Black Seed Oil Health Benefits

Black seed oil or rather the herb itself is reported to have been used for over 2000 years. Recordings mention itas far back as 1400 years. Black seed was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen.An issued patent covers the use of black seed to stimulate immune-competent cells inhumans; however, this should not be taken as evidence for the safety and efficacy ofblack seed as an immunostimulant.

The history and health benefits of Black Seed oil,a botanical with vast and substantial healing properties. There are even 5separate Black Seed patents in the US for the treatment of diabetes, for inhibitionof cancer cell growth, improvement of the immune system, viral Infections, andpsoriasis. Today, black seed is used for treating digestive tract conditionsincluding gas, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and hemorrhoids. It is alsoused for respiratory conditions including asthma, allergies, cough, bronchitis,emphysema, flu, swine flu, and congestion.Other uses include lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels,treating cancer, and boosting the immune system. It can lessen inflammation,relieve pain, fight infections and reduce fevers. Women use black seed for birthcontrol, to start menstruation, and to increase milk flow. Some people apply black seed directly to the skin for joint pain (rheumatism), headache, and certain skin conditions. This seed has the ability to modulate different and vast healing pathways; however, this is a common occurrence among traditional plant medicines!

Allergies:Black seed lessens allergic reactions by acting as an antihistamine.(2) In four clinical studies it was concluded that, “Black seed oil therefore proved to be an effective adjuvant for the treatment of allergic diseases.”(3)Alzheimer’s:A new human study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology revealed that Black Seed might provide an ideal nutritional supplement for preventing or slowing the progression of Alzheimer disease. The researchers also noted that beyond its neuroprotective properties Black Seed also has kidney protective, lung protective, cardioprotective and liver protective properties.(4) Another study documented that Black Seed Prevents Alzheimer's Associated Neurotoxicity.(5)Asthma:Black seed oil has been traditionally used for centuries for easing respiratory problems. Research proved that Black Seed and its active constituents (i.e. thymoquinine) have beneficial effects on the inflammatory factors leading to asthma. Thymoquinone, is superior to the asthma drug fluticasone in an animal model of asthma.(6) A human study found that boiled water extracts of black seed have a potent anti-asthmatic effect on asthmatic airways.(7) As a note of interest, there is a patent on Black Seed in the UKfor Asthma

Many studies have been conducted on the anti-tumor effects of Nigella Sativa or the black seed oil.In 1997 at the Cancer Research Laboratory in South Carolina, USA, researchproved that Black Seed oil increased the growth rate of bone marrow cells by astaggering 250% and inhibited tumor growth by 50%. Black Seed has beenproven to be effective against many cancers including blood(leukemia)(8), brain(9),breast(10)(11), cervical(12), colon (compares favorably to the chemoagent 5-fluoruracil in the suppression of colon cancer growth, but with a far higher safetyprofile)(13), liver(14) , lung(15), oral(16) and pancreatic(17) . Black seed is also thought to prevent and inhibit the development and metastasis of neoplastic cells associated with cancer. Most studies are, however, in animals or in human cell lines.Circulation:Black seed is protective against heart attack damage and helps to lower blood pressure.(18)(19) Chemotherapy/Radiation damage:Black seed is sometimes used in combination with cysteine, vitamin E, and saffron to ease the side effects of a chemotherapy drug called cisplatin.(20) Black Seeds active compound, thymoquinone, has been found to protect brain tissue from radiationinduceddamage. Researchers say the substance is able to “clearly protect brain tissue from radiation-induced nitrosative stress. Chemical Weapons Injury:A randomized, placebo-controlled human study of chemical weapons injured patients found that boiled water extracts of Black Seed reduced respiratory symptoms, chest wheezing, and pulmonary function test values, as well as reduced the need for drug treatment: https://www.reddit.com/r/Black_Seed_...lack_seed_oil/

In allergic conditions, black seed might have antihistamine effects. Although not yetdemonstrated in humans, low concentration of the constituent nigellone has beenshown to inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells in animals(233). Black seed isthought to have immunoprotectant effects. Preliminary evidence suggests it may helpminimize chemotherapy-induced decreases in hemoglobin and leukocyte counts. Itmay also enhance the production of certain human interleukins and alter macrophages(234). Black seed is also used as an anticancer agent. According to preliminary studies,black seed may inhibit stomach tumors, carcinoma, and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (236,239). The black seed constituents thymoquinone and dithymoquinone are actuallycytotoxic toward human cells (238). Although some evidence suggests thymoquinonemay offer protection against chemically induced hepatotoxicity (237, 240), a study in ratsindicates that black seed may actually be hepatotoxic. A fixed oil from black seed isreported to have anti-eicosanoid and antioxidant effects, which may supportanti-inflammatory activity (235), but this effect has not been studied in humans. Theessential oil may have antimicrobial and anthelmintic activity, particularly againststaphylococcus as well as other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Black seed may have anti-oxytocic potential, and may inhibit spontaneouscontractions.

We all know that like all other Prophets of God, nothingbut truth came out from the mouth of Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم .(The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم (never spoke a single lie in his entirelifetime of 63 years. That is why he earned the title „AlAmin‟meaning Trustworthy from everybody irrespectiveof their religious faiths and tribes. So his statements onhealing are also true, and modern medical science is nowproving it through research after 14 centuries. Onewonders how an unlettered man of the desert withouthaving any pen and paper, could make such a wonderfulstatement on medical science? About Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم (Almighty God (Allah) says in the Holy Qur‟an, “He doesnot speak anything of his own desire…” (Surah An-Najm53:3). In other words, whatever he speaks are nothingbut divinely inspired words. Since Islam is a completeand divine way of human life; it must contain someaspects of health and wellness, sickness and cure, anddisease and treatment in it. That is why God (Allah)inspired Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم (to make over 1000 statementsof healing for the benefit of man for his transient stay onthe earth; because man needs to remain well, free fromsickness to fulfill his brief mission on earth. However, it isvery amazing that not a single statement of the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وسلم (on healing is found to be contradictory to the basicprinciples of modern medical science and pharmacy.


The Arabic name of Nigella sativa Linn. is HabbatusSauda or Habbat al Baraka‟. It is also known around theworld by many other names because of its ancientpopular history and medicinal value. It is known as blackcaraway, roman coriander, carvi (French),schwarzkummel (German), kalonji (Hindi/Urdu), kezah(Hebrew) chernushka (Russian), corek-out (Turkish),siyahdaneh (Persian) etc.It is an annual herbaceous plant. The name N. sativacomes from the Latin word, nigellus, meaning black. It istranslated as „Seeds of Blessing‟. Black cumin has evenbeen described as a “miracle herb”. The seed is calledblack cumin or black seed in English, while in old Latin itAdv Med Plant Res 28Figure 1. Nigella sativa seed.Figure 2. Nigella sativa plant flower.Figure 3. Bioactive compoundThymoquinone (TQ) from Nigellasativa extract.was called „Panacea‟ meaning „cure all‟ (Figures 1 to 3).It is known as „Kalijeera‟ (Bangladesh), „Kalonji‟ (in India)and „Hak Jung Chou‟ (China). The common Englishname for Nigella sativa is Love in a Mist. Nigella sativa isa member of the Ranunculacae family (Khan et al.,2011).N. sativa has been used by millions of peoplethroughout the agesBlack cumin seeds have been used to successfully keeppeople super healthy – for over 3,300 years. It is one of the earliest cultivated plants in human history, whichmeans it was one of the early providers of life. Themiracle seed has been used by millions of people to treatvarious ailments for centuries in different parts of worldespecially, in Mediterranean, Middle East, and India,Pakistan, Bangladesh and also in Europe. Black seedshave also been used for cooking for thousands of years.

In the West, the effect of the oil has been used for a longtime against wind, dysentery, stomach and lung disease,jaundice, diuretic problems and to increase a nursingmother‟s milk. According to Dr. Schleicher, the reasonwhy this oil is so exceptional is that its component partsact in unison to produce an optimum effect for so manycomplaints. However, one has to make sure that only thepure and tested oil is being used. Schleicher‟s colleagueshave reacted very positively after the publication abouthis success with patients who have used the black seedoil. Professor G. Rietmuller, Director of Institute forimmunology at the University of Munich believes that thisplant extract works positively on the immune system andcould be used as a bio-regulator. Professor MichaelMeurer of the Dermatology Clinic in Munich has for a longtime been convinced about the success of this oil. Fromhis experience the oil helps stop inflammation and help swith neurodermitis.