BLACK CUMIN SEEDS , A Cure For All Things

 Only one that can stake a claim as a super food and that is Black cumin or ‘Habbat ul Sawda’ as it is known in Arabic. According to hadith, the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) is believed to have said: “In the black seed is healing for every disease except death.” (Sahih Bukhari). 

This Ancient Remedy 

“Cures All Diseases” 

HIV, AIDS, Diabetes, 

Cancer, Stroke, STDs,

 Arthritis & More …

This Ancient Remedy

"Cures All Diseases" HIV, AIDS, Diabetes, Cancer, Stroke,

STDs, Arthritis & Etcs; More ...

Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the black seed plant (Nigella Sativa) has been used medicinally by people for hundreds of years. In fact the earliest written reference to the black cumin is in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament where Isaiah talks of the harvesting of the black seed. It was also mentioned in the Bible as the curative ‘black seed’ and has been used by Asian herbalists and the Romans for culinary purposes. However it never really held any place of importance until the rise of Islam.

A Cure For All Things

Within Arabo-Islamic culture, the black seed has been prescribed for various ailments including fever, asthma, chronic headaches, diabetes, digestion, back pain, infections and rheumatism. In fact, since its rise in popularity in the Seventh century the black seed has remained a staple of family medicine within the Muslim world. The black seed is believed to have 100 components and is a significant sources of fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

Studies have confirmed numerous pharmacological benefits. Black cumin seeds are also called Nigella sativa seeds. These seeds have anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties. They can be used to regulate the immune system, reduce pain, kill microorganisms, reduce inflammation, inhibit spasmodic activity, and open the tiny air passages in the lungs. Black seed oil protects the liver, the kidneys, and the stomach/ digestive system. It is a powerful antioxidant. [1]

This article will review some of the recent studies that show how black cumin seed oil can benefit your health.

I will be reporting on several recent black cumin seed studies covering other important health topics. I will review studies that investigated the use of black cumin seed oil for helping with obesity, balancing blood chemistry, reducing inflammation, supporting healthy immune system functioning, and alleviating nasal dryness and discomfort.

BLACK CUMIN SEEDS ARE HIGHLY 

RANKED AS A POWERFUL HERBAL 

MEDICINE

Researchers from Saudi Arabia recently reviewed scientific research on the benefits of using black seeds as an herbal medicine. They discussed the miraculous healing power of Nigella sativa and its prominent position among herbal medicines. Its high ranking is based on scientific evidence. Most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are linked to thymoquinone which is the major bioactive component of the essential oil contained in the seeds and in black cumin seed oil. [2]

BLACK SEEDS ARE USEFUL AS AN 

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY 

TREATMENT

Black seeds have been employed for thousands of years as a spice and food preservative.

Black seed oil and seed constituents have shown potential medicinal properties in traditional medicine.

Scientific research provides clear evidence that both the oil and its active ingredients, such as thymoquinone, possess antioxidant effects. This is accomplished by enhancing the oxidant scavenger system, which has a detoxifying effect.

The oil and thymoquinone have potent anti-inflammatory effects on several experimental models of inflammation. These include: encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord after infection) colitis (inflammation of the colon), peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane which lines the inside of the abdomen and all of the internal organs), edema (the swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation), and arthritis. [3]

Black seed oil and certain of its active ingredients showed a beneficial ability to regulate the immune system. It supported T-cell and natural killer cell-mediated immune activity. Most importantly, both black seed oil and its active ingredients expressed antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties toward different microbes and cancers. [4]

Many diseases involve inflammation, for example, cystic fibrosis, allergies and cancer.

The free radicals produced during inflammation can induce gene mutations and modifications of cancer related proteins.

The seeds and the oil have many pharmacological effects including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tumor, analgesic and antipyretic activity.

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of black seeds used with acute inflammation. An animal model was used. They induced a strong inflammatory response and then measured the different effects for the group that were treated with black seed oil and those who were not treated. They concluded that black seeds had therapeutic and antioxidant effects. [5]

BLACK SEEDS ARE USEFUL FOR TREATING 

OBESITY

Obesity is closely associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction.

Thus obesity-mitigation strategies should take into account these secondary pathologies in addition to promoting weight loss. Recent studies indicate that black cumin (Nigella sativa) has cardio-protective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory properties.

Given the growing interest in and the use of functional foods and nutraceuticals, as well as the increase in obesity and chronic diseases worldwide, further research into the therapeutic/preventive effects of black cumin will be beneficial. [6]

Researchers identified obesity as being the most prevalent health problem affecting all age groups. It leads to chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and stroke. Researchers reviewed the abstracts for 33 scientific articles related to obesity, herbal medicine, and traditional medicine. They found that black seeds, green tea, and black Chinese tea had anti-obesity effects. [7]

A study conducted by Iranian researchers examined the effects of long-term Nigella sativa supplementation and the use of aerobic training on the lipid profile and oxygen consumption of sedentary overweight women.

This was a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Twenty sedentary overweight females were divided into two groups and assigned to black seed supplementation or a placebo for the 8 weeks of the study. Both groups participated in aerobic training 3 times per week. Blood lipids and VO2 max were determined before the experiment began and at the end of 8 weeks. VO2 max is a measurement of the maximum amount of oxygen that a person can use when exercising. Higher levels of oxygen consumption are associated with higher levels of physical fitness. The women who took the placebo and who did aerobic training experienced reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and increased VO2 max. The women who used Nigella sativa supplementation and aerobic training experienced reductions in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and body mass index (ratio of fat to muscle). The women lost body fat and gained muscle. Black seed supplementation also increased high density lipoprotein and VO2 max. The researchers concluded that the combination of 8-weeks of aerobic training and Nigella sativa supplementation had a synergistic effect, and the combination of black seed consumption and aerobic training produced the greatest health benefit. [8]

BLACK SEEDS ARE USEFUL FOR NASAL 

DRYNESS AND NASAL DISCOMFORT

Turkish researchers worked with geriatric patients who had nasal dryness and related nasal symptoms.

They compared the effects of using black seed oil in the nasal passages of the nose to the use of a salt water solution.

Researchers found that nasal dryness, obstruction and crusting improved significantly with the use of black seed oil compared to salt water treatment. They noted that there was no significant difference between the effect of black cumin seed oil and salt water on nasal burning and itching. Researchers concluded that black seed oil is a better alternative for treating nasal mucosal symptoms due to aging. [11]

Black cumin seeds have been used in the Middle East for thousands of years, and it is easy to see why the seeds and oil are gaining popularity today in Western countries as well.

How Coca-Cola affects your body when you drink it ...

One can (330ml)of Coke will set your body lack (dehydrating) of another 32 cans(330 x 32 = 10560 ml) of water in your body. 

Are you still drinking coca-cola? welcome   http://theinnozablog.blogspot.sg/search?q=coke



Sugary drinks are considered a major contributor to health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. But have you ever wondered exactly what these beverages do to your body after consumption? One researcher has created an infographic that explains what happens to the body within an hour of drinking a can of Coca-Cola.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around half of the US population drink sugary beverages on any given day, with consumption of these drinks highest among teenagers and young adults.

There are approximately 10 teaspoons of added sugar in a single can of cola. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend consuming no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar daily, meaning drinking just one serving of cola a day could take us well above these guidelines.

As such, it is no surprise that sugary drink consumption is associated with an array of health conditions. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, people who drink 1-2 cans of sugary beverages daily are 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and last month, Medical News Today reported on a study claiming 184,000 global deaths each year are down to sugary drink consumption.

Now, an infographic created by British pharmacist Niraj Naik - based on research by health writer Wade Meredith - shows the damage a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola can do to the body within 1 hour of consumption.

Coca-Cola 'comparable to heroin' in how it stimulates the brain's reward and pleasure centers

According to Naik, the intense sweetness of Coca-Cola as a result of its high sugar content should make us vomit as soon as it enters the body. However, the phosphoric acid in the beverage dulls the sweetness, enabling us to keep the drink down.

Blood sugar levels increase dramatically within 20 minutes of drinking the Cola, explains Naik, causing a burst of insulin. The liver then turns the high amounts of sugar circulating our body into fat.

Within 40 minutes, the body has absorbed all of the caffeine from the Cola, causing a dilation of pupils and an increase in blood pressure. By this point, the adenosine receptors in the brain have been blocked, preventing fatigue.

Five minutes later, production of dopamine has increased - a neurotransmitter that helps control the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. According to the infographic, the way Coca-Cola stimulates these centers is comparable to the effects of heroin, making us want another can.

This infographic reveals what Coca-Cola does to the body within 1 hour of consumption.
Image credit: Niraj Naik/Wade Meredith

1. FIRST 10 MINUTES: 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. (100% of your recommended sugar daily intake.) You don't immediately vomit  from the overwhelming sweetness  because phosphoric acid cuts the flavour allowing  you to keep it down.

2. AFTER 20 MINUTES: Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat. (There's plenty of that at this particular moment.)

3. AFTER 40 MINUTES : Caffeine absorption is complete. Your eyes pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream. The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.

4. AFTER 45 MINUTES : You body ups your dopamine productions stimulating the pleasure centers of your brain. This is physically the same way heroin works, by the way.

5. AFTER 60 MINUTES : The phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc, in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.

6.MORE THAN 60 MINUTES : The caffeine's diuretic properties come into play. (It makes you have to pee.) It is now assured that   you'll evacuate the bonded calcium, magnesium, and zinc that was headed to your bones as well as sodium , electrolyte and water.

7.BEYOND 60 MINUTES EFFECTS : As the rave inside of you dies down  you'll start to have a sugar crash. You may become irritable and/or sluggish. You will also now, literally, pissed away all the water that was in the Coke . But not before infusing it with valuable nutrients your body cold have used for things like even having the ability to hydrate your system or build strong bones and teeth.


An hour after drinking the beverage, a sugar crash will begin, causing irritability and drowsiness. In addition, the water from the Cola will have been cleared from the body via urination, along with nutrients that are important for our health.

According to Naik, the infographic is not only applicable to Coca-Cola, but to all caffeinated fizzy drinks.

"Coke is not just high in high fructose corn syrup, but it is also packed with refined salts and caffeine," writes Naik on his blogThe Renegade Pharmacist. "Regular consumption of these ingredients in the high quantities you find in Coke and other processed foods and drinks, can lead to higher blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity."

It will take around 5-6 hours for the body to achieve a 50% reduction in the amount of caffeine in the bloodstream - known as the "half-life" - and it is likely to take double this amount of time for women on birth control pills. It takes an average of 12 hours for the body to completely remove the caffeine from the bloodstream, though this does depend on individual factors.

"Pregnancy, liver damage and other drugs can also slow the rate at which caffeine is eliminated from the body," Dr. Farrimond told The Daily Mail. "Importantly, children and teenagers have a significantly longer half-life, meaning caffeine will remain in their bloodstream for longer and at higher levels than for adults. This is why caffeinated drinks can cause behavioral problems and anxiety issues in children."

Caffeine withdrawal may occur 12-24 hours after consumption

The infographic claims that individuals who consume energy drinks regularly may experience caffeine withdrawal in the 12-24 hours after consumption, which includes symptoms such as headache, irritability and constipation.

Dr. Farrimond explained that withdrawal symptoms can last up to 9 days and the severity depends on the amount of caffeine consumed.

For regular energy drink consumers, it takes around 7-12 days for the body to adapt to a regular intake of caffeine, according to the infographic. An individual is unlikely to experience a boost from the beverages once their body gets used to them.

While the information provided in this infographic is not new, it does help shed light on why so many studies have cited the health implications of energy drinks.

Still, energy drink consumption is rising, In the US, sales of the beverages increased by 60% between 2008 and 2012.

Energy drinks are particularly popular with children and adolescents. Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which found that 73% of children consume caffeine on a daily basis - much of which is coming from energy drinks and coffee.

ACUPUNCTURE: ANCIENT THERAPEUTICS FOR STROKE

In China, there is less incidence of stroke than in Western countries, and greater recovery of function after a stroke. This is not because Chinese people are physically different from Americans, but because of differences in diet, lifestyle, and post-stroke treatment.

Chinese medicine theory recognizes four main pathological factors (agents) of stroke: Wind, Fire, Phlegm, and Stasis. There are also considered to be four leading contributing factors to stroke, related to lifestyle: emotional stress, overwork, poor diet, and excessive sexual activity.

Because there are a number of contributing factors to stroke, because these contributing factors tend to play out over a long period of time, and because the stroke itself can manifest in a number of ways, it can be difficult to assess the exact cause of a stroke. But remember that strokes don’t "just happen" for "no reason." Any of the following lifestyle factors, experienced over a period of years, could eventually result in a stroke: working long hours under stressful conditions without adequate rest; physical overwork, including excessive, strenuous sports activities; emotional strain; irregular eating habits; excessive consumption of fats, dairy products, greasy or fried foods, sugar, or alcohol; excessive sexual activity (what constitutes "excessive" sexual activity depends on the age and general physical condition of the individual).

The internal organs most likely to be weakened by these factors are the Kidney and the Spleen, causing deficiencies of Chi, Blood, and Yin. Deficiencies of Chi, Blood, or Yin permit the body to be overwhelmed by the pathological factors of Wind, Phlegm, Fire, and Stasis, resulting in such stroke-related patterns as Liver Yang Rising, Stasis of Chi or Blood, Phlegm combining with Fire, Liver Wind, or Wind in the Meridians.

Preventing Strokes.Obviously, the most effective way to prevent a stroke from occurring is to modify the lifestyle factors that lead to stroke. Physical work and exercise should be appropriate to a person’s age and physical condition, and should be accompanied by adequate rest. The same advice goes for sexual activity. It is important for everyone to learn to manage stress, especially people with a history of cardio-vascular problems. Relaxation, meditation, and gentle exercise like yoga or Tai Chi are proven ways of lowering blood pressure and stress-related chemicals in the body. Perhaps the most important factor is diet. The traditional Chinese diet is high in fiber and low in fat, sugar, and dairy products. It is seen over and over again around the world that populations who eat this type of diet have dramatically lower incidence of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes than populations who eat the typical modern Western diet.

A useful Chinese herb that can help to prevent stroke is ginkgo biloba (bai guo ye). This herb has become phenomenally popular in Europe, with twenty million people taking it regularly. Harvard University’s Dr. Elias Corey published his research on ginkgo in 1988 which shows that ginkgo stimulates cerebral circulation (blood flow in the brain). This can not only improve mental functioning, but can prevent blood cells from forming blood clots in the brain. Research indicates that ginkgo improves blood circulation, strengthens mental capacity, lowers plasma cholesterol concentrations, benefits Alzheimer’s patients, and can prevent stroke and heart attack. In order to achieve maximum effect, ginkgo should be taken in a therapeutic dose. Because there are no universal pharmacological standards applied to herbal preparations, concentrations of ginkgo may vary from company to company, so it is hard to say what a therapeutic dose is, but 1500 mgm a day would be reasonable for most individuals.

Treating Strokes.Chinese medicine distinguishes two general types of stroke: the most severe type attacks the internal organs as well as the energy pathways (meridians); the milder type attacks only the meridians. In treating the severe type, acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas are combined with Western drugs to relax spasm, subdue Wind, open the orifices, resolve Phlegm, and lower blood pressure. Patients with the milder type of stroke are treated primarily with acupuncture to open the meridians and promote Chi and Blood flow.

Acupuncture is the most popular treatment modality for stroke patients in China, used effectively on 85% of the stroke patients there. When Margaret Naeser, a neurology professor at Boston University School of Medicine, went to China in the 1980s, she was surprised to see that acupuncture treatments were considered to be the most important part of stroke rehabilitation at Chinese hospitals. She was even more impressed when she saw how effective such treatment was, and began to study acupuncture scientifically when she returned home. Since then, scientific evidence has been accumulating in the West. A controlled study conducted at the Lund University Hospital in Sweden provided several interesting findings. It found that a group of 38 patients who received acupuncture treatments twice a week for ten weeks reported significant improvements in the areas of walking, balance, emotions, quality of life, ease of daily activity, and mobility in comparison with a control group of 40 patients who did not receive acupuncture treatments. The Acupuncture Group spent fewer days in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities than the Non-Acupuncture Group, with an average savings of $26,000 per patient. In the follow-up period, it was found that one year after suffering their stroke and receiving treatment, 89% of the patients in the Acupuncture Group were living at home vs. 66% of the patients in the Non-Acupuncture Group.

Scientific studies indicate that acupuncture can: facilitate nerve regeneration; decrease blood viscosity; prevent the aggregation of blood cells, dilate blood vessels by triggering the release of hormones; and help surviving nerve cells find new pathways, effectively by-passing damaged parts of the brain. Acupuncture has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of headache, dizziness and hypertension in stroke patients.

Every day, 1200 Americans suffer a stroke, and four hundred of them become permanently disabled. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is no wonder that being disabled by a stroke is the chief fear of so many elderly Americans. According to a report from the National Institutes of Health in 1992, more than two million Americans suffer long-term disabilities from stroke, at a cost to our society of $25 billion each year.

How to identify symptoms of a stroke

Would you know what to do if your friend collapses shortly after complaining of dizziness or a severe headache? 

When someone suffers from a stroke, time is of the essence. For each minute the stroke goes untreated, the person is at a higher risk of suffering from brain damage. It is essential to recognise the symptoms of a stroke and to ensure that the person seeks medical attention immediately. 

The symptoms of a stroke are diverse. A simple way you can recognise these symptoms and to know how to react is through the acronym FAST. 

If you observe:

- Facial drooping or paralysis,

- Arm weakness or

- Slurred speech,

- Time to call an ambulance at 995 

It is also important to note the time of the first symptom as it can affect treatment decisions. 

Knowing these symptoms and getting the person medical attention immediately is essential and it can help to save a life.

What is a brain aneurysm?

When an artery supplying blood to the brain becomes weak, the blood vessel will swell and form an aneurysm. Brain aneurysms are typically found in the blood vessels located at the base of the brain known as the circle of Willis. If ruptured, the brain aneurysm may cause stroke, brain damage and even death. A ruptured aneurysm is fatal nearly 40 per cent of the time.

Causes

A person may develop aneurysms as they become older because their arteries may harden up. Although it is uncertain to tell if a person has a brain aneurysm, there are some factors that may increases the risks of having an aneurysm or rupturing it. On occasion, brain aneurysm may be heredity and as such, people whose family members have aneurysms may develop it. Women are also more likely to develop aneurysms compared to men, with the ratio being 3:2.

People with existing high blood pressure may also have a likelihood of having aneurysm. In addition, smoking may also greatly increase the chances of an aneurysm rupture.

Brain aneurysms are more likely to develop between the ages of 35 to 60 and people over 50 have a high chance of getting a hemorrhagic stroke when an aneurysm ruptures.

Symptoms

Some brain aneurysms may not have symptoms and can go unnoticed for years. Certain warning signs include constant severe headaches, blurry vision and neck pains. Other symptoms might include sensitivity to light, fainting, seizures and pain in the surrounding areas of the eye.

Treatment

Surgery will have to be done in order to repair the blood vessel damaged by the aneurysms. The two treatment options are clipping and coiling.

For clipping, the surgeon places a clip across the aneurysm to prevent blood from entering the aneurysm and making it bigger.

Similarly, coiling is done by threading a tube through the arteries, filling the aneurysm with coils made from wire or latex to prevent blood from entering the aneurysm.

It is important to detect the symptoms of an aneurysm before it is too late as if left untreated, the aneurysm can kill. Fifty per cent of people who have an untreated brain aneurysm die within a month.

Trend in Stroke In Singapore

There are two types of stroke: ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Ischaemic stroke is more common (about 80% of all strokes in Singapore) and occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or breaks, causing bleeding in or around the brain.

Overall, the crude incidence rates have remained stable while the age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) decreased then stabilised. But the age-specific rates among males in age group 40-44 and 45-49 increased from 2005 to 2013. The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) has declined from 2005 to 2013 with small variations in between. The ratio of stroke episodes among men as compared to women was approximately 1.36:1 from 2005 to 2013. The ASMR was higher among males than females and has declined significantly from 2005 to 2013 in both genders. Malays had the highest ASIR for stroke from 2005 onwards, followed by Indians and Chinese, whose rates were similar. The ASIR for Chinese has fallen significantly over the 9-year period; the ASIR for Indians has also fallen but not significantly, while the ASIR for Malays has been increasing significantly. The crude mortality rates (CMRs) among the various ethnicities have remained stable while there was a decrease in ASMR among the Malays after 2005 and also among Chinese. The ASIRs of ischaemic stroke have fallen over the 9-year period and those for haemorrhagic stroke have remained stable . The overall crude 30-day case-fatality rates (CFR) have remained stable, ranging from 8.4% to 10.4% in 2005 - 2013. Similar to CMRs, the CFR for females was greater than that for males. Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia were the two most common risk factors among the stroke patients. The proportion of first-ever stroke patients with hyperlipidaemia has increased over time while that of other risk factors has remained stable. The percentage of ischaemic stroke patients taking anticoagulants upon arrival and upon discharge had increased between 2009 and 2012 while the percentage of ischaemic stroke patients given antiplatelets upon arrival had increased by 12.0%from 2009 to 2012. The percentage of ischaemic stroke patients given antiplatelets during hospitalisation has exceeded 90% since 2009). The two most common complications seen in stroke cases included urinary tract infections (UTI) and pneumonia. The percentage of stroke patients with no common complications has remained above 80% since 2005.

Click Here for Tables and Charts on Trends In Stroke In Singapore

https://www.nrdo.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider3/default-document-library/trends_in_stroke_in_singapore_2005-2013_web.pdf?sfvrsn=0