Black Seed Oil 101 – Everything You Need to Know

By: Aayah Khalaf


For years, so-called health “experts” told us to avoid all fats as they were blamed for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, hypertension, and a whole lot more besides. As the years ticked by and as more research was conducted, it was found that some fats were actually considered essential for a balanced diet and by extension, your health.

One fat, in particular, has proved to be very beneficial from a medicinal perspective, and that fat is black seed oil. 

As you are no doubt aware, Islamic Prophetic medicine, or Medicine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as it is also known, is a form of medicine that is comprised solely of the divinely inspired words of therapy of the Prophet Muhammad (peace is upon him). 

The Prophet (PBUH) spoke of the importance of 65 natural medicinal herbs, shrubs, and plants, and from these ingredients, he found that an ingredient known as Nigella Sativa was the most beneficial. Of it, he stated ‘Hold on (use this seed regularly)! Because it is a remedy (cure) for every disease except death’. 

As a result of this statement, more research was conducted into Nigella Sativa seeds, and it was found that the natural oil they contained, which is referred to as ‘Black Seed Oil’ does indeed possess some truly amazing health benefits. 

If you wish to learn more about the benefits of Sativa, as well as Beenourished’s top 5 natural sugar substitutes, check it out here. 

Black seed oil is a naturally occurring oil that is extracted from within Nigella Sativa seeds. 

The Nigella Sativa plant is a plant that is native to Southwestern Asia. It features purple or sometimes white-tinged flowers which are also found in parts of the Middle East, as well as Eastern Europe. 

The shrubs are able to produce fruits that, inside, contain tiny black seeds, and it is these seeds that are renowned for their healing properties and medicinal uses. 

Contained within these seeds is a naturally occurring oil rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and numerous ingredients renowned for their healing properties on the human body. In fact, black seed oil has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2,000 years. 

The oil, which has an attractive amber tinge to it, is not only used for healing purposes, but it can also be used for culinary purposes as well. 

For the purpose of today’s article, though, we’re going to be looking at the healing properties of this amazing oil. 

What is Black Seed Oil Good For?
Now that we’ve looked at what black seed oil is, we’ll now delve deeper and will look at some of the primary health benefits associated with this amazing oil. 

Three key black seed oil health benefits include: 

One of the main reported benefits associated with black seed oil is the fact that it may be useful for the treatment of asthma. 

Asthma is a chronic breathing condition in which the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and swollen, while the muscles around them constrict and make breathing much harder. 

Black seed oil contains active ingredients, including an antioxidant known as Thymoquinone which possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory properties are what make black seed oil effective in treating asthma as they help to reduce inflammation in and around the airways. 

2. Black Seed oil is packed full of antioxidants 
Another fantastic reason why black seed oil is considered to be so beneficial for the human body is due to the fact that it is loaded full of antioxidants. 

Antioxidants are plant compounds that help to protect the cells from cellular damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can attack the cells and damage them via oxidation. 

Oxidation can lead to cellular degradation, or it can even cause them to mutate and potentially turn cancerous. Antioxidants prevent this process from occurring and block and even eradicate free radicals, which in turn means that they can protect the cells. 

Black seed oil is loaded full of antioxidants, including Thymoquinone which we looked at earlier, which is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant properties. Thanks to these antioxidants, black seed oil can potentially boost the immune system, protect your cells, improve brain health, and prevent certain strains of cancer. 

3. Black Seed Oil Reduces Blood Pressure 
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can lead to a variety of chronic health issues and in some instances, it can be fatal. 

Hypertension can cause organ damage, organ failure, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and a whole lot more besides. To make matters worse, it is also very difficult to diagnose. 

One of the main reported health benefits of black seed oil is the fact that it can potentially help to reduce blood pressure, making it a great preventative measure to prevent hypertension from setting in. 

Studies have found that supplementing with black seed oil can noticeably reduce blood pressure. 

How to use black seed oil

• Oral consumption:  Start with a low amount first also because black seed oil is strong, and taking it too much can cause esophageal burning. That's why you might come across black seed oil and honey mixed together in a bottle. The honey lines your esophagus in order to protect it from the black seed oil. You can either take the honey first then the blacked oil or mix the oil with the honey. Growing up my grandma always had a jar of honey with blackheads mixed into it and we would get a tbsp. A day at the first signs of a cold or flu. The blackheads release their flavor and oils in the honey making it a powerhouse of nutrition.
  
  
• On hair: You'll need 1 tablespoon black seed oil and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Mix both the oils together and then heat the mixture until slightly warm. Apply this to your hair and scalp and massage gently for a good 10 minutes. Once done, leave it on for another 30 minutes before shampooing your hair. This can help with hair regrowth.
  
  
• On skin: Rub blacked oil on joints where you have pain regularly everyday to help reduce inflammation and ease the pain.

As mentioned, black seed oil has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and as you can see, it provides plenty of health benefits to those that use it. 

Apart from the benefits listed above, there are plenty more reported health benefits to be enjoyed if you supplement with this amazing natural fat. 

Black seed oil is inexpensive, easy to use, and can potentially save lives. It is, therefore, easy to see why it is proving to be so popular and it is easy to see why the prophet (PBUH) spoke so highly of it. 

Aayah Khalaf is a highly trained and certified health coach from IIN based in Washington. She’s the CEO of BeeNourished, a health coaching initiative dedicated to improving the health and lives of Muslim women and mothers. Her passion is helping women transition into healthier lifestyles so that they can look and feel their best, as well as enjoy optimum health. You can follow her @BeeNourished on Instagram and Facebook, visit her website at BeeNourished.com, and contact her at Beenourished@beenourished.com!