Black cumin oil is considered an ancient remedy that was used thousands of years ago against a variety of ailments. Thus, the oil, which is extracted from the true black cumin (Nigella sativa), is said to help, among other things, to beautiful skin and hair, as well as to help against ticks, hay fever and other allergies. But the effect of the traditional medicinal plant is controversial. Here you can find info about the application, effect and side effects of black cumin oil.
Medicinal plant with tradition
Black cumin oil looks back on a long history as a medicinal plant. Thus, it was not only found as a burial gift of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, but also has a very special meaning in Islam. The Prophet Mohammed is said to have said that black cumin helps against every illness except death. As a healing spice, black cumin, which by the way has nothing to do with caraway or cumin, was already popular more than 2,000 years ago. Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa seeds) were said to aid digestion and digestibility of various foods and extend the shelf life of pickled vegetables. According to popular belief, a black cumin tea should have a diuretic effect and relieve flatulence. The seeds are still sprinkled on pita bread and are an ingredient in curries. In India, black cumin oil is used as an edible oil. But the oil is not only suitable for cooking, but is also said to have many different effects on health.
Two oils – many effects
Two types of black cumin oil are distinguished: a fatty oil obtained by pressing or chemically extracting the seeds, and an essential oil preceded by an evaporation process. Both oils are said to have numerous positive effects on health. Thus, black cumin oil is said to have the following properties, among others:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Analgesic
- Decramping
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal (fungicidal)
- Antihypertensive
- Antioxidant
Black cumin oil as a natural remedy
Especially in Egyptian folk medicine and Ayurveda, but also in the local naturopathy black cumin oil is often used. Due to its healing properties, it is said to alleviate a wide variety of ailments. These include:
- Flatulence and other digestive problems.
- Urinary tract diseases
- High blood pressure and high blood lipid levels
- Rhinitis and other respiratory diseases
- Headache and toothache
- Joint pain and rheumatism
- Skin problems such as psoriasis, acne, dry skin or athlete’s foot
- Period pain
- Hair loss
- Sleep disorders and ADHD
- Diabetes mellitus
- Low milk production in nursing mothers
In face masks, lotions, soap, bath additives and as a hair treatment, the oil is also said to promote beauty and help healthy skin and shiny hair.
Black cumin oil for prevention and treatment.
Even the development of cancer, especially colon cancer, black cumin oil is to prevent and also mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy. The oil is also used for the supportive treatment of asthma, neurodermatitis, hay fever and other allergies: black cumin oil contains various ingredients that have an anti-inflammatory effect and boost the production of various prostaglandins (tissue hormones). The latter can, among other things, inhibit the release of the messenger substance histamine, which triggers allergic symptoms in the body. By the way: Black cumin oil is also used in veterinary medicine. For example, horses are rubbed with the oil to ward off mosquitoes, flies and parasites. Black cumin oil in dog food has been shown to help keep ticks, mites and other vermin away.
What’s in black seed oil?
There are no standardized quality criteria for the production of black cumin oil. The exact composition of the more than 100 ingredients in the oil can therefore vary depending on the manufacturer and the area of cultivation. Fat black cumin oil is yellowish or reddish to brownish in color and has an aromatic, peppery odor. It consists of various fats and fatty acids. With appropriate gentle production, it contains about 55 to 60 percent linoleic acid, which belongs to the doubly unsaturated fatty acids and is considered very healthy. Gamma linoleic acid in particular is held responsible for the many health-promoting effects of black cumin oil.The volatile essential oil of black cumin is responsible for the smell and taste. It is light yellow, but becomes reddish through storage. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the seeds of black cumin, but is also in the fatty oil obtained by pressing the seeds.
Ingredients with health-promoting effects
Both types of black cumin oil contain – in varying amounts – the germicidal and anti-inflammatory substance thymoquinone, which can have a regulating effect on allergic symptoms, as well as tannins and various saponins, which, for example, are said to help relieve the symptoms of asthma. In addition, black cumin oil contains the minerals selenium, zinc, magnesium and copper, as well as almost all essential amino acids. In addition, several vitamins are found in the oil: beta-carotene, various B vitamins – including B1, folic acid and biotin – as well as vitamin C and vitamin E.
Application and dosage
Black cumin oil can be applied in various ways. Thus, it can be used not only for cooking and baking, but also taken as a dietary supplement. For example, hay fever allergy sufferers are recommended to take one tablespoon of the oil daily before or during meals for several months. If the taste is too strong for you, you can also mix black cumin oil with honey or juice or buy it in capsule form. External application is also possible, for example by rubbing it in (for example, for neurodermatitis) or dabbing it on, for example, the skin around the nose for hay fever. For inhalation, one to two tablespoons of fat black seed oil are added to one liter of hot water. Black seed oil is also frequently used for oil pulling cures (“oil slurping”). When using it as a dietary supplement, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and dosage or seek advice from your doctor or at the pharmacy. Especially if you suffer from a disease, it is advisable to consult your attending physician before taking black cumin oil. Black seed oil is a home remedy that can at most support the treatment of a disease, but not replace it.
Side effects of black seed oil
Black cumin oil should not be taken on an empty stomach, so as not to irritate the stomach lining too much. It is therefore advisable to start with a small dosage and increase it slowly. Cold-pressed oil has fewer side effects than oil produced by chemical distillation, because this process produces terpenes that can cause stomach pain. Possible side effects of black seed oil also include increased belching, especially at the beginning of intake. Overdose led to liver and kidney damage in animal studies. Allergy, especially contact allergy, is also possible. During pregnancy, caution should generally be exercised when using essential oils, as some of these oils can induce premature labor or miscarriage.
Buy black cumin oil
Black cumin oil is available at pharmacies, health food stores, drug stores, health food stores, or online – often under the name Nigella sativa oil. Buy only cold-pressed black cumin oil of controlled organic quality, which is free of flavoring, coloring and preservatives. Whether you buy the black cumin oil filtered or unfiltered is up to you: Unfiltered black seed oil contains more suspended and turbid substances as well as small remnants of the black seed. Thus, the oil in this form is more natural and contains more secondary plant compounds compared to filtered black seed oil. It is also darker and sharper, as well as somewhat more tart in taste. Filtered black seed oil, on the other hand, tastes somewhat milder and is therefore preferred by many people. Also pay attention to the origin: Syrian or Egyptian black cumin oil of the variety “Kara siva” is considered to be of particularly high quality. However, due to high demand, the oil is sometimes adulterated, especially in the Near and Middle East, by being stretched with cheaper oils. For a long shelf life of the healthy active ingredients, it is best to store the oil in a cool and dark place.
Scientific proof of efficacy
The effectiveness of black seed oil is highly controversial, as scientific studies on the numerous touted effects of black seed oil are often still pending. In recent years, however, more research has been done on the subject and initial evidence of some of the effects has been found:
- As scientifically proven is the antibacterial effect, especially the essential oil.
- A study provided evidence of a fungicidal effect of black cumin oil.
- As early as 1986, El-Kadi and Kandil reported at a conference on a stimulating effect on T-helper cells in the blood and thus on a component of the immune system.
- Also on the improvement of symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the reduction of blood sugar levels in diabetes and hypertension by black cumin provided initial evidence studies.
In laboratory tests, the oil was also shown to be effective against worm parasites. In animal studies, an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and possibly even anti-cancer effect of black cumin oil was observed – but broad medical studies with human patients are still pending.
Conclusion: only a dietary supplement.
If one believes the various sales promises, black cumin oil is supposed to help almost like a panacea against various diseases. For this purpose, it is offered as a – sometimes very expensive – dietary supplement, including in the form of capsules. However, the fact that black cumin oil is actually an effective remedy is disputed. Because even if first studies could supply regarding certain aspects references to the effectiveness of black cumin or black cumin oil, the scientific proofs are still pending regarding many of the praised effects. The oil’s particular advantage, linoleic acid, is also found in other, usually less expensive edible fats, such as sunflower oil or safflower oil. The capsules also usually contain too small a quantity of nutrients for your effect to really matter. Anyone who wants to use black cumin oil should be aware that it is not approved as a medicine and can only support the treatment of a disease, but never replace it. Black cumin oil is therefore nothing more than a dietary supplement.
