Q&A: Are Medicines from the Period of the Bartenura Still Valid Today?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Are Medicines from the Period of the Bartenura Still Valid Today?
Question
In Eduyot, chapter 5, mishnah 3:
"As for black cumin, Beit Shammai declare it pure and Beit Hillel declare it impure. And the same applies to tithes."
And the Bartenura explains, regarding black cumin:
"A black seed, called nielo in the vernacular, and people are accustomed to put it in bread. One who regularly uses it does not come to heart pain."
Is this a segulah?
Is this medical advice based on the medical 'science' that was 'known' in his time?
Today, do people think there is something to it?
Does the Rabbi know, is he familiar with this, has he heard of it?
With the blessing of 'and I will remove heart pain from your midst.'
Answer
I don't know.
With God's help, 20 Adar 5781
On the health benefits of black cumin, see:
* Dr. Mordechai Hochberg, 'Black Cumin for Health,' on the site 'Doctors – Portal for Medicine and Health' (and in the literature listed there)
* Atalia Dalal, 'Black Gold: All the Health Benefits of Black Cumin Seeds,' on the Walla Health website
* 'Get to Know the 8 Health Benefits of the Spice Black Cumin,' on the Ba-Bemail website
Regards,
Bari Kimmelman, Google-searcher