Every year, the month of September kicks off with World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to bring about awareness on dementia, this year is no different, and the focus this time is on breaking the stigma associated with persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. The human mind is one of the most complex things in the universe and much like our ocean floor and the rest of the universe, its true depths are yet to be explored and fully understood. As something that is so vastly complex it would make perfect sense that scientists and other medical institutions are striving to find a cure for the illnesses and diseases that affect the human mind such as dementia.
Dementia is the term used to describe an array of degenerative mental conditions (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and vascular dementia) that cause obstruction in daily functioning, memory loss, and eventually results in death. It is estimated that dementia affects more than 50 million people globally and that number is expected to increase with almost 70% by the year 2050.
With the month of September focusing on Alzheimer’s month, this article will place emphasis on that as well as what research has been done in finding a cure, or at the very least aid in managing symptoms or slowing down the progression of the disease. For years scientists and medical institutions have been working to find ways to cure, treat or slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to an extent they have made some strides, however these medications and drug therapies are exorbitantly expensive and not available nor suitable to everyone.
A natural alternative, black seed (Nigella sativa) has been researched by a few universities including Northern Border University in Saudi Arabia and the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in India. Each of these institutions have found remarkable results using and researching the neuropsychiatric effects of black seed in the form of black seed oil.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College found that black seed effectively killed 97 out of 144 strains of bacteria, most of which were resistant to antibiotics – one can see why black seed is considered a cure all herb. The college also found that the Thymohydroquinone, a chemical compound found in black seed oil, is effective in fighting against mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The Northern Border University found that consuming black seed oil in the form of capsules or tablets twice daily has numerous benefits such as:
It can help in the management of Parkinson’s disease – consuming black seed oil showed signs of managing symptoms of Parkinson’s effectively.
Preventing damage to the spinal cord and other brain cells from trauma and other nerve toxins – Alzheimer’s disease is caused by an abnormal protein cell called beta-amyloid that causes nerves in the brain to get tangled, which leads to the death of brain cells over time. Black seed has proven to fight these types of protein cells.
It enhances memory, attention and cognition – therefore it is considered to be a potential food supplement for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease or in some cases slow the progression of the disease.
During each of the studies conducted, it is vital to note that cardiac, liver and kidney function remained stable and normal in each of the study participants, thus we can surmise that there were no negative or detrimental side effects on participants while using black seed oil – which is often not the case with other unnatural pharmaceutical medicines that can have an array of side effects.
With a wonderful and natural alternative such as black seed oil available to help us fight devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, do we not owe it to ourselves to make the most of this natural, affordable and readily available herb that has been used since ancient times in the treatment of many illnesses?
Black seed oil has many health benefits outside of improving mental conditions, you can learn more about these amazing benefits of black seed oil.
