Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa) | FULL HEALTH SECRETS

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK SEED (NIGELLA SATIVA)

Written by Slawomir Gromadzki, MPH

WHAT IS BLACK SEED

Black seed (Nigella sativa) comes from a flowering plant which grows in Southwest Asia and the Middle East. Its fruit is large and contains numerous small black seeds.

SOURCES

Currently, the main sources of black seed are primarily India, Turkey and Egypt.

NAMES

Depending on geographical regions, the black seed is known by different names including black coriander, charnushka (or czarnuszka), kalonji, black onion, black caraway or black cumin. However, it shouldn’t be confused with black sesame, true cumin (Cuminum cyminum), or especially black cumin (Bunium bulbocastanum) as black seed comes from a completely different plant not even related to them.

HISTORY

Historical accounts of Black seed use date back as far as the times of Tutankhamun, the famous Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty who lived in 1332–1323 BC.

The black seed oil was found in his tomb. Queen Cleopatra used black cumin oil to maintain beautiful skin and hair. Also, Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine” was recommending it for various ailments, especially digestive complaints.

AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS OF BLACK SEED (NIGELLA SATIVA)

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT & ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Black seed holds a complex mixture of various ingredients with the four major ones known as Thymoquinone (TQ), Thymohydroquinone (THQ), Alpha Hederine, and Nigellon.

It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids Omega 6 & 9, Vitamins & Minerals, including Copper, Iron, Phosphorus and Zinc.

Black seed also contains Thymol, Nigellone, Saponins, Carvacrol, T-anethole, 4-terpineol, Carvone, Limonene, Citronellol, Alkaloids, and some Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of alpha linolenic acid.

FATTY ACIDS

5 ml (1 teaspoon) of cold-pressed Black seed oil contains approximately:

Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) – 2500mg

Oleic Acid (Omega 9) – 1100mg

Alpha-Linoleic Acid (Omega 3) – 10mg

Looking at the content you may think that Black seed oil can’t be so healthy because it is high in Omega 6 polyunsaturated linoleic acid which is also the key pro-inflammatory fatty acid in bad commercial refined oils such as sunflower oil, soya oil, corn oil, vegetable oil and margarine.

IS THE HIGH CONTENT OF OMEGA 6 IN BLACK SEED OIL A BAD THING

The same fatty acid in Black seed oil is healthy due to the following reasons:

– Unlike refined commercial oils, the Black seed oil is cold-pressed and raw (not heated) and therefore will not generate free radicals.

– Consumption of linoleic acid with commercial bad oils is very high and therefore harmful (they are abundant in many very popular foods) but the daily intake of Black seed oil should be only 1-2 teaspoons a day.

– Linoleic acid is still an essential fatty acid which we need every day but in a small amounts (we need more omega 3 than omega 6).

– Part of Linoleic acid is even converted in our body to gamma-linolenic acid (found especially in starflower oil and evening primrose oil) which is very beneficial for our nervous system, immune system, hormonal balance, blood glucose and cholesterol levels (>), blood pressure, and have anti-inflammatory properties (>).

– Unfortunately, part of linoleic acid (omega 6) is also converted to arachidonic acid – which is known to trigger inflammation (including in the brain, thus contributing to depression and other problems) but only if its levels are high. Since Black seed oil is consumed in small amounts it is only beneficial and harmless. The key source of arachidonic acid is meat and dairy. Significant amounts are also converted from the mentioned above bad oils and margarine.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Published in 2013 excellent review on the therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa, summarised the possible health benefits of this herb in the following way: “The original research articles published so far have confirmed the pharmacological potential of N. sativa seeds, its oil and extracts and some of its active principles, particularly TQ and alpha-hederin, possess remarkable in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities against a large variety of diseases and found to be relatively safe.” (>)

ANTIOXIDANT

Thymoquinone acts as a free radical scavenger and helps preserve in the body the most powerful antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, known as key detoxifiers which protect body cells and liver against damage caused by various toxins.

Apart from thymoquinone several other compounds found in Nigella sativa, such as carvacrol, t-anethole and 4-terpineol, are responsible for its potent antioxidant properties (>).

ACETYLCHOLINE BOOSTER

Thymohydroquinone, one of the key active ingredients of Nigella sativa, is now regarded as one of the most potent natural acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors which inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine. In this way, thymohydroquinone prolongs the time the neurotransmitter acetylcholine remains active in the brain.

It means that without causing side effects Nigella sativa could replace the pharmaceutical-grade acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, myasthenia gravis, neurodegenerative conditions or schizophrenia! (>)

ALLERGIES & ASTHMA

The Black seed oil contains nigellone, shown by research to be an impressive antihistamine agent, which can be very beneficial in helping reduce symptoms of allergies and hay fever that are associated with increased levels of histamine.

In a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, black seed oil was found to reduce allergic symptoms including nasal congestion, itching, runny nose, and sneezing after two weeks (>).

Apart from being beneficial for relieving allergies, black seed oil has been traditionally used for centuries for easing respiratory problems including asthma. Nigella sativa helps asthmatics in many different ways, it lowers histamine levels (>), kills bacteria that often trigger or contribute to asthma, has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties (>), and dilates contracted bronchial tubes improving breathing during an asthma attack.

Numerous studies have provided evidence that black seed oil has anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic effects and that depending on the cause of asthma, black seed oil sometimes appeared to be more effective than conventional treatment. In one study, thymoquinone, the main constituent of Nigella sativa (Black seed) has been shown to be superior to the drug fluticasone in an animal model of asthma (>).

Found in the Nigella sativa compound nigellone has been researched and proven to have an anti-spasmodic effect dilating the bronchial tubes and bringing relief to asthma sufferers.

The Black seed oil also helps through its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties as asthma is associated with inflammation and hypersensitivity of the immune.

Black seed was more commonly used against asthma in Europe after a certain experience which took place in Germany in 1995 when a doctor managed to cure his horse of acute asthma using Black seed. After that, the doctor prescribed black seed to one of his patients who as a result also got better and eventually recovered from asthma. That is probably one of the reasons why in Germany and Austria black seed oil is commonly prescribed for asthma.

Asthma sufferers who would like to try black seed oil should start with a low dose of not more than half a teaspoon once a day for about a week. Then the same amount but two times a day for another week and continue increasing the dosage in the same way up to one full teaspoon three times per day.

HAY FEVER (ALLERGIC RHINITIS)

Black seed oil is an effective and natural way to reduce the severity and duration of hay fever symptoms. It is believed that the anti-inflammatory properties of the Black seed oil help reduce nasal congestion and the severity of hay fever symptoms. Black seed oil also has an anti-histamine effect through which it helps reduce itching and other symptoms.

In an Iranian study on 66 allergic rhinitis sufferers, Black seed oil supplementation for one month significantly reduced hay fever symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching (>).

According to another study results, the administration of 40-80mg/kg/day of Black seed oil (half to one teaspoon of oil per day for an individual that weighs 70kg) reduced the severity of symptoms in 152 allergy sufferers (>). Study results suggest that Black seed oil may be an effective treatment for symptoms of hay fever.

DIABETES & BLOOD GLUCOSE

Scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research concluded that Nigella sativa oil, “causes gradual partial regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells, increases the lowered serum insulin concentrations and decreases the elevated serum glucose.” (>) It means that Black seed is one of the few remedies that could help prevent and treat not type 2 but also type 1 diabetes in which own immune system destroys insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells!

In addition, according to the same study, Nigella sativa “improves glucose tolerance as efficiently as metformin; yet it has not shown significant adverse effects and has very low toxicity.”

Research has shown that Black Seed Oil supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. According to the results of a 20016 systematic review on clinical trials, “Fasting blood sugar was reduced significantly in 13 studies. In addition, Nigella sativa reduced levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c)… Our systematic review revealed that N. sativa supplementation might be effective in glycemic control in humans.” (>)

LIVER HEALTH

In a recent animal study, it was found that black seed oil supports liver function and helps prevent both liver damage and various diseases of this organ. (>)

CANCER

In preliminary studies, Black seed oil was shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells without causing any negative side effects.

According to research, thymoquinone (the key ingredient in black seed oil), helps induce apoptosis (cancer cell death) in leukaemia cells. Other studies have shown similar effect with regard to breast, pancreatic, cervical, and oral cancer cells as well as brain tumours. (>, >, >, >)

Animal studies found that both thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone have antitumour activity and resulted in a 52 % decrease in tumour cells. (>)

ORAL HEALTH

Black seed oil can be used as a natural addition to fluoride-free toothpaste as it has the ability to kill cavity-forming bacteria (>).

CANDIDA AND FUNGUS

Black seed oil helps fight Candida overgrowth, thrush and fungal infections in the digestive tract and on the skin. In thrush, it can be used both internally and externally.

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Thymoquinone in black seed oil has been found to lower cholesterol levels, help normalize blood pressure and have a protective effect on the heart.

After six weeks of giving the diabetic animal subjects, low doses of the black seed, bad LDL cholesterol and sugar levels all came down while beneficial HDL cholesterol increased. (>)

Some research also demonstrated that the same black seed oil may be helpful in lowering high blood pressure. (>)

ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIVIRAL

Nigella sativa contains thymol (found also in thyme essential oil), a natural monoterpene which is commonly used as a medical and general-purpose disinfectant to kill various viruses and bacteria, including TB.

According to a 2010 study, Nigella sativa oil was effective in overcoming Helicobacter pylori infections, which are known to contribute to stomach ulcers.

At the same time, it appears to be able to kill MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Nigella sativa seems to be effective in killing various multi-drug resistant bacteria known as “superbugs”. A study conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College researchers has evaluated how potent Nigella sativa oil is against some of these superbugs compared to antibiotics, such as Tetracycline, Amoxicillin, or Gatifloxacin. According to the study, “Out of 144 strains tested, most of which were resistant to a number of antibiotics, 97 were inhibited by the oil of black cumin.” (>) The researchers suggested that few things on the planet can boast this type of potency to pathogens as thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone and thymol found in the black seed.

COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)

Cold-pressed organic Black Seed Oil (Nigella Sativa): 1 teaspoon 3 times a day with meals (or mix it with an equal amount of organic bee pollen or raw manuka honey and take 3 times 2 teaspoons). Studies demonstrated its most potent antiviral properties (including against Covid-19 and also HIV which uses the same pathways as coronavirus).

Here is an example of such a study (VIDEO >) (ARTICLE >).

In addition, you can also take Neem Oil, Propolis or Garlic extract (such as Allicin Max) or raw garlic. Garlic extract must be standardised for allicin as otherwise, it may not have antiviral properties.

Potential benefits of combination of Nigella sativa and Zn supplements to treat COVID-19

According to my knowledge, the strongest natural remedy against coronavirus is Black seed oil & Neem oil as both showed the strongest antiviral properties able to kill even HIV which uses similar pathways as coronavirus.

If inspired by the above study you decide to mix Black seed oil with honey, make sure it is raw and truly organic honey as about 70% of them sold on the market are fake (with added sugar). I myself mixe organic cold-pressed Nigella sativa (Black seed oil) with an equal amount of organic bee pollen (you can also add some bee propolis) and take 1 teaspoon twice a day with meals as preventive or 2 teaspoons 3 times daily as a treatment if you are already infected with coronavirus, flu, cold, HIV and any other virus.

Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa) contains thymol (found also in thyme essential oil), a natural monoterpene which is commonly used as a medical and general-purpose disinfectant to kill various viruses and bacteria, including TB.

Nigella sativa has been used with surprising results in alternative HIV protocols for years. This was a remarkable discovery, described by the researchers as follows: “Nigella sativa had been documented to possess many therapeutic functions in medicine but the least expected is sero-reversion in HIV infection which is very rare despite extensive therapy with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).” (>)

Black Seed Extract ‘Cures’ HIV Patient Naturally >

“Complete recovery and sero-reversion of adult HIV patient after the six months treatment with Nigella sativa.”

“Several repeats of the HIV tests remained sero-negative, aviraemia and normal CD4 count since 24 months without herbal therapy.” It means that two years after the treatment with Black seed was over there was no HIV nor antibodies against it found in the body and the helper T cell count (type of immune cells attacked by HIV) was normal!

“This case report reflects the fact that there are possible therapeutic agents in Nigella sativa that may effectively control HIV infection.”

– Black Seed Powder Reported to Have Cured 5 persons of HIV/AIDS in Published Studies > Read more about HIV and AIDS >

Covid‐19 and thymoquinone: Connecting the dots >