The black seed oil has been used for its several therapeutic benefits for more than a thousand years. Studies indicate that black seed oil provides numerous cosmetic effects as well as health benefits such as enhancing skin luster and texture, supporting weight loss, and several other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes.
The advantages of black cumin seed oil are exceptionally diverse and dense, including boosting skin health, decreasing inflammation, and reducing blood sugar. Also, it aids in weight loss, lowering allergic reactions, strengthening the immune system, preventing hair loss, and optimizing the respiratory system.
Black seed oil is also known as black cumin oil and is a derivative of the Nigella Sativa (1) (also known as black cumin) plant. The black cumin plant is widely known for its wide range of traditional medicinal properties.
The plant belongs to the Mediterranean, Africa, and southwestern Asia. It is cultivated extensively for the last several decades, thanks to its flavorful and aromatic seeds that are suitable to be used as herbal medicines or spices.
What is Black Seed Oil?
Black cumin seed oil is a derivative of the Nigella sativa plant and generally gets referred to as black coriander oil or black oil. It belongs to the buttercup family and produces tiny black seeds that are extracted to get the beneficial oil, which you can widely use for medicinal as well as culinary applications.
As an extremely potent health oil available out there, there are several reasons behind its use in treating a wide range of health conditions. The advantages of this oil get attributed to its diverse nutritional base which includes fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and myristic acids.
Also, this oil includes various minerals, active ingredients, vitamins, and antioxidants. Black seed oil exhibits excellent antioxidant properties. This oil also helps relieve different types of inflammation on the skin and in the body.
[Also Read: Health Benefits of Castor Oil]
What makes Black Seed Oil Special?
The power behind the effectiveness of black seed oil (2) is its unique and powerful phytochemical composition. A recent study analyzed the original chemical composition of black seed oil, with a prime focus on phytochemicals called TQ, thymol, and THQ.
According to the research:
- Every compound exhibits 100 percent inhibition for all 30 pathogens.
- Thymoquinone shows highest anti-fungal properties as compared to yeast and dermatophytes, followed by thymohydroquinone while thymol was third on the list.
- Thymol turns out to be the best antifungal constituent followed by TQ and THQ.
These results reveal that Nigella sativa oil contains a very unique and powerful chemical constituency that is effective individually while its efficacy increases several times when used collectively with other phytochemicals. Essentially, it proves that molds and fungus cannot survive against phytochemicals.
10 Black Seed Oil Benefits that Boost Your Health
While black seed oil offers several essential health benefits, the following ten are the most beneficial:
1. Cures Stomach Disorders
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Thanks to its function as a potent carminative, the black seed oil can help treat and prevent various disorders associated with the digestive system such as flatulence, bloating, constipation, and indigestion.
[Also Read: Essential oils for Upset Stomach]
2. Reduces Inflammation
The presence of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in black seed oil is directly accountable for reducing inflammation, soothing pain, and lubricating the joints of the body. People suffering from arthritis and chronic respiratory issues or with some other health condition that affects the lining of the stomach can find relief with moderate and regular use of this oil.
3. Prevents Asthma
Inhaling the black seed oil on a regular basis can help reduce the frequency as well as the severity of asthmatic attacks (3). Therefore, nose drops containing black seed oil can prove to be life-saving.
4. Avoids Allergies
For individuals having asthma, using black seed oil regularly can aid in preventing a wide range of allergic reactions such as rashes, stomach upset, skin inflammation, hives, chest tightness, and more.
[Also Read: Get Rid of Allergies Naturally]
5. Skin Care Properties
In addition to being an aid for many ailments, there are also black seed oil benefits for the skin. The antioxidants and fatty acids found in black seed oil are incredibly beneficial to nourish and treat your skin in multiple ways. It helps to moisturize the skin and offers a shield against dehydration, relieves stress, eliminates bacterial infections, reduces wrinkles and blemishes, and stimulates the growth of new cells.
6. Enhances Immunity
The black seed oil has proved beneficial in preventing severe infections such as autoimmune diseases as well as MRSA, thanks to its powerful antibacterial properties. Its unique potency to safeguard the immune system quickly without triggering the system’s attack on your body itself is extremely unusual, hence making it very fascinating for individuals having autoimmune conditions.
7. Avoids Diabetes
Several studies have indicated that black seed oil helps in preventing diabetes. It can also enhance the functioning of your pancreas along with regenerating beta-cells lost over time.
Also, this oil is beneficial for individuals having diabetes since it aids in the regulation of glucose as well as insulin levels in their body.
[Also Read: Black Seed Oil in Treating Diabetes]
8. Reduces Hypertension
Black seed oil is an excellent source of fatty acids, particularly linoleic, palmitic acids, myristic acid, and oleic acid which help in improving circulation along with balancing cholesterol level in your body. It helps in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke, heart, and atherosclerosis.
9. Hair Care
Black seed oil helps in stimulating hair growth along with improving the luster and texture of the skin. You can mix it with shampoos or massage oil or simply consume it in different forms to enhance the levels of antioxidant in the body. Also, topical application of black seed oil helps to prevent dandruff as well as several other skin infections, thanks to the tremendous antibacterial and moisturizing properties of the black seed oil.
10. Helps Avoid Obesity
By adding the right amount of healthy fat to your system, such as oleic and linoleic acids found in black seed oil, you can easily stimulate your mechanism to reduce fat deposition along with generating more energy quickly. Black seed oil for weight loss is also used by many as it decreases fat along with enhancing your overall energy levels to keep you active and agile.
What are the uses of Black Seed Oil?
If you want to broaden your palate, consider adding black seeds to your daily diet. Certain foods you can include are:
- Toasted flatbreads like naan
- Toasted over biscuits or bagels
- Added to soups, stir-fries, and curries
- Grinding them with other seasonings such as cumin seeds, mustard, and fennel
Also, you can buy black seed oil from almost any nearby pharmacy or health store. The oil is generally packed into small capsules to be consumed daily. It is also available as an oil that can be easily applied to the hair and the skin or consumed orally.
What are the side effects of Black Seed Oil?
If you are taking any prescription drugs daily, it is advised that you consult your physician before supplementing with black seed oil to reap its numerous benefits for your skin and overall health. You should not stop taking your prescribed medications without talking to your physician first.
Black seed oil may well enhance the functioning of your liver when consumed in moderation. An overdose of this oil can create toxic and adverse effects on your kidneys and liver. If you have any specific health condition associated with any other organs, then you must consult a registered medical practitioner to discuss your options before using black seed oil.
Also, topical application of black seed oil can lead to allergic reactions in some people and, therefore, it makes sense for you to do a patch test ahead of applying this oil to a large area on the skin. Also, black seed oil should be avoided entirely by pregnant women as it can induce premature labor or an increased risk of miscarriage.
At present, there is no specific daily recommended intake level set by the US FDA. Using the unprocessed black seeds onto the skin or in dishes is the safest way. If you opt for a product with a dedicated packaging, make sure you abide by the recommended dosage, which should typically not exceed 1 – 2 teaspoons daily. Also, it is advised that you consult your healthcare physician before including the black seed oil in your daily use. Now that you know the black seed oil benefits, make sure to include it in your diet as per your health issue.
