6 Benefits of Black Seed Oil

The black seed oil also called black cumin or black cumin oil, and scientifically referred to as Nigella sativa is one of the most common supplements around known for its medical benefits, as well as the fact that you can use it as an extract, an oil or a spice.

Over the years, the use of the black seed oil has been on the rise thanks to research which has revealed and proven that this naturally-occurring product has multiple health benefits. These benefits come from the bioactive ingredient in the black cumin seed oil – thymoquinone. Studies on thymoquinone reveal that this bioactive compound helps in protecting the liver, it reduces inflammations, fights cancer, and it’s also a powerful antioxidant. Also, the seeds contain a compound, alpha-hederin which is believed hold potential cancer-fighting effects.

Besides these two ingredients, the black seed oil is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and healthy fatty acids.

So, which are the health benefits expected from the use if the black seed oil?

1. Black Seed Oil Protects the heart

Today, heart diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyles are killing more people than ever, and even more than other illnesses. And the cliché ‘you are what you eat’ couldn’t be more accurate.

However, did you know that that black seed oil you have been avoiding could be exactly what you need to protect your heart and to live longer?

Well, the black seed oil makes this possible by improving your blood pressure and the blood lipids.

Effects of black seed oil on your blood pressure

Using extracts from the black seed for at least two months’ lowers blood pressure in patients with mildly elevated blood pressure levels. Daily use of the extracts also lowers your blood LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) further protecting the heart. Unfortunately, the effects of black seed oil on patients with moderately high blood pressure are insignificant.

Effects of black seed oil on your blood lipids

Black seed oil further protects your heart by reducing the levels of blood lipids. The concentration of blood lipids should be kept low because in excess, the lipids buildup and then harden the walls of the arteries. A review of some clinical studies reveals that the supplementation with black seed oil lowers the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol.

It should also be noted the lipid-lowering effects of black seed extract is larger with the oil rather than the black seed powder. However, this doesn’t mean avoiding the powder completely because only the powder is capable of increasing your HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels.

The other ways in which the black seed oil protect the heart include the flushing out of excessive fluids, the reduction of the sympathetic (fight/ flight) responses, and it also increases the levels of the blood-vessel-relaxing nitric oxide. And besides lowing blood lipids, it also acts as an antioxidant.

2. Black seed oil is effective in reducing allergies

From several human studies, the use of black seed oil helps in reducing allergy symptoms with its effects stronger in persons with difficulties breathing.

In one study, a boiled extract of these seeds was shown to improve asthma symptoms effectively. This study featured 29 asthmatic patients, and after the study, these patients reported a reduction in the frequency of the asthma symptoms, as well as a reduction in wheezing and an improved lung function in about three months. The patients using the black seed extract also reported a decreased need for inhalers and additional medications.

The black seed oil was also shown to reduce the subjective allergy symptoms like stuffy nose, sneezing, eczema, itching, congestion, and asthma. In other studies, the use of the black cumin seeds oil after immunotherapy increased the number of neutrophils while reducing allergy symptoms.

Other than allergies, black seed oil could help deal with respiratory problems that are not caused by allergies directly.

3. Black seed oil helps with diabetes

For years, the practitioners of traditional medicine have used and praised black cumin in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. Its effectiveness is seen in the reduction of high blood sugar and in preventing insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes.

While an extremely low blood sugar level is dangerous, supplementation with black cumin helps you keep your blood sugar levels in check. Just make sure you talk to your doctor first.

Since it lowers blood lipids and blood glucose levels, the black seed oil could be a long-term remedy to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

A study on rats revealed that the extract improves cellular sensitivity to insulin while activating the energy balance pathways, hence an improved natural ability to fight type 2 diabetes.

4. It is a powerful antioxidant

From multiple cell and animal studies, the black seed oil is a strong antioxidant that acts on numerous anti-oxidant pathways. For example, it increases the production of the antioxidant enzymes in the liver like glutathione. It also lowers the levels of homocysteine, and it protects tissues from oxidative damage.

The black seed oil also restores the antioxidant enzymes that help in clearing parasitic infections.

And, thanks to its antioxidant effects, this oil neutralized the harmful and damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) while preventing damage to the brain.

5. Black seed oil reduces inflammation

The active ingredient in black seed oil, thymoquinone boasts anti-inflammatory effects. Its anti-inflammatory effects make black seed oil an ideal solution for the management of conditions such as arthritis. In studies on rats, the black seed oil was shown to reduce the autoimmune inflammation of the brain in rats with multiple sclerosis.

These anti-inflammatory effects are believed to come from thymoquinone which lowers the circulating levels of inflammation-causing cytokines. It also increases the concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokines.

6. Black seed oil reduces anxiety

Black seed oil decreases anxiety and boosts your cognition and mood by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.

Its calming and brain-protective effects are believed to come from its active ingredient – thymoquinone which caused an increase in the levels of GABA in tested mice.

History of Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa Oil)

Black seed is a flowering plant that is native to the Mediterranean region. Over the years, its use spread to Eastern Asia, North Africa, Southern Europe, and then to North American and Eastern Europe. For the longest time, the black seed plant has been cultivated for culinary and medical uses. Note, however, that because of the seed’s sensitivity to soil and climatic conditions, it’s production takes places around the Middle East and the Mediterranean Basin.

Its earliest use for health purposes can be traced back to Ancient Egypt’s, Assyrians hi called black seed oil “tin tir” and took it orally as a cure for stomach ailments. Externally, they used it to treat sores, rashes, bites, and other forms of inflammations. The Egyptians also used it externally on the skin for healthy skin.

For over 2,000 years, black seed has been used as a remedy for various illnesses with the Greek recorded to have used black seed for headaches, toothaches, nasal congestion, as well as the treatment of intestinal worms.

In Islamic cultures, black seed has a strong background with Islamic literature recording that black can be used to cure every disease, except for death. It is, therefore, called The Blessed Seed.

It’s also used in Ayurveda where it’s effective in the management of nervous disorders, anorexia, and in treating gynecological problems. It’s also known for its mood-lifting effects, stimulation of metabolism, and for general body wellness.

Other than its medicinal benefits, black seed’s bitter taste makes it a suitable addition to liquors and confectionery. You could also use black seed out to infuse flavor into various foods or as an antiseptic when applied topically.