pregnancy

Black Seed: From King Tut to Now

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The seed of the Nigella Sativa plant, commonly referred to as “black seed,” is a powerhouse for health and wellness—however, very few people in the western world have even heard of it. In the East, this little seed has been in use since time immemorial. Black seed oil was even discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen (King Tut), which dates it back some 3,300 years.

According to WebMD, black seed has historically been used for everything from headaches to pink eye to parasites. Today, it’s use is even more varied:

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, lowering cholesterol levels, treating cancer, and boosting the immune system.

That still doesn’t offer a complete list of what this little wonder seed has been used for; some use it as birth control, to help with rheumatism and to ease side-effects of a chemotherapy drug called cisplatin.

With so much to it’s name, it’s not wonder that Muhammad (the Prophet of Islam) declared black seed to be a remedy for everything short of death.

From a more scientific perspective, Amazingherbs.com tells us that its chemical composition is:

very rich and diverse. Aside from its primary ingredient, crystalline nigellone, Black Seed contains 15 amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, both fixed oils (84% fatty acids, including linolenic, and oleic), and volatile oils, alkaloids, saponin, and crude fiber, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, sodium and potassium. There are still many components in Black Seed that haven’t been identified. But research is going on around the world.

From a cultural standpoint, I’m well versed in the many uses/benefits said to be derived from black seed. From an objective, scientific standpoint, I’m excited to see the scientific community taking note and eager to see what experimentation and study has and will yield from it. As Sayer Ji of GreenMedInfo is quick to note,

Many of black cumin’s traditionally ascribed health benefits have been thoroughly confirmed in the biomedical literature.

Let me close with a quick warning from the folks at WebMD:

Black seed seems to be safe in food amounts during pregnancy. But taking larger medicinal amounts is UNSAFE. Black seed can slow down or stop the uterus from contracting.

Not much is known about the safety of using black seed during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

To purchase your own black seed oil head over to Amazon!

 

References
Black Seed – ‘The Remedy For Everything But Death’
WebMD: Black Seed
Amazingherbs.com
WebMD: Black Seed Side Effects & Safety

Free Birth Control Creates Dramatic Decrease in Abortion and Unplanned Pregnancy

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Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that abortion and unplanned pregnancy rates dramatically plummet when birth control is provided for free.  While this may not be surprising, what is surprising are the numbers.  By providing free birth control to 9,256 women and adolescents between the ages of 14- 45 in the St. Louis area between 2007 and 2011, researchers found that there was a 62% – 78% decrease in abortion and unplanned pregnancy.

Jeff Peipert, MD, PhD, and Robert J. Terry Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated that:

The impact of providing no-cost birth control was far greater than we expected in terms of unintended pregnancies.  We think improving access to birth control, particularly IUDs and implants, coupled with education on the most effective methods has the potential to significantly decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in this country.

Unplanned pregnancies account for 50% of all U.S. pregnancies, which is higher than most other developed countries.  Roughly half of these pregnancies are the result of women not using contraception and the other half from incorrect use.

IUDs and implants are a great option, providing superior protection and remaining effective for 3 – 10 years depending on the type.  Unfortunately they are very expensive upfront, costing in many instances over $800 and not being covered by insurance.

The researchers remind us that:

Unintended pregnancy remains a major health problem in the United States, with higher proportions among teenagers and women with less education and lower economic status.  The results of this study demonstrate that we can reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and this is key to reducing abortions in this country.

I understand that people don’t want to pay for the contraception of others through taxes, but paying for other people’s children through welfare, food stamps, and other methods costs far, far more.  I am still undecided on the issue of whether some form of safe and effective contraception should be completely free.  What do you think?

 

Sources:

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2012/10/04/abortion.rates.plummet.with.free.birth.control

http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/Pub/Portals/7/unplanned-teenage-pregnancy-part-c-statistics.pdf

Women Have Semen in Their Brains

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More specifically, a protien in semen penetrates the blood brain barrier and enters women’s brains, causing the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release the hormones required for pregnancy. Apparently, semen causes women to ovulate.

Researchers have found that this protien exists in animals all over the world.  Chinese researchers actually discovered the finding in 1985, but because it was so counter-intuitive to common knowledge at the time, scientists simply ignored it!

In 2005 a new group of researchers verified what had already been known for two decades by injecting semen into the leg of female llamas, part of a group of animals that only release eggs in response to sex.