Why You Should Be Supplementing with Black Cumin Seed (Nigella Sativa)

Black Cumin Seed (also known as Nigella Sativa) is a compound that’s historically been used cross-culturally for medical purposes, including general health and wellness improvement.

Contemporary scientific research has corroborated many ancient claims to black cumin seed’s effectiveness in this respect, which is why it is worth supplementing with.

Likewise, science has debunked many of the traditional medical claims associated with black cumin seed, presenting a well-balanced perspective on the supplement that will hopefully aid in yielding expectations to reasonable levels.

The History of Nigella Sativa

Since antiquity, black cumin seed has been used for medical, health, and general wellness.

Its medicinal and culinary use can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it held an esteemed position in the lives of royalty.

For instance, the discovery of black cumin seed in Tutankhamun’s tomb, dating around 1323 BCE, speaks to the high regard it was given in this ancient society — much like the mummification of cats speaks lengths about the Egyptian’s reverence toward our feline friends.

Nigella Sativa was regarded as a versatile remedy used to treat various ailments such as digestive issues, headaches, and skin problems.

It is also widely speculated — from the oral tradition and anecdote (and perhaps inference, due to ancient Egypt’s general affinity for black cumin seed) — that Cleopatra used black seed oil as part of her beauty routine to maintain healthy skin.

Black cumin seed likewise found a place in the ancient practices of Ayurveda and Unani medicine, where it was prescribed for various conditions, such as asthma, digestive problems, and skin disorders.

The reverence for black cumin seed transcended the boundaries of antiquity, however, eventually finding its way into the Islamic tradition.

The Prophet Muhammad’s declaration of the seed as a cure for all ills, save for death itself, only served further to solidify its place as a revered natural remedy.

“Use the black seed, for indeed it contains a cure for every disease except death.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5687, Book 76, Hadith 61)

This divine endorsement fueled the widespread use of black cumin seeds in Islamic countries, where their healing properties are still deeply valued today.

As time passed, black cumin seed continued its journey across cultures and healing systems.

The medieval era saw its use spread to Europe, where it was embraced as a spice and for its purported medicinal properties.

The Science of Black Cumin Seed

In the modern era, science has extensively black cumin seed, seeking to understand and validate the potential health benefits it has been so historically lauded for.

Research has uncovered promising indications of nigella sativa’ssativa’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Specifically, researchers have isolated the molecule that black cumin seed derives most of its health benefits — namely, thymoquinone.

Thymoquinone is the primary bioactive compound found in black cumin seeds, and its pharmacological effects are extensive.

According to a research overview of thymoquinone from Nutraceuticals, black cumin seed is a viable option for aiding various health ailments and a powerful tool to add to an arsenal of other preventive measures such as good habits concerning nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

That is because, when studied, thymoquinone reliably improves blood markers across the board.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Pain

According to the book Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Arthritis and Related Inflammatory Diseases, thymoquinone markedly reduces proinflammatory biomarkers like c-reactive protein.

High inflammation is a source of general subjective or local feelings of pain, such as that incurred from running on knee joints.

Chronic inflammation is the source of several chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease.

Because black cumin seed can effectively reduce inflammation, it can effectively contribute to the reduction of pain. It can help reduce the risk of developing life-threatening illnesses when taken along an otherwise wellness-oriented lifestyle.

Blood Pressure and other Cardiovascular Biomarkers

High blood pressure is yet another biomarker associated with a chronic illness that black cumin seed helps to reduce.

As the Journal of Hypertension stated, those who took black cumin seeds for eight weeks experienced significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Furthermore, according to the journal Food & Function, supplementing with black cumin seed reduces LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol.

Any compound that can achieve these results on blood tests reliably is worth taking to prevent heart disease or cardiac arrest because high LDL and blood pressure increase the odds of such adverse health outcomes.

Mood and Cognition

Compounds regarded as neuroprotective often protect the brain simply by reducing inflammation.

As stated in the journal Metabolic Brain Disease having high levels of C-reactive proteins on a blood test is commonly associated with symptoms like brain fog and fatigue, for instance.

Therefore, it makes sense that researchers from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology show that supplementing with black cumin seed improves mood and cognition.

Specifically, the study demonstrates that children and adolescents experience an improvement in subjective senses of well-being. In contrast, elderly subjects experience empirically measurable improvements in cognition.

It is unclear whether these effects occur outside of the confounding factor of age present in this research, so more studies are likely needed before giving the green light to black cumin seeds across the board for improving human psychology.

Myths about Black Cumin Seed

Given the Prophet Muhammad’s declaration that black cumin seed is a cure-all for everything except death, it is truly astonishing to see it living up to this universal standard in the scientific literature.

That includes the ‘’death’’ part.

Because of black cumin seed’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is often touted as an anticancer agent.

Indeed, one can see such touting in scientific research from the Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine journal, which presents nigella sativa as having a “chemo-preventative effect.”

However, this study was conducted on rats with liver malignancies — one should not, therefore, assume cancer can be stopped (i.e., “chemo-preventative””) beforehand by black cumin seed.

Indeed, as noted in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, the bulk of research connecting black cumin seed to claims as extraordinary as preventing cancer — such as avoiding Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s — derive from in vitro or in vivo studies.

In other words, do not expect a death cure — one of the most common causes is cancer! — as the Prophet Muhammad foretold.

How to take Black Cumin Seed and Side-Effects

According to a research overview of black cumin seed from the Journal of Pharmacopuncture, nigella sativa has no known severe side effects.

This is a good indication that, for most people, black cumin seed is relatively safe.

However, one should always check with their doctor — especially an allergist — before taking any new dietary supplement.

Everyone has a unique body that reacts uniquely to the same stimulus. That is always worth considering when taking on any new health adventure, like a supplement.

To reap all of the benefits of black cumin seed, 2 and 3 grams of the raw seed, or 500 milligrams of a 4:1 nigella sativa extract daily, will suffice.

Black cumin seed has a rich history and an impressive array of scientifically-backed health benefits.

From its anti-inflammatory properties to its positive effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and cognition, black cumin seed offers a variety of potential benefits to those seeking to improve their overall health and wellness.

However, it is essential to remember that black cumin seed is not a cure-all and should be taken alongside other preventive measures and a balanced lifestyle.