DR. WALKER

Black Seed Oil

What is Black seed oil?

Black seed oil is an essential oil made from (Nigella Sativa) seeds extracts, a small flowering plant native to Southern Europe, Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Nigella Sativa produces fruit with black seeds, known as kalonji, Roman coriander, black cumin seeds, black caraway, nigella, and fennel flower. ¹

Black seed oil is extracted by pressing the seeds of Nigella Sativa. The various health benefits associated with black seed oil are attributed to caryophyllene and thymoquinone chemical compounds present. The oil occurs in various forms such as capsules, a liquid form, and in beauty products.

What is black seed oil used for?

For centuries, black seed oil has been a source of food, cosmetics products, and even medicine. It is said that Cleopatra, Hippocrates, and King Tut used black seed oil for skincare, treatment for coughs, general body weakness, and other illnesses. Recently, the medicinal uses include diabetes, inflammation, dizziness, flu, high blood pressure, asthma, and aiding weight loss.²

Blackseed oil is used in the Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines for its slightly bitter taste to spice curry dishes in pickles and bread. The oil is also used for flavor purposes drizzled on salads to make a salad dressing, mixed in teas, smoothies, and coffee or eaten raw.³

Health benefits:

• Blackseed oil aids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as it reduces swollen joints and stiffness, a common arthritis symptom.
• Promotes anti-aging due to the high levels of antioxidants preventing possible cell damage caused by free radicals.
• Treats sinusitis by reducing nasal inflammation, reducing itching, running nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing symptoms.
• Treats various skin conditions such as acne, rashes, psoriasis.
• The thymoquinone compound present in black seed oil is used to treat cancers by shrinking tumors, thus slowing their growth.
• Used in asthma treatment therapy for its inflammatory properties useful in decongesting the airways.

Nutrition:

Per 100g, Blackseed oil contains;

• Calories 345
• Fats 15g
• Saturated fat 0.5g
• Polyunsaturated fat 1.7g
• Monounsaturated fat 10g
• Cholesterol 0mg
• Sodium 88mg
• Potassium 1.694mg
• Protein 16g
• Total Carbohydrate 52g

The main active compounds include; thymoquinone, dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol.

Toxicity:

When taken in large amounts, the melanthin component in black seed oil may caused adverse effects to the kidney and the liver. When blackseed oil is applied directly to people with sensitive skin, it may cause an allergic reaction.

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