People have used black seed oil for its therapeutic benefits for thousands of years. It was traditionally used to help treat respiratory ailments and now, recent research has indicated it may be useful as well in treating a variety of other conditions.
Black seed oil is produced by pressing the seeds of black cumin ( Nigella sativa L ). This small plant belongs to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae and grows in various parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is related to the common weed known in North America as “Queen Anne’s Lace” ( Daucus carota ).
It’s commonly used in Ayurveda, a holistic medicine practice that originated in India, and Unani Tibb medicine, which is traditionally practiced in Muslim cultures in South and Central Asia. Black cumin oil is high in vitamin E, thymoquinone, and omega-3 fatty acids. It has traditionally been used as an aid for respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and allergies. More recent research has indicated it may be useful as well in treating a variety of other conditions.
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Black seed oil has been used for millennia in traditional medicine to help treat respiratory ailments and now, recent research has indicated it may be useful as well in treating a variety of other conditions. It is used by some for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, hypertension, weight loss, and other conditions.
Today, black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditions including gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is also used for respiratory conditions including asthma, allergies, cough, bronchitis, emphysema, flu, swine flu, and congestion.
Black seeds are also known as black caraway, black cumin, kalonji, and black onion seeds. Black seed oil contains thymoquinone, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that may also have tumor-reducing properties.
Black seed oil is widely available and can be found in the oil section of most health food stores. It can also be purchased online for those who have difficulty finding it locally.
Health benefits of black seed oil Black
Black seed oil benefits a wide range of health conditions. It is used to treat everything from heart problems and coughs to skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, burns, herpes sores, and fungal infections.
1) Black seed oil boosts immunity
A study published in the journal “Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine” found that black seed oil has immune-boosting properties. Researchers noted that this effect was likely due not only to its antioxidant content but also because it contains thymoquinone. According to a study published in the journal “Phytotherapy Research,” thymoquinone stimulates the production of white blood cells which help fight infection and also heightens the ability of macrophage cells to destroy invading bacteria.
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2) Black seed oil has anticancer properties
A 2016 study published in the journal “Food and Chemical Toxicology” found that black seed oil has anti-cancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a dangerous type of liver cancer. Researchers noted that black seed oil likely works as an antioxidant to suppress oxidative stress caused by free radicals and also exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, which can inhibit tumor growth. In addition, they found that thymoquinone may be responsible for most of these effects because it was able to shut down proteins called Akt kinase (AKT). AKT is known to activate many pathways involved in tumor development. Another study published in the same journal also found that black seed oil was able to control oxidative stress and inflammation in liver cancer patients.
3) Black seed oil has antioxidants properties
Those antioxidants help protect your cells from damage from free radical molecules. They can also have an anti-aging effect on your skin by protecting it from ultraviolet radiation, which is one of the main causes of aging (as well as wrinkles and age spots).
4) Black seed oil may reduce the side effects of some medications
One study found that those taking certain drugs for diabetes were able to lower their glucose and triglyceride levels significantly more when they were given black seed oil in addition. It’s not known exactly why this is, but it’s possible that the antioxidants mentioned above may play a role.
5) Black seed oil has antimicrobial properties
Black seeds are loaded with thymoquinone, so it should come as no surprise that they’re potent against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that can cause illness. Black cumin has even been used to treat severe cases of gastroenteritis.
When applied topically, thymoquinone has antimicrobial properties as well. In one study, researchers found it effective in treating skin infections like abscesses, boils, and wounds in mice with no toxic effects on organs like the liver or kidney. Thymoquinone is also what makes black seed oil a powerful insecticide – one study showed it was just as lethal to fruit flies as the chemical pesticide DDT.
6) Black seed oil may be an anti-cancer agent
Black seeds are believed by many to be able to cure cancer, but there’s still not enough evidence regarding the health benefits of black seed oil to make any claims about its cancer-fighting ability.
However, there are some studies investigating the effects of thymoquinone on cancer in humans and animals. One study found that thymoquinone killed off lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, or programmed cell death – a normal body function at work when it comes to stopping the proliferation of harmful cells like tumor cells. Another study found that when applied topically to skin tumors, thymoquinone reduced the size and number of papillomas (skin growths caused by viruses). In both cases, researchers were careful to point out that their findings do not suggest people should eat black seeds with the goal of preventing or curing cancer.
Another study found that thymoquinone activated the cellular antioxidant response element. The activation of this natural defense system protects cells and has been linked to preventing or curing a variety of diseases, including cancer.
7. Black seed oil may help with asthma and allergies
Black seed oil has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for respiratory problems including asthma. In fact, some studies show that it is even more effective than modern medications! According to the author of The Bible Prescription, Dr. Richard M Ivy: “Numerous scientific studies have shown that after taking [black seeds] orally or applying them on the skin (topically), many asthmatic patients experience rapid relief from constricted breathing passages.” 10 Black seed oil does not cause side effects like pharmaceutical drugs do8. Black seed oil may help with stroke recovery.
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8. Helps maintain blood sugar levels
black seed oil can help regulate your blood sugar level.s, Taking black seed oil daily can, therefore, help diabetics manage their condition. In a study in Pakistan, scientists observed the effects of taking 50 milligrams of Nigella sativa on the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients with hypertension. They found that after being treated with this supplement for six weeks, there was a significant decrease in fasting serum glucose (blood sugar) level and glycosylated hemoglobin. Glycosylated hemoglobin is formed when red blood cells are exposed to high concentrations of glucose over an extended period. The result is that this measurement reflects average blood sugar concentrations during the previous two to three months or more.”
9. Helps treat skin diseases
Black seed oil is something you’d love to see as an ingredient in your skin-care routine. Why? Well, the oil contains a high amount of antioxidants, which makes it beneficial to use for the skin. Antioxidants can help prevent cell damage from free radicals and reduce inflammation. They’re also used to treat various skin diseases. In one study, 20 patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis applied black seed oil onto their skin twice daily. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in itching after two weeks, scaling after four weeks, and erythema after eight weeks.