the scalp, which is the soil.

It is from this perspective that black cumin has been treated as a "scalp ingredient" rather than a "hair ingredient." It has long been valued as an oil that keeps the scalp healthy and gives hair strength and body.

How to use according to body type

Vata

Dry, flaky, brittle, cold. – The warming property addresses these. Traditionally, this body type is considered the most compatible.

Kapha

Greasy, heavy, feeling stuck. – Lightness and sharpness address these. Easy to use for those who dislike heavy oils.

Pitta

Accumulated heat, prone to redness. – Since it is a warming oil, use sparingly. A small amount, with intervals in between. Not overusing it is the way to deal with this body type.

The true nature of that scent

Spicy, slightly bitter, and a bit unique.

It primarily comes from a component called thymoquinone, which makes up about 20% of the essential oil. It's a scent that could be described as the very character of this seed.

Honestly, I think people either love it or hate it. At Nagaraaj, we combine it with other ingredients to ensure this scent doesn't overpower.

About Nagaraaj Oils

Black cumin (Nigella sativa seed oil) is formulated into several Nagaraaj oils. As an ingredient to moisturize the scalp, and also as part of the oils used on the skin.

For scalp use, it is included in Scalp Oil Awaken Your Roots.

Simply apply it and leave it on. No need to rinse. As it's a light oil, it won't feel heavy even if applied overnight.