Tutankhamun's Tomb
There are many instances in the history of the world that upholds the glory of the black cumin. One of the earliest references to the black cumin is seen in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, in the Holy Bible. The New King James Version of Isaiah Chapter 28, Verses 25 to 27 reads as follows:
“When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cumin and scatter the cumin, plant the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?”
“For He instructs him in right judgment, his God teaches him.”
“For the black cumin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cumin; but the black cumin is beaten out with a stick, And the cumin with a rod.”
These verses describe how the black cumin plant is treated differently by the farmer, since it is more valuable than wheat and other crops.
Black cumin seeds were found in the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt from 1333 BC to 1324 BC. He was the son of Akhenaten and Nefertiti and his tomb is the most complete Egyptian tomb ever discovered. The Egyptians supposedly put the seeds in his tomb so that he may have excellent health in the afterlife.
Cleopatra
It is recorded elsewhere that Cleopatra used black cumin preparations for maintaining her health, beauty and vitality.
The most often quoted historical references come from ancient Islamic literature, wherein the black cumin is regarded the greatest medicinal plant to ever exist. Prophet Muhammad has once mentioned that the black cumin seed is capable of curing every disease except death. He said:
“Hold on to the use of the black seed, for it has the cure for every illness except death.”
It is also given a very important place in the list of natural drugs of ‘Tibb-e-Nabavi’, Islamic Medicine (Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71: 592).
Ancient Greek records say that the great physician Dioskorides used black cumin to treat and cure a variety of illnesses including intestinal parasites, toothaches, headaches, respiratory congestion and amenorrhea. He also used it as a diuretic and to promote milk production.
Avicenna
Hippocrates (460 BC – 370 BC) used Black Cumin for the treatment of liver and digestive disorders.
The Cannon of Medicine by Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 980 – 1037), considered by many as the greatest book in the history of ancient medicine refers to black cumin seed as “that which stimulates the body’s energy and helps recover from fatigue or dispiritedness.”
The Unani Tibb system of medicine also mentions Black Cumin Seed as an important remedy for a large number of aliments.