What Is Nigella Sativa? Forms, Nutrients, and Health Effects
Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin or black seeds, is a medicinal herb native to the eastern Mediterranean, northern Africa, southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent۔

While you can use it in cooking, it’s perhaps better known for its centuries-long use in traditional medicine. It’s touted as offering so many health benefits that some consider it a panacea, or universal healer.

For example, it’s said to benefit the immune system, enhance brain function, and protect the body from various chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

This article reviews everything you need to know about Nigella sativa, including its nutrients, its common forms, and whether science backs its purported health benefits.

What is Nigella sativa?
Nigella sativa is a medicinal plant that’s part of the Ranunculaceae family. It’s also referred to as black cumin because its seeds resemble the spice cumin.

While it can be used in the kitchen, Nigella sativa may be better known for the wide range of health benefits it’s believed to provide.
Traditional uses
Nigella sativa has such a wide range of uses that some herbalists refer to it as “the herb from heaven”.

It has a rich history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Tibb. It has been found in Egyptian pharaoh tombs, suggesting that it was used as far back as ancient Egypt.

Experts believe that back then, Nigella sativa’s antibacterial propertiesmay have led to its use as a preservative in the mummification process.

Nowadays, this medicinal herb is used across many Arab nations, Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe to prevent or treat a variety of ailments .

These range from swollen joints to respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Nigella sativa is also said to offer some protection against chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease .