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Black seed oil benefits
  • Natural Remedies

Black Seed Oil Uses & Benefits

Katie WellsApr 9, 2015Updated: May 22, 2020
Dr Scott Sorries Medical Advisor Wellness Mama
Medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD
Reading Time: 5 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » Black Seed Oil Uses & Benefits
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • What Is Black Seed Oil?
  • Uses & Benefits of Black Seed Oil+−
    • Asthma & Allergies
    • Eczema and Psoriasis
    • Digestion
    • Candida and Fungus
    • Cancers
    • Heart Health
    • MRSA and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
    • Immune Health
    • Skin and Hair
  • Problems With Seed Oils
  • How to Find Quality Black Seed Oil+−
    • What I Use
    • How I Use Black Seed Oil
    • Dosage, Side Effects, & Common Sense Warnings

There are so many simple natural remedies with a long history of use that have been largely forgotten in modern times. From the health-promoting (and hair-growing) properties of castor oil to the natural remedy uses for apple cider vinegar, remedies found in nature have an important place in maintaining health. One of those is black seed oil.

With all the wonderful advances in medicine and hygiene, a lot of these remedies have been pushed aside. Certainly, there is a time and a place for medicine, but research is now helping us understand the mechanism of these natural remedies that previous generations have depended on for so long.

Many doctors, especially functional medicine and naturopathic doctors, are finding success in combining conventional medical treatments with natural ways to support the body. One of these age-old remedies gaining popularity is black seed oil or Nigella sativa.

What Is Black Seed Oil?

Black seed oil (also often called black cumin seed oil, black coriander oil, or simply black oil) comes from the Nigella sativa plant that is native to Asia. Studies on this incredibly powerful seed oil show it may be helpful in combating superbugs like MRSA or h.pylori and even has helped some cancer patients.

The plant is technically part of the buttercup family and has small, black, crescent-shaped seeds. Historical accounts of black seed use date back as far as the times of King Tut in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra reportedly used black cumin seed oil for beautiful hair and skin, and Hippocrates was fond of using it for digestive troubles.

There are now over 600 studies showing the effects of black cumin seed oil and there is promising research on it use for dealing with autoimmune disease (which is why I’ve been experimenting with it).

Two of its active compounds, crystalline nigellone and thymoquinone, are the most studied, but it also contains myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, proteins, and vitamins B1, B2,B3, calcium, folate, iron, copper, zinc, and phosphorous.

Uses & Benefits of Black Seed Oil

Studies have also shown that black seed oil can be useful for:

Asthma & Allergies

Multiple studies have found that black seed oil has anti-asthmatic effects and depending on the cause of asthma, it was sometimes more effective than conventional treatment. The same properties make it beneficial for relieving allergies for many people.

Eczema and Psoriasis

Black seed oil is also used for skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. It helps soothe inflammation and improve the speed and which skin heals.

Digestion

Nigella sativa seeds are carminative, meaning they aid in digestion and may decrease gas, bloating, and stomach pain. Black seed oil is often sometimes used in remedies for intestinal parasites. In preliminary studies, it was also shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells with no negative side effects.

Candida and Fungus

Black seed oil was also shown to be helpful in battling candida and fungal infections in the digestive system and on the skin.

Cancers

Black Cumin Seed Oil Benefits

Other studies have shown that a compound in black seeds and oil, thymoquinone, helps induce apoptosis (cell death) in leukemia cells. Other studies have shown this same effect in breast cancer cells, brain tumor cells, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, and even oral cancer cells and cavity-forming bacteria. Black seed oil is also sometimes recommended as a natural protection against some of the danger from radiation and used in conjunction with conventional treatments.

Heart Health

Thymoquinone in Nigella sativa seeds has also been shown to have a protective effect on the heart, promote healthy cholesterol levels and help normalize blood pressure.

MRSA and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

A 2010 study found that black seed oil was effective for patients with h.pylori infections (without ulcers). Studies have also shown that black seed oil was effective against MRSA.

Immune Health

Nigella sativa is unique in its way of supporting the immune system. It contains the antioxidants, beneficial acids, and B-vitamins you would expect in a natural remedy, but has an additional benefit. Unlike herbs like elderberry or echinacea that require caution for those with autoimmune disease, black seeds seem to balance the immune system — increasing immune function but not encouraging immune reactions against the body’s healthy tissue.

It has been used in alternative HIV protocols for years and it is often recommended on various autoimmune disease forums (with testimonials from those it has helped). I first found research on black seed oil when researching my own autoimmune thyroid disease.

Skin and Hair

It is also used topically in some cultures to naturally soften, strengthen, and firm skin and help increase hair growth. Some studies even suggest that it may be a very useful remedy against scars and to prevent scar formation on wounds.

Problems With Seed Oils

There can be problems with any vegetable or seed oil, including black cumin seed oil if it isn’t extracted, processed, or packaged correctly. It can easily go rancid if any of these factors are not correct and it is also important that the oil is stored in a dark glass bottle (preferably miron glass).

How to Find Quality Black Seed Oil

Black cumin seed oil is the most absorbable and concentrated form, and from my research, the most effective way to consume black seeds. Ultimately, it is a food product, so make sure that whatever brand you use is high quality and free from harmful additives.

When doing your research, look for brands that are preferably:

  • organic
  • pure-pressed without chemical extraction
  • have no additives or diluting oils
  • protected from rancidity by high-quality light and air-protective glass

What I Use

I buy black seed oil only from Activation Products (also on Amazon) as they meet all of my criteria above. I’ve also personally called and interviewed the founders to make sure the oils met my standards.

How I Use Black Seed Oil

Using black seed oil is pretty simple. I take a teaspoon of the oil straight a couple times a day.

Since it’s also great for skin, I also often add it to my facial oil cleansing blend. I’ve also experimented with adding it to lotions and shampoos for extra detox.

Dosage, Side Effects, & Common Sense Warnings

Black cumin seed oil is an amazing food that has been used for thousands of years for its ability to support health naturally. That being said, it isn’t a panacea or a miracle drug, just a potent natural oil. It is considered safe for culinary use (or in similar amounts… I take no more than a few teaspoons a day).

As always, use common sense. Black seed oil is a food, but a nutritionally potent one. You wouldn’t drink a gallon of coconut oil or eat five pounds of liver in one sitting (I hope), so consume black seed oil as you would any food — in moderate and healthy amounts.

As always, please check with a doctor before taking this or any substance, especially if you have a medical condition or are pregnant/nursing.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Ever heard of or used black seed oil? How do you like it? Share below!

Sources
  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20149611/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3785163/
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12881014/
  4. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/9/11219
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24044882/
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767730/
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19610522/
  8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24191329/
  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18705755/
  10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19610522/
  11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24102983/
Category: Natural RemediesReviewer: Dr. Scott Soerries, MD

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (278 Comments)

  1. April

    April 11, 2015 at 7:35 AM

    I appreciate this post. My friend’s grandmother just finished her chemo, and it would be nice to send her a care package of cancer-fighting food and oils.

    I do wish that more readers would read the entire post before asking questions. Many of the questions asked in the comments section are ones that Katie already provides the answers to in the article.

    Reply
    • Gillian

      April 13, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      How kind and thoughtful of you.

      Reply
  2. Maria

    April 10, 2015 at 7:51 PM

    Nigella is used as part of the spice mixture paanch phoran or panch phoron (meaning a mixture of five spices) and by itself in many recipes in Bengali cuisine and most recognizably in naan bread.
    The seeds are “tempered with onion garlic & ginger” as a base for a curry before the Curry paste/powder is added.
    This is easily available in most Indian Grocery stores. It is very different in taste to Black Cumin Seeds.

    Reply
  3. Margie

    April 10, 2015 at 3:07 PM

    Ah! The comment above just came through for me. I’m thinking I’ll just make sure the bottle from MRH is kept in a brown paper bag in the fridge. Lol! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Margie

    April 10, 2015 at 3:05 PM

    Just curious, it looks as if the oil MRH sells meets your same standards, am I missing something? Thank you!

    Reply
  5. janine

    April 10, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    Hi,
    Thank you for all the wonderful material!
    How do you think this oil compares to the one from Mountain Rose Herbs?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      April 10, 2015 at 2:59 PM

      The one from mountain rose herbs is high quality but it isn’t shipped in opaque/light protecting glass so it has a higher chance of going rancid.

      Reply
  6. olivia

    April 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM

    I love black seed oil! It’s my latest favorite that I’ve been using as a facial oil for the past few months. It has a slightly peppery smell that is not objectionable and the consistency is great. Good information on the internal use too. A few drops in orange juice is surprisingly tasty.

    Reply
  7. janine mahon

    April 10, 2015 at 12:51 PM

    Thank you for your generous sharing of wonderful information and for helping to improve the lives of all.
    What do you think about the Black Cumin Oil from Mountain Rose Herbs?

    cheers!

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      April 10, 2015 at 3:05 PM

      The one from mountain rose herbs is high quality but it isn’t shipped in opaque/light protecting glass so it has a higher chance of going rancid.

      Reply
  8. Theresa

    April 10, 2015 at 12:17 PM

    This is a great article! My mom was shipping some packets of Soul by Rain Intl and I decided after that use to just buy the seed itself. It does not sprout, but I am looking forward to trying it out in cooking and other things to help my family out!!!

    Reply
  9. Theresa

    April 10, 2015 at 11:54 AM

    I’ve just recently purchased some of this BSO and would like to know how to take it….any ideas? It’s just for preventative measures and overall good health right now.

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      April 10, 2015 at 3:06 PM

      I just take a swig a couple times each day.

      Reply
      • Bre

        April 28, 2015 at 2:50 PM

        I purchased the brand in the link you provided. But I am having trouble taking it. It Burns my throat badly. I have a high tolerance for taking “gross” things but this actually hurts! Could it possibly be a bad batch? I had to drink lots of tea following to get rid of the flavor and burn.
        Thanks for any advice.

        Reply
        • Jasmin

          November 11, 2015 at 4:46 PM

          I’ve had that same problem with two different brands. I thought I was allergic to it. Not sure if its supposed to sting your throat.

          Reply
          • Flo

            May 8, 2016 at 1:35 PM

            That happened to me the first time I used it also. Took a teaspoon full and drank it down. Burned for hours. Then I started putting it into my grapefruit juice in the morning and just swigging it down. No more burning or after taste.

        • Flo

          May 8, 2016 at 1:27 PM

          I had the same problem when I first took it. I took a teaspoon full and just swallowed it. The burning was crazy. Since then, I have been putting it into my grapefruit juice in the morning and just swigging it down in one shot. No burning or after taste

          Reply
      • Roby Mitchell

        June 5, 2016 at 6:57 AM

        Helpful to massage directly into thyroid gland. Kills the Candida and reverses inflammation. Improves thyroid function.

        Reply
        • damian

          August 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM

          What did you use with it to kill the yeast ?

          Reply
      • Donna

        August 9, 2016 at 8:16 PM

        Where can I purchase the oil?

        Reply
        • Wellness Mama

          August 10, 2016 at 10:41 AM

          I get mine here: http://www.perfectpressoils.com/black-cumin-oil/?AFFID=196514

          Reply
      • christine michael

        March 17, 2018 at 6:56 PM

        Hi Katie. I just started taking black seed oil capsules one a day at night. By my 3rd day I have gas and loose stools and a little stomach irritation. Do you have any thoughts? Thank you

        Reply
  10. Leam

    April 10, 2015 at 11:36 AM

    Thanks Katie! I don’t have a {known} thyroid problem but I know from research I have hormonal imbalance. Articles like these are so helpful even just as a mother of 6, to learn about effective remedies for the very reason you do what you do- to hopefully extend the lives of our children’s generation! ! ! I

    Reply
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