Cumin Oil
The Brain, Nerve, Liver, Digestion and DNA Repair
|
The Best Cumin Oil
100% Essential Oil of Cumin (with no fillers)
- Grown on fertile soil in clean air
Not inferior oil from toxic or sick plants
- Low temperature, steam-distilled
Not solvent-extracted (which leaves toxic solvent residues in the oil)
No cheap artificial fragrances added to inferior oils to make them smell like higher quality oils
- Not blended with inferior oils
A common trick of companies is to blend an essential oil with partially toxic, rancid or solvent-extracted carrier oils such as safflower or canola oil
|
 |
|
Ancient Food and Medicine
Cumin (Cuminus cyminum) is an annual plant belonging to the parsley and celery family. The
essential oil is distilled from the cumin seeds, which
look similar to caraway seeds (often confused in
Europe).
Plants of the cumin family have been used as
food and medicine since humanity’s earliest written records. Cumin was a favorite food spice and natural
medicine of the ancients. It was used heavily by both
ancient Egyptians and Hebrews, as it is today.
It is
mentioned in both Old and New Testaments. Cumin
seeds have been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs.
Ancient Healing Plant
The ancients relied upon cumin and its oil to help many
diseases: intestinal
gas, digestive disorders,
bloating, indigestion.
In ancient
Greece, cumin
was known as the
“best of condiments."
The
Greeks described
how the oil applied
to the skin gave an
unspeakable
beauty. One oft-quoted
text, A Modern Herbal, describes how the ancients
|
used
cumin to relieve headaches, to improve circulatory
disorders, to help reverse impotence and also used it as
an aphrodisiac.
Today in the Middle East, cumin is
famous for helping heart disease, high blood pressure,
poor circulation and lung problems. Other herbalists
recommend cumin oil as a nerve, brain and body tonic
and liver decongestant.
Inside the Cumin Seed
The rich oil of the cumin seed contains powerful
compounds. The predominant compound, cuminaldehyde,
accounts for up to 40% of the oil content.
Aldehydes are rich in naturally occurring oxygen
compounds which can interact with human cells to
make profound beneficial changes.
Other natural
compounds include
terpenes,
terpinenes,cymene, limonene,
farnesene and
carophyllene. These natural
constituents
possess remarkable antioxidant,
antitoxic,
anti-microbial,
anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-spasmodic and diuretic actions, according to The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils. |
Major Benefits of Cumin Oil
- Liver Protection: Helps increase the activity of glutathione-S transferase,
a protective liver enzyme
- Anti-Fungal: Helps stop fungal infections
- DNA Protection: Helps protect cells and organs from damage from
toxic chemicals
- Powerful Antioxidant: Helps block cellular damage
- Anti-Cancer Agent: Contains anti-cancer action
- Brain and Nerve Booster: Contains phosphatidyl ethanolamine, a
phospholipid which nourishes and repairs nerve and brain tissue
- Digestion: Helps clear digestive disorders, such as gas, bloating, etc.
|
|
Powerful Infection Fighter
In the past 20 years, impressive research has shown the
powerful infection-fighting properties of cumin. Researchers
have discovered that cumin oil has significant anti-cancer,
antiseptic, anti-fungal and detoxification properties.
Cumin oil has also been shown to be highly protective
against toxic damage to the liver. One well-known clinical nutritionist fondly calls it “the Liver
Protector.”
Benefits of Cumin Oil
Let’s look at the list of cumin’s remarkable properties:
1. Anti-Fungal Properties
In the Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and
Oncology, researchers found that the mighty cumin oil, even
in very low concentrations (less than one tenth of one percent)
stopped the growth of invasive forms of toxic yeasts. In
addition, cumin oil completely stopped the production of
harmful fungal toxins such as aflatoxin, one of the deadliest
toxins known. In 1993, Eygyptian researchers also found that
cumin oil blocked the growth of fungus in very low
concentrations. In the Journal of Food Science, investigators
again confirmed that cumin oil is an aggressive anti-fungal
agent which can completely stop fungal growth in modest
concentrations.
2. The Liver Protector
In the Nutrition and Cancer Journal, numerous researchers
identified the ability of cumin oil to increase the activity of
glutathione-S-transferase, a well-studied protective liver
enzyme. This enzyme helps the liver detoxify toxic
chemicals. Therefore, taking cumin oil internally may help the
liver remove cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins due
to its powerful detoxification properties.
3. DNA Protection
In the Nutrition and Cancer Journal, researchers reported
that cumin oil significantly inhibited DNA cell damage caused
by aflatoxin. This demonstrates how cumin oil can protect
cells and organs from damage by toxic chemicals.
|
4. Potent Antioxidant
Indian researchers found that cumin oil is a potent antioxidant,
even more powerful than the highly regarded turmeric root.
They found that cumin oil had a strong ability to prevent
oxidative damage. In the Journal of Food Science in 1993,
researchers demonstrated that cumin was superior in
blocking oxidation and toxic cellular damage, more powerful
than other famous spices such as garlic and onion.
5. Anti-Cancer Agent
In animal studies, Indian researchers found that cumin had
valuable anti-cancer actions.
6. Brain and Nerve Booster
Cumin has a long history of use as an agent to improve nerve
disorders. In the Journal of Food Science, researchers found
cumin oil is extremely high in naturally occurring
phospholipids, especially those related to nerve and brain
development. Cumin oil is a concentrated source of phosphatidylethanoloamine, a famous phospholipid which
nourishes and repairs nerve and brain tissue as well as
enhances cell membrane fluidity. A cell needs a flexible,
deformable membrane to act as a primary defense against
invasion by virus and antigen damage.
Cumin oil is also rich
in choline and inositol, two critical nutrients which support the
function of the brain, nerve and liver. |
Warning!
Research shows an enormous amount of tampering with
essential oils in the U.S. marketplace. To enhance profits,
unscrupulous companies often harvest essential oils from
inferior grade or even toxic plants. In addition, many oils are
extracted with harmful chemicals or solvents; these
frequently leave toxic residues in the oil.
Many companies
also secretly “boost” the fragrance of their weaker essential
oils with cheap synthetic perfumes that have a stronger scent (but are rarely listed on the label). To blend the essential oils,
some companies also use partially toxic or rancid, solvent extracted
carrier oils such as poor quality olive oil or safflower
oil (since they are much cheaper).
Beware of Toxic Oils
Unless you are sure of the quality of an essential oil,
avoid taking it internally or using it on your skin; avoid even
smelling it. Small amounts of toxic chemical residues taken
internally (absorbed through your skin) can cause damage in the liver
and other organs over time. Wearing synthetic scents on your
skin or even inhaling them can help cause brain imbalances and
if used over time, even brain damage. These toxic residues are cumulative. |
Typical Use
Internal Use (for adults): Take 1 drop in water, other
liquids or food, one or more times per day. For larger amounts, a
capsule can be filled with the oil and then taken immediately.
Take once or twice per day. If you are sensitive, begin with
1 drop per day or less and increase the amount slowly.
External Use: The oil may be massaged into the skin and
mucus membranes. Usually, it works best by diluting the
cumin oil with high quality olive oil (50/50) or other oils.
Avoid contact with the eyes or genitals.
For Cooking: Add a drop or two to salad dressings, dips,
soups or entrees. It imparts a delicious, hearty, lemon-like
flavor. Do not heat the oil.
References
Igram, Cass, Cumin Oil as a Plant and Spice, self-published, Buffalo
Grove, Illinois, 1997.
Lavabre, Marcel, Aromatherapy Workbook, Healing Arts Press,
Rochester, Vermont, 1997. |
|