Black seed oil is an ancient remedy with modern health uses including hair and skin health, cancers, heart health, eczema and skin care, autoimmune disease and more.
Black Seed is fairly new to mainstream natural health, but isn’t new to medicine
Now, Ayurvedic medicine uses it for hepatitis, fever, diarrhea and coughs. Today, science shows the oil’s unique compounds—crystalline nigellone and thymoquinone—can be beneficial for various respiratory ailments, as a digestive tonic, and as a health and beauty aid for hair and skin. They’re also used to treatheadaches, toothaches, asthma, arthritis, infections and parasites.
What is Black Seed Oil?
Black seed oil is made from the seeds of the black cumin (Nigella sativa) plant, which belongs to the ranunculus family. The black cumin plant is native to southwestern Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. It has been grown for centuries for its aromatic and flavorful seeds that can be used as a spice or as a herbal medicine.
Why is it beneficial to health?
Black Seed contains over 100 active chemical compounds that may increase health. The three ingredients most studied for their effects are: crystalline nigellone – well researched for increasing immune function, especially respiratory health; thymoquinone – researched for cancer treatment, a compound not yet detected in any other medicinal plant; beta-sitosterol – highly researched for gallstones, urinary/prostate health, cancer and cholesterol reduction.
Other health benefits include:
- Help relieve bronchitis
- Remedy colic in babies
- Reduce diarrhea, indigestion and heartburn
- Relieve headaches and migraines
- Calm insomnia
- Help decrease cholesterol and increase the elasticity of blood vessel walls to increase cardiovascular health
- Reduce depression or lethargy
- Reduce signs of eczema
- Ease joint pain and sore muscles (acting as an analgesic)
- Substitute for anti-inflammatory medication
- Help remedy gallstones and kidney stones
- Help prevent poliosis (early
graying )
Note: Facts about black seed
Black Seeds are used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean andIndian cooking, and have a nutty flavour.
Black Seed/Black Cumin Seed is not related to the spice cumin
Black Seed Nigella sativa is a part of the buttercup plant family
Black Cumin is sold as “blackseed” or “black caraway,” but for therapeutic value, only Nigella sativa is true Black Seed
Nigella sativa (Black Seed) has no known negative side effects
Black Seed contains good fats: oleic acid (olive oil’s health-giving component), omega 3, omega 6 and omega 7.
