Black Cumin Seed - The seed with great healing powers

Black cumin seed is a part of the buttercup family, the seeds are dark, thin and crescent shaped. The seed has a remarkable healing properties that make it one of the most powerful medicinal plants known to man.

Habbatus Sauda, as it is popularly called among Muslims who are familiar with the seed, is the Arabic name. Its relevance was first underlined about fifteen centuries ago and was described as a cure for all diseases, except death. This amazing seed has been used over the years to cure various ailments and diseases. Oil can be extracted from the seed and both the seed and the oil have been found to be very therapeutically effective. The seed and oil are also used in cosmetics to improve skin and hair texture.

Even though the black cumin seed is not common in Nigeria, it is widely used among Muslims as medicine for various diseases. Regular consumption of this seed or oil can help prevent the growth and spread of colon cancer cells; the seed is also use in preventing and treating many other types of cancer. It helps stimulate the activity of neutrophil granulocytes which is the most abundant type of white blood cells in the body, which are responsible for targeting cancer cells and eliminating them before they can develop into tumors. It also stimulates the production of bone marrow cells of the immune system, protects normal cells from the damaging effects of viral diseases and increases the number of antibody producing B cells. The black cumin seed can be sprinkled whole or ground up on food; the oil can also be used on salads and other dishes.

Black cumin seed can be use in treating the following ailment;

Heart Issues: Black cumin seed oil shows some great results in improving your overall heart health. It can reduce bad or LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Type II Diabetes: Consuming black seed oil aids people to stabilize blood sugar level, improves insulin resistance and promotes cell functions. Black seed extracts help inhibit the absorption of glucose in the intestine and improve glucose tolerance; a compound found in black seeds increases the insulin sensitivity of liver cells, which helps prevent type 2 diabetes.

Epilepsy: Black seeds have anti compulsive properties and can reduce the frequency of seizures in people, especially children, who are diagnosed with epilepsy.

Asthma: The oil can aid people with asthma. Some studies even claim it to be more potential than the conventional medicine to reduce the asthmatic effect on the airways. The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of black seed oil relax bronchial muscles and help people fight acute asthma attacks and coughs. You could massage the oil straight on your chest, or add a teaspoon to a cup of ginger tea to find instant relieve.

MRSA: Methicillin –resistant staphylococcus aureus, is an antibiotic resistant bacterium that causes many deaths. Most infections occur in people who have been hospitalized or had surgery or dialysis. Black seeds strong anti-bacterial properties show some great and promising results in killing these deadly and resistant bacteria.

Cold and Flu: Due to its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti bacterial properties, black seeds are an effective treatment to cure flu and colds. They soothe a sore throat, reduce fever and ease digestive issues such as nausea, stomach upset and cramps. When you feel any of such symptoms, mix ½ teaspoon of fresh ginger with ½ teaspoon of black seed oil, use twice a day until symptoms disappear.

Toothaches: The black seed oil fights bacteria and cures inflammation, making it a great treatment to ease toothaches.

Poisoning: Black seeds are brain friendly. Study shows that it can protect and even reverse damage to the brain due to lead poisoning.

Treat Hair loss: The oil helps reduce hair loss. Its powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties help strengthen hair follicles, which reduces hair loss. Its antifungal property prevents infections that cause hair loss. It also has a moisturizing quality that protects hair from damage, speeds up hair growth and promotes healthy hair. You can mix equal amounts of black seed oil and olive oil, warm the mixture and rub it on any bald patches; wait for at least 30 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo. Repeat this process twice a week to fight hair loss.

By: Mercy K. 

  

Why Yoga is important during Pregnancy

Every expectant mother wants to nurture and offer the best care for her child even inside the womb. Staying active during pregnancy will help not just the mother but also the baby, so putting in some extra effort to wake up half hour early to have a healthy start through prenatal workouts will be very beneficial, especially to the mother during labour. Body fitness is the best pregnancy care for expectant mothers. It is beneficial to follow any form of exercise that can help strengthen the muscles and prepare the body for child birth.

Therefore, yoga is very important during pregnancy because of its positive effect on labour. It can also help reduce post pregnancy weight loss, and help in shaping the body. Yoga can be practised even in the 8^th or 9th month of pregnancy for better outcome.

Some benefits of yoga to pregnant women include;

It Provides Balance: As the bump grows, your body’s centre of gravity shifts, which in turn causes back ache and other health problems. Apart from physical ailments, pregnancy hormones also play a role in disrupting your emotional balance. Prenatal yoga is one of the beneficial pregnancy workouts that provide physical and mental balance to the expectant mothers.

Prepare You for Labour: When you practice yoga from early pregnancy, it helps with breathing exercises which will come in handy during child birth. It also strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, hips and tummy which will support in easy labour by having control over the abdominal muscles. Yoga also helps you to concentrate and mentally prepares you for the big day.

Calm the Nerves: As you practice prenatal yoga poses, the nervous system goes into a parasympathetic mode which will relax the body and mind. It relieves stress, tension, and improves your sleep pattern; although you may experience mood swings, sleeplessness etc.

Lower Body Pain: Most pregnant women suffer from constant body pain that includes neck, shoulders, arms, hip, chest, upper back, lower back, thigh etc. Walking, cardio and swimming can contribute to pain relief, but all these exercises should be combined to give complete relief from muscle pain. However, pregnancy yoga is a one step remedy to all these ailments.

Increases Blood Circulation: Yoga poses tend to increase circulation and elongate muscles which relieve swelling and increase immunity. As pregnant women are prone to infection, it is good to improve your immune system which will keep your body active and create a healthy environment inside the womb for the baby to grow.

Strengthens the Body:  Yoga poses are widely practised. They help to build body stamina, and strengthen shoulders, arms, hips and back, compared to other exercises. Sign up for a prenatal yoga class, or you can go online to check out for different and easy options on pregnancy yoga positions to avoid strenuous poses that might be difficult during pregnancy.

If you are an expectant mother, you may want to start a yoga exercise because the benefits are just too much to be ignored. Why not start your yoga training today to ease your labour pain. Know that you can continue yoga even after child birth to keep a check on your post pregnancy weight gain. With regular workout regime, yoga can help you become a stronger and a better mom.

By: Mercy Kukah 

7 guaranteed ways to relieve nausea at home

Nausea is the feeling of uneasiness and discomfort in your upper stomach and the sensation of wanting to vomit. There are quite a number of things that can cause nausea, but the condition can be prevented, or treated. Nausea isn’t usually something serious, but it might be a symptom of an underlying problem, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms like:

Difficulty breathing

Black or bloody stools

Abdominal pain, bloating or swelling

Swelling of feet and ankles

Dark urine

Dizziness or fainting

If nausea is accompanied by any of these symptoms, then a doctor should be seen. But if the feeling of wanting to vomit is not accompanied by any other symptom, then there are things you can do which would make you feel better.

You might also want to try and identify the cause of the nausea, maybe it was triggered by a particular food, alcohol, stress, travel or motion; or maybe it developed suddenly, gradually, or the feeling is intermittent (on and 0ff).

So, to relieve nausea, here are some of the things you should do:

Drink enough water

Do not take coffee or alcohol

Do not eat spicy, sweet, fried or fatty foods

Eat bland or plain foods

Eat small portions of meal every few hours, and eat them slowly so your stomach won’t feel full

Avoid activity after eating

Sit down after eating, or lie down with your head elevated.

By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal 

What is Dry Drowning?

Dry drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children of ages one to fourteen years. It is a situation whereby water gets into the airway and down into the lungs. Small amount of water is taken in through the nose or mouth, and it causes a spasm (an involuntary sudden muscle contraction) in the airway which can lead to difficulty in breathing, thereby leading to suffocation.

Dry drowning is a frightening and very real risk that parents should be aware of. A child can seem perfectly fine after getting submerged in water, then he begins to have trouble breathing 24 hours later. It is very important for parents to always monitor their kids anytime they have contact with water, because the onset of dry drowning can be delayed for upwards of five hours or more. It doesn’t always happen immediately. The signs and symptoms of dry drowning actually are not that strikingly obvious. You may not have witnessed your child inhale or swallow water, so it is important to watch for some signs. Some of these signs include; chest pain, difficulty in breathing, change in the child’s behaviour, consistent coughing, excessive sweating and odd physical changes, such as paleness in the eyes and skin.

Parents should be extra vigilant in preventing dry drowning by providing constant supervision around open water. Always supervise your kids when they are swimming; do not allow them to drink fluids quickly. When swimming, children are expected to wear proper swimming equipment such as nose plugs. Ensure that your child does not swim in a pool deeper than four feet. Parents should take appropriate precautions when swimming in pools, lakes or even paddling pools for smaller children. Teach your kids about basic water safety and get them comfortable in the pool with swimming lessons at an early age.

If drowning should occur, the child should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible because the water or fluids need to be removed from the lungs and the child administered oxygen with the assistance of a ventilator or respirator. However, before you get to the hospital you can administer mouth to mouth respiration. Additional help may be obtained by placing a moderate weight on the child’s back. The object can assist in expelling the water from the lungs. The child should be in supine position. You can also press the victim’s belly, but make sure that you do not press too hard.

Bear in mind that drowning does not happen instantaneously and it can happen silently. A child can appear perfectly normal. It is very important for parents to be aware of dry drowning. By being aware, you will more likely reduce the risk of tragic incident happening. 

By: Mercy Kukah 

Tips to Prevent Dandruff

It is not necessary to spend a lot of money in order to keep your hair healthy and beautiful. No one likes dandruff in the hair. Dandruff is a common scalp condition marked by white flakes and itching. A possible cause is yeast-like fungus called malassezia, also known as pityrosporum. Malassezia is normally found on the scalp without causing problems. However, if it grows unchecked, possibly due to hormone imbalances, stress, immune suppression, infrequent shampooing, illness, or increased oil production, there is mild inflammation that produces dead skin cells. The dead cells mix with oil and clump together making them appear white and flaky.

Dandruff can also be caused by change of weather, or lots of stress. You can avoid stress, both emotional and physical. Take proper rest and pay attention to nutritious diet.

When treating or trying to prevent dandruff, bear in mind that it has no permanent cure. Development of dandruff is, in fact, due to a tendency of your scalp. Even if you clear it, after sometime, when there is favorable condition for its development, it might reoccur. So, you have to make sure that you follow a regular cleaning routine and take care of your hair and body.

Tips to Prevent Dandruff

•        Choose a dandruff fighting shampoo that is mild but contains active ingredients that help get rid of dandruff.

•        Wash your hair regularly. Some people need to shampoo daily while others wash their hair twice or thrice in a week.

•        Make sure you massage your scalp gently while shampooing. Do not scrub or rub roughly even if you feel irritation on your scalp.

•        Avoid using styling materials that increase dandruff in your hair. Also keep yourself away from stress as much as possible. Stress increases dandruff.

•        If are applying natural products, give some time in observing the results because natural treatments take time.

Homemade Remedies for Dandruff

•         Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup of water. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and spray it onto your hair and scalp, being careful to avoid the eye and the ear.

•        Wrap your head in a towel. After 15minutes to an hour, remove the towel and wash your hair. This is generally done once to twice a week. You will get good results.

•        Using cotton balls apply lukewarm coconut oil on your scalp and leave it overnight. In the morning, apply lemon juice on it. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash your hair as usual.

•        Mix olive oil with almond oil and then massage it gently on your scalp. Leave it for five minutes and then wash your hair.

•        Grind fenugreek seeds soaked overnight into paste and apply. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash your hair.

•        Aloe Vera is also great for soothing itching skin. This is because it has endless medicinal properties. Massage it on your hair, leave for 15 minutes and then wash as usual.

By: Mercy Kukah 

Diddy Tops Forbes List of Celebrity High Earners

Rapper turned businessman Diddy was the world’s top-paid celebrity in the past year, edging out closest competitor Beyonce, Forbes said in its annual list Monday the 12^th of June 2017. Diddy earned $130 million in the past 12 months, of which $70 million came from selling a one-third stake in his Sean John clothing line. Diddy — whose real name is Sean Combs and earlier in his career was known as Puff Daddy — is estimated by Forbes to be worth a total of $820 million even though he has released little music in the past decade. But he has pursued a variety of business interests and last year headlined a North American arena tour with other artists on his Bad Boy Records label.

Beyonce came second at $105 million after her lucrative “Formation” tour, an elaborately staged set of performances that followed her “Lemonade” album. The former Destiny Child group member who is expecting twins, is estimated to be worth $1 billion with her husband, rap mogul Jay Z, who himself was number 55 on the list.

“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, who published a series of e-books last year, came in third at $95 million, making her the highest-paid celebrity outside of music. She narrowly edged out Canadian hip-hop star Drake, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Canadian R&B sensation The Weeknd.

Guns N’ Roses entered the list at number 11, earning $84 million, after the rock legends’ key members Axl Rose and Slash reunited for the first time in 23 years. The list can swing rapidly from year to year. Pop star Taylor Swift, who topped the previous year’s list by earning $170 million, slipped to 49th place as she had concluded her tour.

The few non-Western celebrities on the list included Hong Kong martial arts film legend Jackie Chan at number 39 and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at 65.

By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal

Source: Getty Image, Guardian 

China Donates N60 Million to Aisha Buhari’s Project

In recognition of the effort of Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to improve the lives of women and children across the country, especially victims of insurgency in the North East, the People’s Republic of China has made a financial donation of Sixty Million Naira to her project, Future Assured.

Spokesman of the President’s wife, Suleiman Haruna said the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Hajo Sani, thanked China for the support and goodwill, pledging that the donation would reach its intended beneficiaries. The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Lin Jin who presented the donation said Future Assured had promoted the health and well-being of women, children and the vulnerable.

By; Pupwaya Timothy Dibal

Source: Guardian Newspaper  

Kannywood Set to Release Six Big Movies for Sallah

The Hausa movie industry popularly known as Kannywood is set to release some long-awaited films. Some Kannywood producers have concluded plans to release the movies during the Sallah festivities. Kannywood expelled screen diva, Rahama Sadau is also set to release her long awaited big budget movie titled “Rariya”. The movie which was directed by Yaseen Auwal is expected to hit the Cinemas on June 26.  Ahead of the release of the film, Sadau has set up a dancing competition for her fans.

Fans are to listen to the featured song of Rariya, dance their styles and share on Sadau’s Instagram Page. The best dance will receive a gift. Sadau is likely to announce the winner during the premier of the film on June 26.

Other films that will hit the screen are the long-awaited “Mansoor”, a film by Ali Nuhu. Another Ali Nuhu film, Kanwar Dubarudu, is also anxiously being awaited. It features Nuhu and Rahama Sadau as his sister. In the trailer of the movie, Dubarudu, Ali Nuhu can go to any length to protect his sister Kanwar Dubarudu.

Also on the queue is the film Abu Hassan. The film, a first of its kind in Nigeria, explores the intricacies behind the activities of a dreaded terror group which unleashes so much havoc in a state before being confronted and defeated by the military. People will surely have something to enjoy the Sallah break coming two weeks from now. Others that are likely to be released include Bintoto, Sultana and Munaqisa.

By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal 

Source: Premium Times 

6 Ways You Could Be Endangering Your Health

Health, they say, is wealth. Unfortunately, many people treat their health with flippancy. Some would rather spend millions of naira shopping and travelling round the world than to spend the money for medical check-up. If you don’t take care of your health first, you might not be fit enough to enjoy all those material things you buy. There many people who are not bothered about lifestyle and habits that might be detrimental to healthy living, resulting in constantly suffering from one ailment or the other. Treating your health as a basic necessity by avoiding unhealthy habits ensures a healthy living.

Below are some ways you could endanger your health. 

1. Poor Eating Habit:
This is one aspect people tend to ignore. When you eat right, your health feels right. Fruits and vegetables are important part of healthy foods. You don't necessarily have to eat heavy meals or even complete the three-square meal, but it is necessary to have a complete balanced diet. When poor eating habit lingers on for long, it affects your mental and physical being. Excess fat is not right for the body. Try to eat less, avoid oversized portions, and replace sugary drinks with water; or you can combine different fruits and make smoothie.

2. Little or no exercise:
The importance of exercise can never be overlooked. So many people are guilty of not exercising, especially those in office environments. It does not take much time to stretch your hands and legs. Sitting on the same spot for long hours could lead to health complications, such as stroke, fat accumulation and so on. Even if you don't have an office job, take out time to walk round the house, or register at a gym centre to keep fit. You will definitely love the new you when you start dropping some weight.

3. Excessive thinking:
It is not a big deal when you think and have time alone; it becomes an issue when you do it often. Excessive thinking could lead to depression if not checked. It can also lead to mental breakdown and that will lead to one being admitted into a psychiatric hospital. It is good to be in control of your thoughts, before they take a toll on you. Once you notice that you are beginning to get depressed, or a lot of things are going through your mind, just leave the house or even call few of your friends to hang out and have fun.

4. Reckless Lifestyle:
This is one of the many ways by which people endanger their health, especially the youths. Excess alcohol is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, and heart failure. In addition, the extra calories can lead to weight gain, a threat to heart health. Smoking, extra loud music, keeping a sad face constantly is unhealthy and also a way of endangering your health.

5. Isolation from the world:
Some people shut themselves in and away from the rest of the world. They create barriers between themselves and those around them. The importance of always having someone to talk to is deep. People with strong connections to family, friends, and society in general tend to live longer, healthier lives. Everyone needs some time alone, but total isolation is not healthy. You should reach out to others and keep in touch whenever you can.

6. Stiffness:
Truth is, we have our days when everything feels not so right, when worries take a great part of our lives, but we shouldn't let this completely affect us. Some people take life too seriously and hardly find time to relax and chill. It doesn't hurt to visit friends, share the word of God, and get involved in meaningful activities. 

By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal 

The Safest Place to Sit on a Plane

Before delving into the safest sit to take while travelling by air, it should be noted that air travel is considered the safest mode of transportation. Indeed, experts say that you have a one in 1.2 million chances of being involved in a plane crash (some reports place the odds closer to one in 6 million); and if you happen to be in that unfortunate one in 1.2 million flights, the US National Transportation Safety Board says that you still have over 95% chance of surviving the crash. To put this into perspective, you are far more likely to be involved in a car crash driving to the airport than a plane crash mid-flight. However, despite the fact that travelling by car is 100 times deadlier than hopping on a plane, there are still those with a perpetual fear of flying who would like to know where to sit to improve their odds of surviving in the unlikely event of a crash. There are also curious travellers who just wonder about the safest place to be in the event of a very unlucky accident. Well, which ever category you fall into, here is your answer:

There are claims that seats over the wing of an aircraft are safest (because the plane is ‘strongest’ there). But popular opinion has it that, in the event of a plane crash, the rear of the plane is the safest place to be. This theory is supported by several studies, including one of the most ambitious tests ever undertaken in the name of airline safety: Discovery Channel staged a real plane crash in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico, complete with pilots parachuting out in the last minutes! The aircraft (a Boeing 727) was equipped with crash test dummies that had breakable ‘bones’, specialised cameras and sensors worth over half a million dollars, and a crew of incredibly daring pilots. The pilots ‘abandoned ship’ barely minutes before the huge jetliner smashed into the ground in a terrible crash that tore the plane apart. After hitting the ground, the front of the plane and the first 11 rows of seats (usually reserved for first-class and business-class passengers) were ripped off. According to the documentary, rows one through seven are the ‘fatal’ seats. Experts concluded that none of the plane’s first-class passengers would have survived the crash, but 78% of the other passengers would have, with the chance of survival increasing the closer they were sitting to the rear of the aircraft; making the ‘cattle-class’ seats a much safer place to be in the event of a crash. (I wouldn’t give up a first-class seat if offered though. It’s still a one in 1.2 million chances of a plane crash and a 95% survival chance, I’ll take it!).

While this single analysis of a crash is not enough to make definite assumptions, its findings did support a study by Popular Mechanics – a classic science and technology magazine. Popular Mechanics analysed all plane crashes for over a period of 36 years (1971 – 2007) and found that rear seat passengers were safest. Passengers near the tail of the plane were about 40% more likely to survive a crash than those in the front. Also, in 2015, researchers at TIME conducted their own research, and found similar results.

Additionally, the two rows closest to the emergency exit are also among the safe spots to be, for the obvious reason that they are right next to a way out (you get to escape from the plane quicker, if you have to). To support this theory, researchers from the University of Greenwich, commissioned by UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, carried out their own research and noted that passengers sitting more than six rows from an exit are far less likely to survive an air-plane accident.

Despite these researches and findings, controversy still surrounds the question of whether one seat is substantially safer than another, and aircraft manufacturers continue to insist that “one seat is as safe as another, especially if you stay buckled up”. Of course, there are ways to increase your chances of survival no matter where you’re seated on a plane: pay attention to the safety briefing, know the number of rows to your nearest exit and be prepared to brace yourself in the event of a very unlikely crash.

Finally, flying is very safe and is only getting safer in recent decades. This is especially true compared with other means of transportation. But if you are a nervous flier, perhaps you could allay your fears of perishing in a plane crash by sitting in economy class, by the window, within a few rows of an emergency exit and with your seat belt fastened; it doesn’t get any safer than this.

By: Akaomachi B.