NIGELLA SATIVA TREATS COLDS AND THE FLU

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Introduction

National Institute of Health declared that every year almost 1 billion Americans suffering from cold and among them almost 5 to 20 percent US population acquire the flu symptoms.  [1]

Nigella sativa or black seed, which is traditionally considered as a natural remedial for all the diseases except death has preventive and curative effect against cold and flu.

There is evidential research backing the mechanism of action of Nigella sativa against cold and flu. In this article, we provide all the research evidence, which explain how Nigella sativa can treat your cold and flu effectively.

General discussion of cold and flu

Both cold and flu are viral infections and have similar symptoms, but flu is more severe than cold. Because untreated conditions lead to pneumonia and may require hospitalization. [2]

The common symptoms associated with cold and flu are coughing, sneezing, body ache, feverish and general malaise.

Initially, runny nose, sore throat, chest congestion and cough are an indication of the cold and flu infection. [3] Poor immunity can be a cause of frequent cold and flu attack. Therefore, immunity boosting is one of the natural ways to prevent cold and flu attack.  [4]

How is Nigella sativa effective to treat cold and flu?
Nigella sativa prevent congestion

In cold and flu condition, the trachea is contracted due to upper respiratory tract infection induces increase secretion of leukotriene. Leukotriene is an inflammatory mediator and causes inflammation and restrict the movement of the cilia present in the tracheal tissue. The resultant of this leads to accumulation of the mucus in the upper respiratory tract, which leads to congestion,  sore throat etc.

Congestion in the chest provides heaviness and often extend to the nasal cavity and makes very difficult to breath is a common problem associated with cold and flu symptoms. Because cold and flu symptoms are associated with infection develops in the upper respiratory tract, which causes congestion in the chest and nasal cavity. [5]

A research conducted by Wienkotter et al. showed that Nigella sativa and its active ingredient thymoquinone effective to clear congestion associated with the upper respiratory tract. [6] Because the bioactive phytochemicals like Nigellone, thymoquinone present in  Nigella sativa able to reduce the tracheal contraction by inhibiting the secretion of leukotriene.  In addition, nigellone has an antispasmodic effect and promotes the ciliary movement to clear accumulated mucous.

Nigella sativa acts as an expectorant

Nigella sativa also has a tracheal relaxing effect, which assists to expel out the accumulated mucus from the upper respiratory tract. [6]

Nigella sativa can dilate the respiratory tract

Cold and flu condition is a viral infection, which often leads to inflammation of the respiratory tract. Depending on the severity, pulmonary inflammation causes constriction and breathing difficulty occurs.   Anti-inflammatory effect of Nigella sativa

reduces pulmonary constriction and dilate the respiratory tract and the risk of breathing difficulty is reduced.  Research evidence showed that broncho-dilatory effect of theophylline present in Nigella sativa is started within 30 minutes of the administration. [6]

Nigella sativa can prevent cold and flu-related severity

In severe condition, pneumonia is common in flu infection. Pneumococcal infection often damage lung tissue and chronic inflammation can cause an asthmatic attack. A research study showed that pre-treatment with Nigella sativa provide beneficial effect against lung injury, as it inhibits pulmonary inflammation. [6]

Nigella sativa Improves Overall Immunity

As we already discussed that poor immunity power of an individual often causes frequent cold and flu infection, as it is a contagious condition. White blood cells are the natural protector of the body. Thymoquinone is one of the primary phytochemical of  Nigella sativa, which can boost the immunity by accelerating the number of white blood cells.[7] 

Nigella sativa treat the symptoms of the Flu

Cold and flu symptoms like sneezing, feeling of sickness, red eyes, burning sensation and watering from the eyes and nose can be controlled by oil extracted from Nigella sativa. [8]

Cold and flu infection is common in children and they often have rhinitis symptoms. A research result reported that inhalation of Nigella sativa oil provides 80 percent relieve from the rhinitis symptoms in children. [9]

Direction to get the effective result

Dosing

Appropriate dosing is important to get effective result. At the starting of the therapy, take half teaspoonful of Nigella sativa oil once per day for two to seven days. Then take half teaspoonful of Nigella sativa oil twice per day for another two to seven days. Thus,  gradually increase the dose up to three teaspoons per day.

The gradual escalation of the dose assist to body become habituated with the increasing amount of Nigella sativa oil and does not cause any unexpected reaction. You should take experts' advice for dosing of the infants and children below 12 years.  [10]

Immunity improvement
Ingredient:  Nigella sativa oil and honey.
Direction: Take one teaspoon of  Nigella sativa oil and mix it with few drops of honey and lick the preparation several times a day. You will get the best result as early as you start this regimen after arising from the first sign of cold or flu. [11]

Chest congestion treatment
Topically apply Nigella sativa oil on the chest and back. [10]

Both chest and nasal congestion treatment
Take a bowl of boiling water and add two to four drops of Nigella sativa. Then place the bowl on a table. You sit properly in front of the bowl, bend and cover your head with a towel. Now inhale the vapor. Repeat it twice a day.  [10]

Nasal congestion treatment
Directly put the Nigella sativa oil drop in each nostril. Repeat this regimen thrice a day and continue this for 6 weeks. However, the symptom start gets improve within first fifteen days. [12]

Dry cough treatment
Add one teaspoonful of Nigella sativa oil in a cup of hot tea or coffee and drink. Follow this regimen twice a day. In addition, apply Nigella sativa oil on the chest and back. [13]

How Long Does the Stomach Flu Last
Generally speaking a flu will last for 3 days and normally starts to clear fairly quick after the first few days.

It is important to have the best black cumin seed oil (Nigella Sativa).  The oil I recommend is located on my store.  

References

1. 1.Colds/Flu; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieve from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/flu
2. 2.Flu and Colds: In Depth; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieve from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/flu/indepth3.Flu or Cold Symptoms?; WebMD. Retrieve from https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms#1
3. Gregory Tannock; Can you boost your immune system to prevent colds?; Fact Buster; ABC Health and Wellbeing.   Retrieve from http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2009/05/20/2575693.htm
4. MF Cotton, S Innes, H Jaspan, A Madide, H Rabie. Management of upper respiratory tract infections in children. S Afr Fam Pract (2004) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 May 20.
5. Published in final edited form as: S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2008 MAR-APR; 50(2): 6–12. Retrieve frohttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3098742/  
6. Aftab Ahmad, Asif Husain, Mohd Mujeeb, Shah Alam Khan, Abul Kalam Najmi, Nasir Ali Siddique, Zoheir A. Damanhouri, Firoz Anwar. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb . Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 May; 3(5): 337–352. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075-1 Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3642442/
7. Mohamed Labib Salem; Immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties of the Nigella sativa L. seed; International Immunopharmacology 5 (2005) 1749 – 1770; From http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.473.2704&rep=rep1&type=pdf
8. Black Seed Oil; Retrieve from http://oilhealthbenefits.com/black-seed-oil/
9. Kalus U, Pruss A, Bystron J, Jurecka M, Smekalova A, Lichius JJ, Kiesewetter H.; Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases; Phytother Res. 2003 Dec;17(10):1209-14. Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14669258
10. Natural Black seed Remedies; Retrieve from https://theblessedseed.com/natural-black-seed-remedies/
11. The Blessed  seed; Retrieve from http://theblessedseed.blogspot.in/2012/11/my-4-hour-or-less-cold-and-flu-remedy.html 
    
12. Dr. Ali, Hassan, Black Seed Oil for Hay Fever; Retrieve from http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/black-seed-oil-hay-fever
13. Black seed: both a preventative and a cure for the flu. Retrieve from https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1406775