8 Advantages of Black Seed Oil as a Supplement

The small black seed of the Nigella sativa plant has been used by humans as a health supplement for at least 2 millennia. Hailing primarily from Southwest Asia, this cousin of the coffee plant and its powerful seeds are now becoming known in the complementary healthcare community as a reliable ally. Let’s talk about 8 compelling advantages of black seed oil as a supplement. 

The Power of Thymoquinone

Thymoquinone is the primary ingredient in the black seed (also called Kilongi or black cumin). And it’s this compound in black seeds that accounts for its numerous health benefits. With antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thymoquinone has also been seen to offer a protective function to the liver and kidneys. The latter effect contributes to improved healing for systemic illnesses like diabetes.

The impact of thymoquinone on human health is being diligently studied, with pharmaceutical companies exploring a variety of applications for the compound, including the disruption of cancer cell growth in the body. A powerful, naturally occurring chemical compound, thymoquinone is finding its place in the modern phyto-pharmacological universe.

Cancer Protection

Peer-reviewed research into the effect of black seed oil as an anti-cancer treatment continues to be scarce but that’s rapidly changing. Thymoquinone has been seen to stunt and even stop the growth of cancer cells. For melanoma (skin cancer), thymoquinone has been seen to kill cancer cells. As cancer patients continue to demand less catastrophic treatments than those currently available (chemotherapy and radiation), phytochemicals (plant-derived) are being turned to, including thymoquinone.

Diabetes Regulation and Prevention

Perhaps black seed oil’s biggest claim to fame is in the arena of managing type 2 diabetes. Over time, black seed oil has been seen to reduce blood glucose levels in those who followed a supplement regime. There is also evidence to suggest that the black seed is capable of decreasing insulin rejection and improving the production of insulin in the body. But the really big news is that research suggests black seed oil may prevent people from developing diabetes! This effect is linked to black seed oil’s anti-inflammatory properties, with researchers now saying that diabetes (especially type 2) is linked to inflammation in the body.

Reduced Blood Pressure

People challenged by hypertension will also be happy to hear that black seed oil, when regularly administered, can reduce your blood pressure, with the possible effect of preventing future cardiac events. No adverse effects were observed in the patient liver or kidney function, with a twice-daily 2.5 ml dose of black seed oil.

Weight Maintenance

Black seed oil may reduce the appetite of people experiencing difficulties with overconsumption. When obesity is treated with a doctor-directed low-calorie diet, the addition of a black seed oil supplement was seen to improve BMI (body mass index). The promising results seen by researchers are provoking further research toward establishing the role of black seed oil in weight maintenance and reduction. Of course, regular exercise is the most effective way to maintain a healthy weight.

Eczema Treatment

There are a million skin potions on the market but black seed oil offers a natural solution to sometimes painful, disfiguring skin disorders Eczema is the inflammation of the dermis, causing the skin to be itchy and dry. Scaly patches and blisters can become infected in serious cases. The anti-inflammatory properties of thymoquinone again provide relief to sufferers. One study found that using black seed oil in a topical formulation was as effective in reducing eczema symptoms as steroidal creams formulated for the purpose.

Reducing or Eliminating Acne

Black seed oil’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are tailor-made for the skin disorder “acne vulgaris” (commonly called acne). Acne presents as both a reaction to impurities in the skin and resulting inflammation, the combined effect causing welts to form. Without side effects, the impact of black seed’s natural healing properties was seen in a 2015 study to reduce a majority of study participants’ acne. Using a formulation containing only 10% black seed oil over 2 months, almost 60% of participants saw significant improvement, including in the frequency of acne breakouts.

Asthma Relief

The anti-inflammatory effect of black seed oil has been seen to help asthma sufferers by reducing inflammation in the airway. In an Iranian study, participants given 500 ml of black seed oil twice per day over a 4-week period saw better function in the lungs and reduced incidents of asthma attacks.

Big Pharma Meet Big Phyto

As the pharmaceutical industry discovers the healing properties of the small, black Nigella sativa plant, it’s discovering a world of benefits, primarily held in the miraculous compound, thymoquinone. While studies continue to empirically establish the value of the black seed to human health, the West is finding out what the East has known for over 2,000 years – that the black seed packs a health punch on numerous fronts.

When sourcing black seed products, whether oils, tinctures, or topicals, always seek out reputable producers who work with high-quality, high-thymoquinone-content black seeds.