What if there was a pill to help the body overcome a myriad of health issues, such as MRSA, chemical weapons injury, even dying beta cells within a diabetic’s pancreas among others? What if i told you it already exists… in nature?
Prized for its healing properties, black seed oil, sometimes referred to as Roman coriander, black cumin, black caraway or onion seed, has been used for thousands of years to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, improve rheumatoid arthritis, and alleviate stomach upset, among many other uses. Black seed oil was even found in Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. It’s no wonder this health-promoting oil has been used for so long, although it’s rather unbelievable that most people have never heard of it.
In an earlier post, I shared that I’ve been struggling with yeast overgrowth in my body and in researching natural remedies, I stumbled across this fascinating herb. Given its antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties, I thought I’d give black seed oil a try (after doing a lot of research). I’m stunned by what I have experienced so far.
What is black seed oil?
Black seed oil is extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a small flowering plant that grows in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and the Middle East. The tiny black seeds of the fruits of Nigella sativa can be used as a spice in curries, pickles and bread. It also can be used as an herbal medicine, either ingested or applied topically.
Health benefits
The most promising research so far connects Nigella sativa to multi-drug-resistant bacteria or “superbugs”, which pose a significant health risk. Researchers at Jawaharial Nehru Medical College in India discovered just how potent black seed oil is against some of these superbugs (including HIV, staphylococcal, tuberculosis, influenza, gonorrhea, candida and malaria) and paired it against several antibiotics. 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.”
While black seed oil benefits the body in many ways, scientific literature primarily revolves around these nine aspects:
- Suppresses cancer growth
- Promotes liver health
- Combats diabetes
- Aids Weight loss
- Protects skin
- Benefits hair
- Treats infections
- Improves fertility
- Balances cholesterol
My experience with black seed oil
There are two ways of ingesting black seed oil: by taking a capsule or ingesting the oil straight up. Online reviews state the STRONG and overwhelming flavor when taking it straight and many also feel black seed oil is more effective taken this way. Being the super taster that I am, I opted to start with the capsules.
The first time I took the capsules I had just eaten a handful of walnuts. My stomach became upset—not sure whether the oil or the nuts were the cause, although upset stomach happens to be one of the potential side effects. I imagine the taste is rather strong when taken straight. The capsules helped mask the flavor, which to me has a peppery oregano taste. Shortly afterwards, the black seed oil burps began and persisted for several hours. The burps improved with the second dose… just a few to speak of. After taking it now for five weeks, I’ve noticed several changes:
Abundantly softer skin. I have keratosis pilaris, primarily on my arms and have been able to somewhat manage it with a combination of coconut oil and lotion, however you would NEVER know I ever had an issue with it now. My arms are softer than they have ever been… no trace of bumps at all. And let me tell you about my feet! I had been “filing” them regularly to remove calluses and course skin, until I began taking black seed oil. Now there is no trace of rough skin—at all—and I haven’t exfoliated my feet since I began taking the oil. They are unbelievably soft.
Bye, bye chapped lips. Although sometimes they feel dry due to the dry, cold winter air, they remain smooth and soft.
Hello fuller hair. My hair feels hydrated, shiny and softer. It appears my tresses may be growing beyond what had been their natural stopping point. We’ll see in the next month if that holds true.
Welcome to deeper sleep. Anyone who knows me knows that I value my sleep. If I could, I’d sleep 10 hours every night. Once I began taking black seed oil, I noticed that I needed less sleep. The only downside? I wake at 4 am often with a child asleep on my chest which inhibits me from actually being productive.
What yeast?! That’s right, the yeast overgrowth symptoms that I had been experiencing for the last four months. I know yeast is still rolling around in my system, but it has subsided. I’ll be interested to see whether this persists.
Improved immunity. In the Fall, I had a serious virus that turned my immune system upside down. My Ph levels were off and I seemed to catch every bug going around. I doubled up on probiotics, made sure to eat a super clean diet, avoided alcohol. began intermittent fasting and added black seed oil to the mix. Both kids had colds and I avoided catching theirs. Then I felt a cold coming on this last week… had a bit of a sore throat, but it cleared after a couple days.
Something is definitely working in my favor and I’m loving the results. I’m convinced that black seed oil is a crucial part of it. If you decide to experiment with black seed oil, talk to your doctor first, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, take any medication or have a medical condition.
I’d love to hear your experience if you already use black seed oil or decide to try it!