What Is Black Seed Oil Good For? Four Key Benefits

Black Seed Oil is a health supplement that has been gaining popularity and recognition for its wide range of potential therapeutic health benefits.

 
This post will discuss four key Black Seed Oil benefits. Further, relevant published medical research and scientific studies will be referenced to support their efficacy. We will discuss Black Seed Oil’s potential impact on (1) weight loss, (2) skin health, (3) improved immune function, and (4) reduced inflammation. 

 

A Short History of Black Seed Oil

 

Black Seed Oil is pressed from the seeds of Nigella sativa – an annually flowering shrub native to southwest Asia. You might also hear it referred to as Black Cumin Oil, Black Caraway Oil, Kalonji Oil, or Nigella sativa Oil. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years to treat various health conditions and to reap its supposed health benefits. In fact, historians believe that even King Tut, Cleopatra, and Hippocrates used black seed all those many years ago.
 
The powerful compound known as Thymoquinone, is what makes Black Seed Oil good for so many things. An article published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences calls this compound “an emerging natural drug with a wide range of medical applications” that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective (preventing damage to the liver) properties.

 

If you are complete beginner with black seed oil, this video breaks down what it is, what it can be used for, and how to use it for those purposes. Veterans might even learn something new, too!

 

 
So, what exactly is Black Seed Oil good for?
 
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) once stated, “The black seed can heal every disease, except death”. While there aren’t currently any medical studies to back this statement, the list of what Black Seed Oil is good for that are also supported by science is quite extensive.

 

May Promote Weight Loss

 

Is Black Seed Oil good for weight loss? Here is what the research is saying:
 
A medical review of Nigella sativa for obesity found that it reduced body weight, BMI, and waist circumference significantly compared to placebo groups. The study researchers analyzed 11 different placebo controlled clinical trials on the effects of N. sativa as a complementary therapy in obesity management to come to those conclusions.
 
Another clinical trial examined the effects of N. sativa oil in conjunction with a low-calorie diet in obese women. The results confirmed decreased weight in the N. sativa group compared to the placebo group.
 
Given these findings, adding Black Seed Oil to your daily regimen might be a beneficial aid in the pursuit of a healthier body weight. For best results, take the oil 30 minutes prior to eating. This will help the oil to have an appetite suppressing effect.

 

May Enhance Skin Health

  

Is Black Seed Oil good for skin health? A very large number of people are using Black Seed Oil for skin health every day. Black Seed Oil has been used externally for centuries and has been studied in various medical trials for its effect on different skin conditions, dermatological disorders, and in cosmeceutical formulations. 
 
An incredibly thorough review published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine cited 60 individual studies on the topical use of Black Seed Oil and various skin conditions. These found that Black Seed Oil showed a “clear and undeniable” antibacterial effect. The same was found regarding its antiviral, antifungal, and anti-parasitic properties. It reported the promising potential of treatment in wound healing, as well as a being “good candidate” in the treatment of inflamed skin that could be caused by infection, irritation, rashes, dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis. Finally, good results were obtained on its effectiveness in reducing the size of skin lesions resulting from a hypopigmentation disorder known as Vitiligo.
 
Overall, using Black Seed Oil for skin has many potential benefits and is even used in cosmetic products such as body soap, black seed hair masks, lotion, and shampoo. Of course, you can always make these at home with whatever Black Seed Oil you have on hand.

 

May Boost Immunity

  

Is Black Seed Oil good for boosting the immune system? The main reason many Black Seed Oil users begin taking the oil in the first place is because of its reputation for having strong immune boosting properties. In fact, a medical study published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research calls the immunomodulatory effects of N. sativa one of its most valuable properties.
 
Another medical review on the recent literature of N. sativa confirmed its beneficial immunomodulatory properties, which augmented the T cell- and natural killer cell-mediated immune responses.
 
Its immune boosting capabilities were also demonstrated in an animal study where Black Seed Oil was investigated as a protective agent against the effects of excess vitamin A intake (HVA) and its effect on liver function and immunity. This is the first study to reveal that Black Seed Oil possesses significant hepatoprotective activity against HVA. The oil was a potent inducer of IgB and IgM in rat serum either alone or with high doses of vitamin A. While further studies are needed, these findings provide promise in the physiological and humoral immune responses for Black Seed Oil.
 
In a world plagued by so much sickness and disease, it’s a no brainer as to why so many people are adding Black Seed Oil to their daily line up of immune boosting supplements.

 

May Reduce Inflammation

 

Is Black Seed Oil good for reducing inflammation? The research for this one is very exciting. One medical review determined the oil and Thymoquinone have shown potent anti-inflammatory effects on several inflammation-based models including experimental encephalomyelitis, colitis, peritonitis, oedama, and arthritis through suppression of the inflammatory mediators prostaglandins and leukotriens.
 
A second medical review looked at Black Seed Oil as an alternative treatment in management of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed Black Seed Oil, especially its Thymoquinone content, had valuable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects via different pathways. The efficacy of Thymoquinone as potential treatment was confirmed in different animal models of arthritis and the clinical studies confirmed the oral and topical use of Black Seed Oil without adverse effects in patients suffering from the condition.
 
If you are suffering from pain or inflammation, Black Seed Oil could potentially offer some relief. Try rubbing the oil directly on painful areas two to three times a day. You can do this alongside taking it orally for the best results - it just might be the missing piece to relief you have been searching for.

 

Conclusion

 

Black Seed Oil is good for A LOT - it truly stands out as a likely natural remedy for many different health concerns and conditions. While it shows promising effects in weight loss, overall skin health, immune boosting and anti-inflammatory properties – these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to its extensive list of possible benefits. In addition to these, there is also extensive research to support Black Seed Oil’s potential effect on a variety of different chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, asthma, fertility, cancer and more. We will explore these advantages more in another article soon.

 

Medical Disclaimer

  

Please speak with your doctor or other licensed healthcare professional before beginning any new supplement including Black Seed Oil. None of the content on this site is or should be considered medical advice. The purpose of this article is simply to highlight relevant research for those curious about the potential benefits of consuming Black Seed Oil.