- Straight outta Morocco: the black seeds that get rid of headaches and more
- The health secret of “liquid gold”
- How this remedy can boost libido in men and help post-menopausal women too…
A Good Life reader has recently been on holiday in Morocco.
He emailed me to say that at 42 degrees celsius, it was VERY HOT, and he began to feel a little wilted.
That was when an optical migraine set in.
Coincidentally, my intrepid reader was in Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, being shown the sights by a guide, and one of the tour stops was at an herbalist’s.
My reader told the herbalist about his migraine and this is what happened next…
“He placed some crushed nigella seeds in a cloth and handed to me. I took a good sniff and it nearly took my head off (also clears the sinus). Anyhow it worked, after about 15 minutes I was ok. This worked as quick as the meds I have been prescribed. No more headaches since.”
That’s an amazing result – and another example of nature’s medicine chest often being equal to prescription drugs.
If you’ve not come across them before, nigella seeds are also known as “black seeds”, “black cumin”, “black caraway” or “Habbatul Barakah” and have long been used in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as a medicine.
In an Islamic hadith it is said that the Prophet Mohammed said the seeds could “cure all ills” apart from death, which is quite a claim.
The seeds were originally brought to Morocco from India and are now grown in the country, which is why they’re so widely available in the souks and markets.
So that’s how your fellow Good Life reader ended up being given them as a headache treatment on his holiday.
Some more wonderful benefits of nigella seeds
It’s not only migraines and headaches that nigella seeds can ease, not by a long shot.
According to the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology, nigella seeds have been recommended for the following health problems:
- fever
- congestion
- coughs and bronchitis
- asthma
- dysmenorrhea
- diabetes
- back pain
- inflammation
- rheumatism
- hypertension
- dyspepsia
- flatulence
- dysentery and diarrhoea
- high cholesterol
You can eat the seeds raw or blend them with honey, yoghurt, fruit smoothies or water.
Nigella seeds can be found in most health food shops and even some big supermarkets stock them now, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding them.
Or you might want to try some Liquid Gold…
You might also remember another Moroccan remedy I mentioned last year.
Known locally as “liquid gold”, Argan oil comes from the Argan tree, native to Morocco. It is packed with vitamin E, phenols, phenolic acid, carotenes, squalene and fatty acids that have the following benefits:
- Controls hypertension and reduce bad cholesterol
- Opens up the blood vessels for better circulation
- Detoxifies the synovial fluid and regenerates cells, which can help sufferers of osteoarthritis
- Eases constipation, bloating, diarrhoea and stomach pains
- Reduces inflammation
- Stimulates blood flow around sexual organs
- Reduces food cravings
- Improves brain function
- Strengthen bones and joints
- Improves skin, hair & nails
We’ve got a page with all the details of what it can do, and how you can try it out risk free – click here to find out more.
And finally today…
How this remedy can boost libido in men and help post-menopausal women too
Another very popular herbal remedy in Morocco is fenugreek, which is soaked in water for 24 hours then taken in drink form as a treatment for indigestion and stomach problems.
Fenugreek is also effective in reducing cholesterol. In one study, subjects ate 50 grams of fenugreek per day, which had been added to their meals, over 10 days.
As a result, there was a 54% improvement in urinary blood sugar clearance, plus a decrease in LDL cholesterol levels.
Fenugreek is also used by men to boost testosterone. In a 2016 study, researchers found that supplements of fenugreek benefitted older men (43 to 70) and improved the testosterone levels in younger men diagnosed with low testosterone.
Taking it regularly can also increase libido. In 2011, researchers found it boosted sex drive by a quarter.
This goes for women, too, as a 2015 study showed that it also boosted women’s sex drive, including arousal levels and general sexual functioning.
Bear in mind this isn’t some Viagra or “pop this and feel the effects” remedy – it’s a general increase in libido, appetite and mood over time.
On top of that, regular intake of fenugreek can reduce some post-menopausal symptoms in older women, including night sweats and hot flushes.
Now you know the benefits, give them a try!
So there we have it, a trio of remedies popular in Morocco that you could try without leaving the country.
As I mentioned, you can check out our highly recommended supplement of liquid gold here, or seek out nigella seeds, which you can soak and then mix with water or something more tasty like blended fruit.
If you prefer you can supplement your diet with fenugreek by using the fresh leaves. Add them to salad, put them last minute in soups, stir fries and sauces. Or use the ground seeds as a spice in the base of your stews, soups and curries.
As always, I love to get your emails, so if you’ve been on your travels and discovered any exciting remedies from around the world, then do write and let me know.
