Black cumin oil – controversial panacea

Black cumin oil is considered an ancient remedy that was used thousands of years ago to treat a variety of ailments. The oil, which is extracted from the real black cumin (Nigella sativa), is said to help, among other things, to beautiful skin and hair and to help against ticks, hay fever and other  allergies  . But the effect of the traditional medicinal plant is controversial. Here you will find information about the application, effects and side effects of black cumin oil.

Medicinal plant with tradition

Black cumin oil has a long history as a medicinal plant. It was not only found as a burial object of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, but also has a very special meaning in Islam. Because the Prophet Mohammed is said to have said that black cumin helps against every disease, except against death.

Black cumin, which by the way   has nothing to do with caraway or cumin, was popular as a healing spice more than 2,000 years ago. Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa seeds) are said to aid in digestion and the wholesomeness of various foods and extend the shelf life of pickled vegetables. According to popular belief, black cumin tea has a diuretic effect and  relieves flatulence  .

The seeds are still sprinkled on flatbread and are an ingredient in curry. 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 health effects.

Two oils – many effects

 There are two types of black seed oil: a fatty oil obtained by pressing or chemically extracting the seeds  and an  essential oil  that is preceded by an evaporation process. Both oils are said to have numerous positive effects on health.

Black cumin oil is said to have the following properties, among others:

• anti-inflammatory
• pain relieving
• relaxing
• antibacterial 
• antifungal (fungicidal)
• hypotensive
• antioxidant

Black cumin oil as a natural remedy

Black cumin oil is often used in Egyptian folk medicine and Ayurveda in particular, but also in local naturopathy. Due to its healing effect, it is said to alleviate a wide variety of ailments. These include, among others:

• Bloating and other digestive problems
• urinary tract diseases
• high blood pressure  and high blood fat levels
• Cold and other respiratory diseases
• headache and toothache
• joint pain and rheumatism
• Skin problems such as psoriasis, acne,  dry skin  or athlete’s foot
• menstrual 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 to achieve healthy skin and shiny hair.

Black seed oil for prevention and treatment

Black cumin oil is even said to prevent the development of cancer, especially  colon cancer , and also reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.

The oil is also used  to support the treatment of  asthma , neurodermatitis, hay fever and other allergies: black cumin oil contains various ingredients that have an anti-inflammatory effect  and stimulate 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 repel mosquitoes, flies and parasites. Black seed oil in dog food has been shown to help keep ticks, mites, and other bugs away.

What is in black cumin 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 growing area.

Fatty black cumin oil  is yellowish or reddish to brownish in color and has an aromatic, peppery smell. It consists of various fats and fatty acids. If it is produced carefully, it contains around 55 to 60 percent linoleic acid, which is one of the double unsaturated fatty acids and is considered very healthy. Gamma-linoleic acid in particular is held responsible for the diverse health-promoting effects of black cumin oil.

The volatile  black cumin essential oil  is responsible for smell and taste. It is light yellow, but becomes reddish with storage. The essential oil is obtained from black cumin seeds by steam distillation, but is also found in the fatty oil obtained by pressing the seeds.

Ingredients with a health-promoting effect

Both types of black cumin oil contain – in different 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 are said to help alleviate asthma symptoms, for example.

Black cumin oil also contains the  minerals  selenium,  zinc , magnesium and copper as well as almost all essential  amino acids . There are also several vitamins 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 seed oil can be used in a number of ways. So it can not only be used for cooking and baking, but also taken as a dietary supplement.

Hay fever allergy sufferers, for example, are recommended  to take a tablespoon of the oil  before or during a meal every day 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.

It can also  be used externally  , for example by rubbing it in (e.g. for neurodermatitis) or dabbing, for example on the skin around the nose for hay fever. To  inhale  , add one to two tablespoons of fatty black cumin oil to one liter of hot water. Black cumin oil is also often used for oil pulling cures (“oil slurping”).

When  used as a dietary supplement,  please follow the manufacturer’s instructions on use and dosage or seek advice from your doctor or pharmacy. In particular, if you suffer from a medical condition, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking black cumin oil. Black cumin oil is a home remedy that can at most support the treatment of an illness, but cannot 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 gastric mucosa 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 the process produces terpenes that   can cause stomach pain .

Also, possible side effects of black seed oil include increased  belching , especially when you first start taking it. Overdosing led to liver and kidney damage in animal experiments. An allergy, especially a contact allergy, is also possible.

In general, caution should be exercised when using essential oils during pregnancy, as some of these oils can induce premature labor or miscarriage.

Buy black seed oil

Black cumin oil is available in pharmacies, health food stores, drugstores, health food stores or on the Internet – often also under the name Nigella sativa oil. Only buy   certified organic, cold-pressed black cumin oil that is free from flavorings, colorings and preservatives.

It is up to you whether you   buy the black cumin oil filtered or unfiltered : Unfiltered black cumin oil contains more suspended and cloudy matter as well as small residues of the black cumin seeds. The oil is more natural in this form and contains more secondary plant substances compared to filtered black cumin oil. It is also darker and sharper and has a slightly tart taste. Filtered black cumin oil, on the other hand, tastes a little milder and is therefore preferred by many people. 

Also pay attention to the origin: Syrian or Egyptian black cumin oil of the “Kara siva” variety is considered to be of particularly high quality. However, due to high demand, especially in the Middle East, the oil is sometimes adulterated by being cut 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 effectiveness

The effectiveness of black cumin oil is highly controversial, because scientific studies on the numerous advertised effects of black cumin oil are often still pending. In recent years, however, research has increased and initial evidence of some of the effects has been found:

• The antibacterial effect, especially of the essential oil, has been scientifically proven.
• A study provided evidence of an antifungal effect of black seed oil. 
• As early as 1986, El-Kadi and Kandil reported at a conference about a stimulating effect on the T helper cells in the blood and thus on a component of the immune system.
•  Studies have also provided initial indications that black cumin can improve the symptoms of  asthma  and  rheumatoid arthritis  , as well as lower blood sugar levels in  diabetes  and  high blood pressure .

In laboratory tests, the oil was also effective against worm parasites. An anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and possibly even anti-cancer effect  of black cumin oil has been observed in animal experiments  – but large-scale medical studies with human patients are still pending.

Conclusion: Just a dietary supplement

If you believe the various sales promises, black cumin oil should 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, it is controversial that black cumin oil is actually an effective remedy. Because even if the first studies with regard to certain aspects   were able to provide indications of the effectiveness of black cumin or black cumin oil, there is still no scientific evidence in relation to many of the advertised effects.

The special advantage of the oil, linoleic acid, can also be found in other, mostly cheaper edible fats, for example in sunflower oil or safflower oil. The capsules also usually contain too few nutrients for their effect to actually matter.

If you want to use black cumin oil, you should be aware that this  is not approved as a medicine  and can only support the treatment of a disease, but can never replace it. Black seed oil is therefore no more than a dietary supplement.