Kalonji seeds are more commonly known as black-caraway or black-cumin. The oil derived from these seeds is known as kalonji oil. Both the seeds and the oil have a wide range of benefits. The seeds are primarily used as a spice in Middle Eastern and Indian recipes. They have a bitter smell and an equally bitter taste that reminds you of the smell of onions, oregano and black pepper all, in one. The oil also tastes bitter, and is deep yellow or deep amber in color. Apart from being used for cooking, the oil also has various medicinal properties. The following are some benefits of kalonji seeds and oil that make them worth using.
Relief from joint pains
Add some kalonji seeds to about four to five teaspoons of mustard oil. Heat the oil well and allow it to cool down a little. When the oil is still warm and you can comfortably touch it with your fingers, take a little on your finger tips and massage gently on the painful joint.
Boosts memory
Crush some kalonji seeds and mix with half a teaspoon of kalonji oil and one teaspoon of honey. Eat this mixture twice daily for a month. You will see signs of your memory becoming better.
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Knocks off extra pounds
Take about four to five seeds and crush them to powder form. Add the crushed seeds to some warm water along with one spoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon. Drinking this mixture daily helps you get rid of the fat around your belly without any harmful effects. While it is not absolutely necessary to add lemon juice, lemon has always been known to have weight loss properties which help in shedding the excess weight faster.
Lessens hair loss and stops dandruff
Apart from reducing hair fall, kalonji oil also puts an end to baldness. For best results and to get rid of baldness, it is ideal that this oil is applied on the hair twice a day. To keep dandruff at bay, heat a mixture of 10 grams of kalonji oil and 30 grams each of henna and olive oil till it becomes a paste. Apply the paste uniformly all over your hair and wait for some time. Wash off like how you would wash off your shampoo.
Arrests migraine and headache
Kalonji oil is a big reprieve for people suffering from migraine. Drinking half a teaspoon of kalonji oil two times a day can keep you off this problem. A massage with this oil on your hair can cure headache problems and help you avoid taking pills. Alternatively, you can rub some oil on your forehead and near the ears.
Prevents diabetes or keeps it under control
To keep off diabetes or to put it under control, kalonji oil can be quite helpful. Mix half a teaspoon of the oil well with one cup of black tea. Take this mixture twice daily – once in the morning on an empty stomach and the second time before going to bed at night.
Heals cracked hands and feet
Add half a teaspoon of kalonji oil to a glass of lime juice. Apply this solution on the cracked areas of your hands and feet twice a day – in the morning and at night.
Apart from all the above problems, kalonji oil and seeds are good choices for lowering high blood pressure, maintaining healthy kidneys, and keeping asthma under control, among many others.
