Black seed oil is dark colored and has a unique taste. It was used as medicine in Ancient Egypt; it was discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Egyptians revered the oil so much that they buried it with this boy Pharaoh. Black seed oil is more versatile in its medicinal properties than other oils like coconut, olive, or essential oils.
Source
Black seed oil is extracted from Nigella Sativa. This oil is therefore also called nigella sativa oil. There are many other names for the black seed, namely black cumin, Roman coriander, fennel flower. Less familiar names are nutmeg flower or black caraway. Another common name for this seed is kalonji which comes from India. So, it is regionally referred to as kalonji oil.
Nigella sativa is a flowering plant. These seeds grow on large follicles over the fruits. Each flower contains many sources. Nigella sativa is incredibly nutritious.
The famous prophecy
Black seed is associated with a famous prophecy by Prophet Mohammad. A later reference tells us that he once said,” There is healing in black seed for all diseases except death .” Modern research is beginning to open avenues to understanding more about this seed and its medicinal qualities. And whatever we have found until now is quite amazing.
Black seed oil can cure many health conditions, such as diabetes.
Properties
The list of pharmacological and therapeutic properties of the black seed oil is enormous.
- Anti-rheumatic – it provides relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
- Anti-inflammatory – black seed oil is strongly anti-inflammatory.
- Anti-allergic – it has been found that black seed oil can suppress food allergies.
- Anti-diabetes – it has a blood glucose-lowering effect.
- Anti-cancer – the chief anti-cancer compound is thymoquinone.
- Hypotensive – its volatile oils aid in managing blood pressure.
- Anti-tumor or antineoplastic
- Radioprotective – safeguards our cells from harmful effects of damaging radiation.
- Hepatoprotective – within safe limits, it protects the liver.
- The renoprotective – black seed oil also exerts a protective effect on the kidneys.
- Apoptosis Induction – programs potentially harmful cells to die automatically.
- Immunomodularity – keeps the immune system at a balance.
- Analgesic – pain reliever.
- Antipyretic – alleviates fever.
- Antibacterial – kills many bacteria strains, even the most antibiotic-resistant ones like MRSA.
- Antiviral – kills the virus.
- Antifungal – quickly kills many fungi.
- Galactagogue – promotes lactation.
- Adjuvant – modifies the effect of other therapeutic agents.
- Bronchodilator – aids dilation of air passages.
- Laxative – promotes timely bowel movement.
- Antioxidant – protects from free radicals.
- Lipid-lowering – makes the lipid profile healthier.
- Insulin – sensitizer – affects the secretion of insulin. Very few things can impact the pancreas.
- Interferon booster – it can stimulate the production of interferon, which boosts immunity against pathogens.
- Antispasmodic – it relieves involuntary spasms of the respiratory tract, thus providing relief in asthma and other kinds of cough.
- Anti-convulsive – calms seizures.
Uses and Health Benefits
Above mentioned properties is a testimonial that black seed oil can be helpful in every health issue. Despite the low awareness about this oil, the scientific community is actively searching and indexing its health benefits, properties, and medicinal uses. It can be used for simple conditions and personal issues, like a fungal infection or bloating, to more serious infections and conditions, like cancers and tumors.
Black seed oil for acne
Although one can apply black seed oil directly to the skin, this may lead to irritation and even muscle spasms in some cases. Therefore, be on the safe side and use this remedy for acne.
- Ingredients
- Black seed oil
- Pan
- Water
- Directions / How to use
- Add ten drops of black seed oil to 2 quarts of boiling water. The vapor from this water contains volatile components of black seed oil that are beneficial to acne-damaged skin. Take vapor from this mixture and keep a towel over the face. Keep your eyes closed. After about 5 minutes, take away the pain and wipe the face with a clean towel. It is essential that the towel be absolutely clean.
- Why it works?
- The black seed oil has potent anti-bacterial properties. It kills the P. acnes bacteria that causes acne. Secondly, steam opens up the pores.
how to take black seed oil
For Hair Loss
Black seed oil may help in regrowing hair on bald regions of the scalp. Add black seed oil to olive oil in a ratio of 1: 1. Now rub this oil vigorously on bald patches. Wash this with water after about 30 minutes.
For Hair Health
For better scalp and hair health, one can apply black seed oil to the scalp in low concentration. Add black seed oil to coconut oil in a ratio of 1: 2. Now, massage this into the hair. Wash after 30 minutes. This treatment keeps hair safe from hair loss and also makes the hair looks moisturized.
There is some anecdotal evidence that this oil can make hair grow faster.
For Toothache
Black seed oil is an analgesic. One can apply it on a tooth causing pain using a cotton ball undiluted. Only use 3 – 5 drops of oil. This relieves the pain. If this doesn’t provide much help, try clove essential oil for a powerful toothache pain relief.
For Headache relief
Apply a very small amount of black seed oil on a handkerchief. Keep this cloth with you and smell it every once in a while. The aroma of black seed oil relieves a headache.
For Did a wasp bite you?
Black seed oil can take the sting out of a bite. Take some warm water and add 8 – 10 drops of black seed oil. Now dip the affected body part in this water. Please keep it for about 5 minutes. There should be a reduction in pain and stinginess of the insect bite. Throw away that water.
Black seed oil for asthma
For this, one needs a vaporizer. Add a few drops of black seed oil to the vaporizer. Let its aroma diffuse inside the house. Keep the asthmatic patient in this air. It improves respiration, dilates the bronchi, and protects from bronchial spasm. Drink a coffee all this while to get some relief from asthma. Doing this home treatment can ward off an impending asthma attack.
Thymoquinone in black seed oil reduces airway inflammation caused by allergens and inhibits excess mucus secretion by goblet cells. [1]
Reduce an Allergy
This is a prominent effect of black seed oil. It can dull or minimize an allergic reaction[2]. So, if you are allergic to something that happens in spring, start taking black seed oil a few days in advance. This can prevent allergic symptoms like sneezing, sickness, red eyes, burning sensation, and watering from the nose and eyes.
Add a teaspoon of black seed oil to milk, smoothie, shakes, or any other beverage. This way, one doesn’t have to bear its taste. The best way to take it would be to drink it in concentrated lemon juice, which effectively masks its flavor but not the aroma. Do this two times a day.
For alleviating a fever
Add 8 – 10 drops of black seed oil in half a quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray this water all over your body. This has an antipyretic [3] and cooling effect which alleviates the fever.
Anti-bacterial effects of black seed oil
Nigella sativa oil can combat many strains of bacteria. For airborne bacteria, one should diffuse it in the air using a vaporizer. If the smell is too strong, mask it with more pleasing oils like lavender. For internal bacterial infection, add few drops of black seed oil to a beverage. For skin infections, apply it diluted in a carrier oil, preferable olive, coconut, or grapeseed oil.
These are the bacterial strains that it kills.
- Escherichia coli
- Salmonella Enteritidis
- Salmonella Typhimurium
- Shigella flexneri
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Listeria monocytogenes
- MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
These bacteria cause dangerous infections. Among them, the MRSA strain of bacteria causes the most dangerous infections, which are very difficult to treat with conventional medicine. Black seed oil can kill MRSA bacteria, which is nothing but a stubborn Staphylococcus aureus. [4] [5]
Use black seed oil to prevent a seizure.
People who often suffer from seizures should keep this oil at close hand. It is a strong anticonvulsant. It can be sprayed using a sprayer or diffused in the air using a vaporizer.
Black seed oil in the diet
Black seed oil is edible oil. One can include it in diet, like a salad dressing. To get its health benefits, one should aim for 2 – 3 teaspoons of oil consumption. You can add this to your salads, juice, shakes, or anything else. A convenient way to consume black seed oil is to mix it with organic honey. Or, you can drink it in lemon juice extracted from a juicer with the rind on. This juice is much healthier than the one taken from a citrus juicer. Taking black seed oil into the diet has the following health benefits.
- It can improve lipid profile and lower blood cholesterol levels.
- Taking it in a fruit juice can make the person more active throughout the day.
- Drinking it around the sleeping time induces better sleep.
- It reduces inflammation in the body.
- It has anti-cancer activity against prostate cancer, colon cancer, and even pancreatic cancer.
Black seed oil and pancreatic health
There are very few foods that have an anti-cancer effect against pancreatic cancer. The cancer of the pancreas is tough to detect early as its symptoms start surfacing later on in the disease. Of all the various cancers, it is one of those that are difficult to treat and manage. Black seed oil’s effectiveness in treating this cancer asserts the powerful nature of this natural supplement. It also boosts the functioning of the pancreas by improving beta-cell function. These are the cells that release insulin into the body. This information is beneficial to people with pancreatic health disorders, like diabetes. One can say that it is a kind of natural insulin booster.
Potential health benefits of black seed oil
These are some more health benefits of nigella sativa oil, which are based on anecdotal evidence.
- Applying it to the nose can cure sinusitis. You need to add a few drops inside the nose.
- Applying warm black seed oil to painful joints relieves their pain. This applies to all kinds of arthritis, gout, and any other cause of inflammation in joints.
- Sniffing black seed oil may boost memory.
- It can minimize colic in babies. However, its safety is not evaluated for kids.
- According to Ibn Sina ( also Avicenna ), the famous herbalist, black cumin boosts alertness and alleviates fatigue.
Side Effects, Safe Dosage, And Toxicity Issues
There is not much information on the side effects of black seed oil consumed in large doses. However, daily consumption of about three teaspoons seems to be safe. One should avoid giving it to babies. People who are allergic to black seed should also avoid this oil. In large doses, it can start to become toxic, mainly because of a nutrient called melanin. It may also turn out to be paralytic in high doses because of nigellone.
This safety data applies to the consumption of black seeds as well.
In regard to topical application, one should always dilute this oil. The dilution need not be like an essential oil. One can make dilutions of 1: 1 with olive oil. When used neat ( undiluted ), there is a risk of contact dermatitis.
Nutritional and Medicinal Information
Of the total fatty acid composition of black cumin seed oil, these are the amounts of the significant fat classes.
- Saturated fat – 16.8 gm
- Unsaturated fat – 82.9 gm
However, the oil is not completely composed of oils. There are numerous volatile compounds and micro-nutrients in this oil responsible for most of the health benefits.
Fatty acid composition of Nigella Sativa ( Black Seed ) oil
| Nutrient | Percentage | Property |
| Palmitic Acid | 13.1 % | Saturated fat |
| Stearic Acid | 2.3 % | Saturated fat |
| Palmitoleic Acid | 0.2 % | MUFA |
| Oleic Acid | 23.8 % | MUFA |
| Linoleic Acid | 58.5 % | PUFA |
| Alpha Linolenic Acid | 0.4 % | PUFA |
| Arachidic Acid | 0.5 % | PUFA |
| Eicosenoic Acid | traces | PUFA |
| Myristic Acid | 1 % | Saturated fat |
| Erucic Acid | traces | PUFA |
Source : [6]
The oil is high in linoleic acid, which is omega – 6 fatty acids, and an almost negligible amount of omega – 3 ( alpha – linolenic acid ).
Black seed oil is rich in volatile organic compounds, most of which are aromatic. These are the oil nutrients that diffuse into the air upon opening the oil bottle. There are about 32 major volatile compounds [7] in black seed oil. The prominent among them are –
- Thymoquinone – responsible for the most significant health benefits of black seed oil.
- Dithymoquinone ( also Nigellone ) –
- Carvacrol
- Limonene
- p-Cymene
- α-Thujene
- Myrcene
- Trans – Anethole
Black seed oil is also rich in phytosterols. This is a drill-down of the composition of sterols in black seed oil.
| Sterols | Percentage of total sterols | Property |
| Cholesterol | 0.9 | Manufacture of bile and hormones |
| Campesterol | 13.1 | Anti-inflammatory |
| Stigmasterol | 17.8 | Anti-cancer, hypoglycemic. Antioxidant |
| β – Sitosterol | 49.4 | Anti-cholesterol hair growth |
| Δ5 – Avenasterol | 12.4 | Used to predict hyperglycemia |
| Δ7- Stigmasterol | 0.6 | – |
| Δ7- Avenasterol | 2.1 | – |
Black seed oil is terrific for recovering from various illnesses and boosting health in general. It reasserts that the ancient people knew a lot about the health benefits and medicinal uses of foods and that too in a safe, pretty much non-invasive manner. There is immense potential in this oil, and with more research work, one would know more about black seed oil.
Black seed oil vs sesame oil which is better
Black seed oil is made from the kernels of the black sesame plant. It has been used as a natural remedy for centuries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. For example, it was used to treat stomach problems in Ancient China.Sesame oil is made from sesame seeds. The seeds are crushed, heated until they release their oils, and then filtered. Sesame oil has high levels of healthy fats that are good for your skin and hair and can help reduce the risk of heart disease.Making an informed decision about which type of oil to use depends on what you need it for. Black seed oil may be ideal if you have stomach problems, but sesame oil would be better if you’re looking for a healthier fat to cook with or want to moisturize your skin and hair with it.
Black seed oil is a cold-pressed oil that is high in protein and essential fatty acids. It has been used as a folk remedy for many ailments, including diabetes. Sesame oil, on the other hand, is most commonly used when cooking because of its high smoke point. However, it also has some health benefits like lowering cholesterol levels and increasing bone density.
Black seed oil and sesame seed oil are both great for heart health. Both oils are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels. Sesame seed oil has more omega-6 fatty acids than black seed oil. Omega-6 fats may increase your risk of heart disease, if you’re eating a diet that is high in omega-6 fats but low in omega-3s.Black seed oil has higher antioxidant properties than sesame oil and contains vitamin E, tricolsanols, thymoquinone, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and catechins. Antioxidants protect cells from free radicals that cause aging or chronic diseases. Black seed oil may also be beneficial for people who have Type 2 diabetes because it contains chromium and alpha lipoic acid which can improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Black seed oil is a plant that comes from the Nigella Sativa plant. It is a very popular culinary herb, but has also been used in traditional medicine for treating a variety of ailments. Black seed oil is also an excellent source of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium. The oil is both light yellow and has a nutty flavor.Black seed oil is said to be stronger than sesame oil because it contains more vitamin E, minerals and nutrients. Black seed oil should not be cooked because the heat can destroy the nutrients found in it.Black seed oil should not be consumed by pregnant women or children because there are currently no studies on whether or not it’s safe to do so before they’re 18 years old.
References
1. From here to eternity – the secret of Pharaohs: Therapeutic potential of black cumin seeds and beyond. Subhash Padhye, Sanjeev Banerjee, Aamir Ahmad, Ramzi Mohammad, and Fazlul H Sarkar. NCBI
2. Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseases. Kalus U, Pruss A, Bystron J, Jurecka M, Smekalova A, Lichius JJ, Kiesewetter H. NCBI.
3. Pharmacological and toxicological properties of Nigella sativa. Ali BH, Blunden G. NCBI.