Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil

Black seed oil is indeed good for managing health, but it’s also great for maintaining and improving beauty. Black seed oil can be ingested or used topically to help improve skin and hair.

As a nurse, I rely on western medicine to heal and help patients stay healthy, but I am always amazed at how much wisdom comes from ancient peoples who have used nature’s resources for centuries.

Black seed oil is a perfect example. Black seed oil is derived from a flowering shrub called nigella sativa, which grows in Eastern Europe, western Asia, and the Middle East. The fruits of the shrub produce tiny black seeds that have been used for therapeutic and culinary benefits for thousands of years.

Note: none of this information is to be taken as direct medical advice. Always consult with your primary care provider before trying anything discussed here.

Black seed oil has gone by some other names that may sound familiar:

Black cumin
Black caraway
Black onion seed

When used in cooking, black seed oil tastes similar to cumin or oregano, making it great for savory dishes, and the seeds are often used in making bread, pickles, and curries. EVOO black seed oil can be a great alternative to unhealthy oils, plus it adds a unique flavor to food. Check out these other simple uses for black seeds:

Sprinkle black seeds on toasted bread with cream cheese (mix it in with everything bagel seasoning!)

Add ground black seeds to soups, stir fry’s or one-pan meals

Combine with other spices for delicious spice blends

While black seeds and black seed oil taste great, their health and beauty benefits are what grabs my attention.

Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil

One of the most significant benefits of black seed oil is its anti-inflammatory properties. Black seed oil contains thymoquinone, an antioxidant compound. Studies show this element of black seed oil may contribute to the reduction of cancerous tumors. Here are some additional health benefits of black seed oil.

Black seed oil is:

Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Antihistamine
Analgesic

Helps with digestion – both in seed and oil form, black seed can help reduce gas, bloating, and digestive pain.

Helps manage rheumatoid arthritis – black seed oil has been shown to reduce inflammation and manage pain in the joints.

Helps control asthma – small studies have shown black seed oil to help reduce inflammation and block histamines that lead to asthma.

Improves fertility – black seed oil has shown promise in helping men increase their sperm count as well as sperm mobility.

Helps control diabetes – used with insulin, black seed oil has been shown to help reduce hypoglycemia to manage diabetes.

Helps sustain blood pressure – one study shows that black seed oil helping people lower their blood pressure, which can prevent hypertension.

Reduces inflammation and other side effects of some skin conditions- thanks to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits, black seed oil may help reduce acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Check with your doctor about possible side effects of black seed oil.

If you want to learn more about black seed oil benefits for your health, check with your physician to see if adding black seed oil to your diet can help. There may be some complications taking black seed oil if you are prescribed beta-blockers or blood thinners. Be sure to check with your treating physician before using black seed oil, especially if you take prescription medications.

Keep in mind that too much black seed oil can have adverse side effects on the liver or kidneys. If you are currently managing liver or kidney disease, be sure to consult with your physician about using black seed oil to determine the recommended daily amount you should consume.

Beauty Benefits of Black Seed Oil

Black seed oil is indeed good for managing health, but it’s also great for maintaining and improving beauty. Black seed oil can be ingested or used topically to help improve skin and hair. Here are some clever ways to use black seed oil in your beauty routine.

Use black seed oil for your next massage- adding black seed oil to massage oil can increase the hydration and moisturization of the skin.

Treat your scalp with black seed oil- black seed oil can help reduce flakes from irritated skin and moisturize the scalp.

Help your hair shine- black seed oil can help your hair stay soft, shiny, and easy to manage.

Add black seed oil to your mani-pedi routine- applying black seed oil to your cuticles may help keep them soft and healthy.

Treat wounds and scars- black seed oil, like emu oil and fermented cod liver oil, can aid in healing wounds and reduce the appearance of scars. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may help protect wounds while they heal as well.

Black seed oil has been used for thousands of years for health and beauty and could be an excellent addition to your pantry or medicine cabinet. You can grab a bottle HERE