Black Cumin Seed Oil aka Black Seed Oil 

I saw this oil at Shay and Company and just had to try it out.  Their write up raved about its potential.  “There is NOTHING negative about this oil, and only positive skin results can come of using organic black seed oil.”  Once I received this oil, I formulated a Vitamin C and ‘Anti-Aging’ face oils, incorporating Black Seed Oil, to give it whirl. I gave a couple samples of these new oils to my girlfriend  and recently she sent me a text saying “I’m currently obsessed with your face oils!” Well that is a good sign, isn’t it.  While there are other lovely oils in each formulation, I will say, I am loving this oil.  However, I wanted to dig a little deeper as to what its real benefits are so I could love it even more. 

Black Seed Oil is an amazing oil, just as Shay & Co claimed it was.  Black Seed Oil comes from the Nigella sativa plant, which grows in southern Europe, the Middle East, and southwest Asia. It’s also known as nigella, black cumin, fennel flower, black caraway, and Roman coriander.  Come to find out, this oil has been used for centuries to treat various animal and human ailments.  “Nigella sativa has been described as the miraculous plant and considered by earliest herbal specialists as ‘The herb from heaven’. The Prophet Mohammed had described the curative powers of the black seed as ‘Hold on to use this black seed, as it has a remedy for every illness except death’”.  Black Seed Oil can be ingested or used topically and has been found to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory benefits.  When taken orally it has been found helpful in treating a wide range of ailments which include different airway disorders, for pain such as chronic headache and back pain, diabetes, paralysis, infection, inflammation, hypertension, and digestive tract related problems. Studies have shown that this oil can kill different cancer cells when used topically or when consumed internally. Now that really caught my attention as cancer has always been one of my biggest fears. When used topically it has also been known to alleviate the discomfort of blisters, nasal abscesses, eczema, and swollen joints.  Its antibacterial properties have been found to help reduce skin allergies and improve acneic skin while its anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe eczema and psoriasis outbreaks.  Then to add to all that amazingness, in a study, it was actually proven to help increase new hair growth and improve the already existing hair.  With all of this goodness, how could I not include this oil in my products.

  What is so Special about Black Seed Oil’s Active compound Thymoquinone?

Black Seed Oil contains many vitamins and minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorous, Folic Acid.  However, much of its medicinal benefits are due to its main active compound called thymoquinone.  This compound is known for its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic properties that protect the body from cell damage and chronic diseases, per WebMD, and has been studied for its ability to stimulate tissue growth and promote wound healing.  In some studies it has been shown that thymoquinone may help treat burns, excisions, and diabetic wounds due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. The marked antioxidant activity of N. sativa and thymoquinone have the potential to be the next well known and powerful antioxidant agent to promote health and disease prevention.  One aspect of Thymoquinone is its broad-spectrum antibacterial properties that give it the ability to fight against multiple strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Bacillus, Listeria, Enterococcus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Salmonella, Serovar, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.  With more and more medicine- resistant bacteria, it is important that we look to other sources to combat bacteria and the problems they bring about. It's anti-bacterial qualities may also allow Black Seed Oil to be explored as a natural preservative and food additive to protect foods from spoilage.

Black Seed Oil In Skin and Hair Care

If I were a doctor, I would definitely be spending my time looking at the benefits of Black Seed Oil for my patients, of all ages and ranges of health.  However, as I chose a different path, I am exploring ways that we can use this lovely oil topically to benefit our skin and hair.  Here’s what I have found.

Acne: 

In studies, when people applied a lotion made with black seed oil to a skin area with acne, they had significantly fewer acne lesions after 2 months. A study who had the participants apply a topical gel made with black seed oil to the skin twice a day for 60 days saw a 78% reduction in their acne severity along with a decrease in the number of acne lesions as compared with a control group.I know many people struggle with the idea of using oil on oily or acne prone skin, but it is about choosing the right oils and with those oils you will see improvements!

Hair:

 Thanks to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, Black Seed Oil is often added to hair care products.  There have been a couple studies that show that when Black Seed Oil (often mixed with coconut oil and herbs) is applied to the scalp multiple times a day for several months, it does lead to increased hair growth and decreased hair loss.  Now who doesn’t want that? The trick would be to not always look like you have greasy hair.

Eczema and Psoriasis:

Some studies have found that black seed oil could aid in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema and can also promote wound healing and protection against harmful bacteria to potentially help prevent skin infections associated with eczema.One small study found that Black Seed Oil was as effective as betamethasone cream, a type of corticosteroid, at soothing and reducing the severity of eczema when applied topically twice daily for 4 weeks. An animal study also showed that oral and topical administration of black seed’s active compound thymoquinone decreased inflammation and improved symptoms of eczema in mice.  Now while we aren’t mice, that does offer some hope.  As I didn’t find any negative effects of Black Seed Oil, I would say it would be worth a try incorporating this oil into my food and topical applications, especially if I suffered from eczema or psoriasis.  

Vitiligo:

Now who would have thought this?  However, researchers have suggested that the benefits of Black Seed Oil for those with Vitiligo, which is a pigment related skin condition, may be due to its ability to spread melanin, the natural pigment found in our hair and skin, within the skin. Crazy, right?In one study of 33 people with vitiligo, it was found that applying a cream made with black seed oil to the skin twice daily improved pigmentation in the hands, face, and genital region after 6 months. In another study, it was shown that applying black seed oil topically for 6 months significantly reduced the size of vitiligo lesions, particularly on the arms, trunk, head, and neck.

In Summary:

Black Seed Oil is as amazing as I first read. Black Cumin Seeds, among other various plants, have been used by diverse cultures around the world for centuries to treat numerous ailments.  Thankfully natural medicinals are getting another look at as ways to help those who don’t have access to “modern” medicine and due to the high cost and severe side effects of modern medications.  Studies are showing that black seed and thymoquinone can be used as a natural therapy for treatment of a wide range of illnesses including chronic noninfectious conditions such as neurologic disorders, hypertension, inflammatory disorders, cancer, etc. and infectious (bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic) disease.  I want to find as many ways to incorporate this healing oil as I possibly can in both my hair and skin products.  So keep your eyes open for it in the ingredients lists in products to come!

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/diet/black-seed-health-benefitshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6535880/https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/black-seed-oil-benefits

https://shayandcompany.com/product/black-seed-oil-organic-virgin-kosher/