Black seed (Kalijeera) is a plant. People have used the seed to make medicine for over 2000 years.
Historically, black seed has been used for headache, toothache, and nasal congestion. It has also been used for “pink eye” (conjunctivitis), pockets of infection (abscesses), and parasites.
Today, black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is also used for respiratory conditions including asthma, allergies, cough, bronchitis, emphysema, flu, swine flu, and congestion.
Other uses include lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and treating cancer. Black seed is sometimes used in combination with cysteine, vitamin E, and saffron to relieve or ease the side effects of a chemotherapy drug called cisplatin.
Women use black seed for birth control, to start menstruation, and to increase milk flow.
Some people apply black seed directly to the skin for joint pain (rheumatism), and headache.
