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What is black seed oil?
The oil extracted from the seeds of the Nigella sativa plant a.k.a black seeds. Grown mostly in Southwest Asia, Southern Europe, North Africa and Middle Eastern Mediterranean including India, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia.
What are the different names of the black seeds?
Black seeds are also known known as nigella,fennel flower, black cumin, black onion seed, black caraway, kalonji and Roman coriander.
How to use black seeds or black seed powder?
You can dry roast the black seeds and then either add them directly in to your curries, soups, salads, stir-fried vegetables etc. Alternatively, you can dry roast and coarsely grind them to make black seed powder at home. Then add this powder in to your smoothies, mix them in to your baking recipes and more.
How to use black seed oil?
Black seed oil capsules are easily found online or any health food store. The black seed oil tastes bitter, kind of similar to cumin or oregano oil. You can directly consume the black seed oil or can apply topically on your skin and hair for multiple benefits.
Black seed oil nutrition facts and calories
1 teaspoon of black seed oil contains |
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Calories: 45 |
Protein: 0 grams |
Fat: 5 grams |
Carbohydrates: 0 grams |
Fiber: 0 grams |
Rich in
It is good source of many vitamins and minerals including Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Copper,Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorous, and Folic acids. It is known as natural antibiotic. The medical properties include anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory,antimicrobial, anti-bacterial and more.
Black seeds benefits and uses
1. Cure yeast infections
The black seed oil has anti-fungal properties and helps fight against Candida albicans or yeast in the body. Intake of black seed powder or oil may be helpful in that.
2. Useful in asthma and bronchitis
Black seed oil act as great anti-inflammatory agents which will help reduce inflammations of the air passages of your lungs. Thereby, alleviating symptoms associated with asthma and bronchitis.
3. Anti-cancer
It is rich in anti-cancer properties. Thymoquinone, found in black seeds helps to reduce the tumor growth. When you topically apply the black seed oil then it will help heal scar tissue from chemotherapy and reduces the risk of skin cancer too. Regular intake of black seed or oil with honey and garlic helps prevent cancer or tumor.
4. Cholesterol management
Consuming black seed or oil helps to manage your cholesterol levels. As, it is rich in fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid. This helps in reducing high cholesterol levels from the body.
5. Heal Rheumatoid arthritis
Black seed oil is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds , that can help people with rheumatoid arthritis. Just apply on the skin and massage properly.
6. Black seed oil for male fertility issues
Thymoquinone, found in black seed oil promote overall male health and helps improve sperm count. Intake of black seed oil helps in improving the reproductive health and solve many fertility issues.
7. Allergy relief
Black seed oil boost your immune system and has many medicinal properties that can provide allergy relief including nasal congestion, sinus issues etc.
8. Diabetes
Intake of black seed oil helps in preventing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. As, it can effectively control glucose levels, and helps inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the intestines. It also increase insulin sensitivity in the liver, that helps in diabetes prevention.
9. Aid in weight loss
Black seed oil helps in weight loss. Especially when you intake it with with turmeric. This way it helps to reduce the body mass index and solve many gastrointestinal problems like heartburn, indigestion, and more.
10. Stomach pain or dyspepsia relief
If you are experiencing stomachache, cramps, or dyspepsia then regularly eat at least 1 tsp of black seeds with honey. Alternatively, you can add 1 tsp black seed oil in herbal teas like peppermint and sip that warm. In this way it helps to treat many symptoms like nausea, bloating, burping,belching, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and more.
11. Muscle pain relief
Massage with black seed oil to relieve muscle tension or pain. This often happens when one do heavy exercise or overdo physical activities like running etc.
12. Eczema treatment
Eczema is a chronic skin condition in which skin become red, itchy and often accompanied by swelling and blisters. Apply a teaspoon of black seed oil mixed with a teaspoon of honey on the affected skin twice a day. Optionally, you can add few drops of vitamin e too in that.
The phytochemicals found in black seed oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties that helps soothe inflammation and redness.
13. Insomnia treatment
People who are experiencing sleeping problems like insomnia, must try consuming a tsp of black seeds with a tsp of honey before going to sleep.
14. Cure dry mouth or throat problem
People with reduced production of saliva often experience dry mouth or xerostomia. They might find difficulty in speaking too. Try swishing the black seed oil to cure dry mouth or any throat problems. Just swallow a teaspoon of black seed oil and swish it like you do oil pulling for 10 to 15 min. Then do not rinse your mouth for at least 30 minutes, let the black seed oil do the work. You can do this twice a day.
15. Back pain treatment
To relieve back pain, rub black seed oil on your back and massage till it is soaked in the skin perfectly. Ideally do this before bedtime. Alternatively, you start eating a tea spoon of black seed mixed with honey for more benefits.
16. Breastfeeding mother or lactation
Mother who are breastfeeding their child can have a teaspoon of black seed oil mixed with a tbs of honey to ensure full lactation.
17. Relieve toothache
To relieve tooth pain or decay, use black seed oil as a mouth rinse. You can either boil the black seeds in water and use that as a mouth rinse. Or you can massage you tooth with equal amount of coconut oil and black seed oil after brushing your teeth.
18. Hemorrhoids cure
Hemorrhoids or piles, put extra strain on your bowel movement. These inflamed veins can cause bleeding, discomfort, and itching around the rectum or anus. Mix black seed oil or black seed with honey and have it every day. You can topically apply the black seed oil around the rectum or anus area for hemorrhoids relief.
19. Remove gallstone naturally
Gallstones are made up of cholesterol from the gallbladder. For treating gallstone take a teaspoon of black seed mix it with a teaspoon of honey. Have this mixture with warm water twice per day.
20. Improve your eye vision or eyesight
Add black seeds into your diet to avoid or cure eye related problems. Add a teaspoon of black seed oil in a cup of fresh carrot juice. Drink this every day to improve your eyesight and for more benefits.
21. Diarrhea treatment
Consuming a teaspoon of black seed oil in a cup of yogurt helps treat diarrhea. You can optionally add honey in that mixture.
22. Treat cough
Black seeds can help relieve cough naturally. Just take one teaspoon of black seed oil mix with organic honey twice per day till cough is gone completely.
23. Sore throat treatment
To cure sore throat problem mix a teaspoon of honey, lemon juice with a teaspoon of black seeds. Have this mixture twice per day.
24. Chest congestion relief
To remove chest congestion with black seeds oil, try to gargle with it every day. You can add this oil in to your steamer and take steam. Just take a teaspoon of black seeds twice per day in your diet. Optionally you can add honey for better taste.
25. Improve heart health
Regular intake of black seed or oil helps reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease or heart disease. Just drink a cup of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of black seed oil before breakfast.
26. Get glowing skin, remove acne, age spots, fine lines or wrinkles
Regular intake of black seed or massaging the black seed oil on the skin can restore the complexion. It will to remove acne, age spots, remove discoloration, hyper pigmentation, redness, unclog pores and other inflammation. It is rich in fatty acids that helps hydrate the skin, plump fine lines and wrinkles.
27. Heal psoriasis
In psoriasis, there is overproduction of skin cells which body is unable to rid of them as fast enough. In this case, consuming black seed and topical application of black seed oil helps reduce and fight against this inflammation.
28. Blood pressure management
Black seeds can help in hypertension or high blood pressure problem. Consume about 100-200 mg of black seed extract, twice every day for 2 months. You can boil a cup of water and add a teaspoon of the black seed oil in it. Also, you can combine black seeds with garlic and honey. Have this mixture with warm water.
29. Heal bee sting or insect bites
Insect bite or bee sting can cause rashes, pain, swelling, and cause inflammation of the skin. You can effectively treat them without any side effects with black seeds. Either you can topically apply black seed oil on them. Alternatively, you boil the water with black seeds. Then once this mixture cools down you spray this on the affected area to reduce pain, itching and swelling.
30. Hair fall or hair loss treatment
For hair loss treatment just massage your scalp with black seed oil properly. Leave it for 3 to 4 hours and then wash off with shampoo.
31. Prevent dandruff premature grey hair
Massage the scalp with black seed oil mixed with olive oil to fight dandruff and prevent graying of hair at early age.
32. Promote brain health
Thymoquinone found in black seed oil may help in reducing inflammation of brain tissue. This reduces the risk of many neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
With regular intake of black seed oil helps in improving memory, attention span and other cognitive abilities.
Note: Always do a patch test on the skin prior using any skin remedy or consult your physician before stating any natural remedy.
Dosage requirement
You can consume black seeds oil in either tincture or capsule form. About 0.5 – 2g of ground black seed can be consumed for 12 weeks, then take break.
About 100 – 500mg of black seed oil can be taken twice daily for a month or two.
You can apply black seed oil on skin every day for one to two months.
Possible Side Effects and Interactions of Nigella Sativa
Must consult the physician if you are pregnant, bleeding disorders, diabetes, or undergoing any surgery.
There are no significant research that studied black seed use over longer periods of time. However, upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, slow clotting, reduce blood pressure are seen in some cases.