(Isaiah 28: 25, 27 NKJV)
Black seed oil is also known as black cumin oil. It has a long history of many uses, from enhancing the flavor of certain dishes to holistic wellness. The seeds are a traditional Middle Eastern spice used in pastries, dairy products, salads, and other foods. And for thousands of years, the oil has been both applied topically and consumed for a wide variety of health conditions, from bruises, bad hair, colds, and snake bites to headaches, indigestion, and a variety of skin rashes.
This is due to the presence of Phytochemicals.
1. What Are Phytochemicals?
Understanding why black seed oil benefits the body in this way means understanding how its three key natural chemicals: thymoquinone (TQ), thymohydroquinone, and thymol, enhance the physical state. These are called Phytochemicals, and they are a powerful triple threat. In lab studies, each compound showed 100 percent inhibition for the 30 pathogens evaluated. This means that a variety of different health conditions can find relief from one of the three. Working together, the phytochemicals can help treat symptoms of different conditions while they help heal and nourish the body.
2. Helps Fight Cancer
The phytochemicals in black seed oil have been demonstrated to help naturally treat cancer, acting against the unhealthy tumor cells. Black seed oil also contains antioxidant properties, which are known to have cancer-fighting properties. These compounds work by balancing the population of free racial molecules in the body. Free radicals work against healthy cells, damaging them, inhibiting new cell growth, and causing cancerous growths. The antioxidants reduce the amount of free radicals in the body, allowing your cells to regenerate naturally.
3. Promotes Liver Health
Your liver works hard - removing toxins from your body, producing bile, and processing fats that you eat. When liver function is compromised, due to side effects of medication or alcohol consumption, it reduces the filtering capability. Black seed oil can help speed the healing process of a damaged liver, allowing to properly remove the toxins from your body and filter fats more effectively. Incorporating black seed oil into your diet may even reduce the risk of developing liver disease or fatty liver.
4. Reduces Complications from Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, and diabetes may be reversible, and some of the symptoms mitigated, by adding black seed oil to your diet. These conditions are typified by insulin resistance, which means that the cells of the body can't receive proper nourishment. High blood sugar often accompanies these, which further decreases insulin sensitivity. Black seed oil has been demonstrated to both reduce blood glucose levels (blood sugar) and increase insulin concentration. In fact, some studies show that this oil may prevent the onset of diabetes altogether. Pairing regular black seed oil consumption with a proper diet and light exercise can have a positive effect on the expression of diabetes.
5. Helps Weight Loss Goals
A study of 90 obese women found that adding black seed oil to a low-calorie diet produced more weight loss than the diet alone, and reducing their risk factors for diabetes. This is believed to indicate that black seed oil reduces the "hunger hormone" ghrelin and increases the production of the hormone leptin, which signals the brain that your stomach is full. Naturally regulating the appetite can help those on reduced calorie diets eat less without cravings. In addition, the blood sugar stabilizing properties of black seed oil help avoid the peaks and crashes that lead to cravings.
6. Protects Skin
To prevent scarring from a minor cut, some physicians suggest applying black seed oil topically once the cut has started to heal. Avoid doing this when you have an open wound, but once it starts to heal, apply the black seed oil to make sure it heals properly. For those with allergic reactions on the skin and eczema, black seed oil can help alleviate the itching and reduce the redness and irritation on the skin when applied topically.
7. Promotes Strong
Shiny HairApplying black seed oil to your scalp may have benefits for your hair, too. It contains an antihistamine called nigellone, which has been demonstrated to help with androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata. These conditions result in hair loss. Black seed oil may help the scalp 's health, reduce inflammation, and increase the strength of the hair follicles. In addition, the skin-calming effects may ease the itching and flaky skin of dandruff.
8. Combats MRSA
Black seed oil has an unusual ability to fight bacterial infections, even drug-resistant ones such as MRSA. This is a staph infection that is resistant to traditional antibiotics. Black seed oil is naturally anti-microbial and antibacterial, which helps treat MRSA infections. Because black seed oil is a natural antibiotic, rather than manufactured, it can respond even when strong superbugs adapt to traditional medicine. Lab studies have shown that all strains of MRSA are vulnerable to N. sativa, a compound in black seed oil.
9. Enhances Fertility
Black seed oil is a traditional treatment for male infertility, and a study found that it is, indeed, effective. In test studies of men with fertility problems, the oil significantly improved sperm count and other fertility markers. Several other scientific studies have indicated that black seed can positively influence sperm production, semen, enhance the health of the reproductive organs, and regulate sexual hormones. Before choosing black seed oil as a fertility treatment, however, talk to your physician. It is not necessarily a libido booster.
10. Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Subject studies have shown that regular consumption of black seed oil can help lower LDL cholesterol - the bad cholesterol - in the bloodstream while naturally allowing the HDL cholesterol - the good kind - to rise. This is good news for those with high blood cholesterol, as their risks of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks can be reduced as their LDL levels are reduced.
Black Seed – Summary of Actions:
Analgesic: Relieves or dampens sensation of pain.
Anthelmintic: (Also know as vermicide or vermifuge) destroys and expels intestinal worms.
Anti-bacterial: Destroys or inhibits the growth of destructive bacteria.
Anti-Inflammatory: Reduces inflammation.
Anti-Microbial: Destroys or inhibits the growth of destructive microorganisms.
Antioxidant: Prevents or delays the damaging oxidization of the body’s cells – particularly useful against free radicals.
Anti-Pyretic: (Also known as febrifuge) – exhibits a ‘cooling action’, useful in fever reduction.
Anti-spasmodic: Prevents or eases muscle spasms and cramps.
Anti-tumor: Counteracts or prevents the formation of malignant tumors*
Carminative: Stimulates digestion and induces the expulsion of gas from the stomach and the intestines.
Diaphoretic: Induces perspiration during fever to cool and stimulate the release of toxins.
Diuretic: Stimulates urination to relieve bloating and rid the body of any excess water.
Digestive: Stimulates bile and aids in the digestive process.
Emmenagogue: Stimulates menstrual flow and activity.
Galactogogue: Stimulates the action of milk in new mothers.
Hypotensive: Reduces excess blood pressure.
Immunomodulator: Suppresses or strengthens immune system activity as needed for optimum balance.
Laxative: Causes looseness or relaxation of the bowels.
For thousands of years, people around the world have recognized the tremendous healing properties of this Legendary Herb: “Nigella Sativa or Black Seed.”
Another profound discovery is that the ingredients (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) of the oil lead to increased production of the messenger substance Prostaglandin E1, a hormone-like substance, that functions as a general regulator on several body functions such as:
1. Brain function
2. Nerve function
3. Lowering blood pressure
4. Activation of the immune system.
Black Seed is Rich in Nutritional Values.
Monosaccharides (Single Molecule Sugars) in the form of Glucose, Rhamnose, Xylose, and Arabinose are found in the Black Seed.
The Black Seed contains a non-starch Polysaccharide component which is a useful source of dietary fiber. It is rich in fatty acids, particularly the unsaturated and essential fatty acids (Linoleic and Linoleic Acid). Essential fatty acids cannot be manufactured by the body alone, and therefore we acquire these from food.
Fifteen amino acids make up the protein content of the Black Seed, including eight of the nine essential amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized within our body in sufficient quantities and are thus required from our diet.
Black Seed contains Arginine which is essential for infant growth.
Chemical analysis has further revealed that the Black Seed contains Carotene, which is converted by the liver into Vitamin A, the Vitamin known for its Anti-Cancer activity.
The Black Seed is also a source of Calcium, Iron, Sodium, and Potassium. Required only in small amounts by the body, these elements’ main function is to act as essential co-factors in various enzyme functions.