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For thousands of years, black seed has been a revered herb in the Middle East. References to the plant appear in both the Bible and the Koran, with seeds being found in Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt. While sometimes referred to as black cumin or black caraway, black seed (Nigella sativa) is not related to either common kitchen spice but has a long history in traditional medicine.
Interestingly, black seed has been used for a broad range of complaints, including respiratory, digestive, immune, heart, kidney, and liver conditions. In addition, it was often recommended as a general health tonic for improving overall well-being. More recently, modern research has suggested potential benefits that support historical use.
As an herb, black seed has a broad array of positive effects on the human body and immune system. Black seed appears to have a number of direct and indirect effects, including:
The function of the immune system is complicated. There are numerous parts, from white blood cells that gobble up invaders to antibodies that target them for destruction.
Natural killer (NK) cells are a part of the body’s immune response that can attack irregular and infected cells directly. Human studies have suggested benefits with black seed significantly increasing NK cell activity. In addition, numerous in vitro (petri dish) and animal studies have shown both stimulating and balancing effects on antibody responses and white blood cell activity.
Black seed is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. These compounds appear to have potential clinical significance. Antioxidant components in black seed have been considered as potential support for balanced blood pressure levels. The antioxidants in black seed also appear to play a role in protecting the stomach and gastrointestinal system.
Inflammation is a part of almost all chronic health conditions. In human trials, black seed has demonstrated possible benefits in a number of inflammatory conditions including allergies, asthma, and joint discomfort. The benefits appear at least partly due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
Black seed oil in patients with hay fever has shown significant improvements in symptoms within two weeks. The authors of the study concluded that black seed could be a viable treatment option. In asthma, a recent meta-analysis of all published research concluded that black seed appears to decrease symptoms, likely through anti-inflammatory activity. In osteoarthritis, two separate studies on topical applications have shown that black seed oil can decrease knee discomfort from overuse. Research in human cartilage cells showed significant beneficial activity. A recent review of the research for treating rheumatoid arthritis showed clinical improvement in all five published studies with the use of black seed.
Of further interest, black seed shows direct antimicrobial effects that have been documented against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
In a human trial treating hepatitis C, black seed more than halved the viral load and improved clinical outcomes. And while further research is clearly necessary, a case study on the use of black seed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) showed complete elimination of detectable virus from the blood of a patient that remained stable for years after discontinuation of the treatment.
Helicobacter pylori are the bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers. Unfortunately, it’s notoriously difficult to treat. Standard approaches using three or four medications combined are only 80% effective. A human trial using black seed and omeprazole (a stomach acid blocker) showed comparable treatment results to standard triple therapy, clearing the infection in 67% of patients. A study using black seed and honey also showed reasonable efficacy with 57% of patients eliminating the bacterium.
While clinical trial evidence is lacking, numerous studies show activity that balances yeast in the body as well as other fungi that commonly cause skin infections. With the current data, further studies are needed to see if black seed has benefits for treating topical fungal conditions directly.
For parasites, evidence suggests black seed shows activity against blood flukes, a genus of trematodes. In separate research on mice, black seed outperformed standard antiparasitic medication for plasmodium parasites. More research is necessary to fully understand the potential of black seed in human conditions, but available evidence suggests some promise for certain types of parasitic infection.
Black seed has been used in a number of different forms, all of which have shown potential benefits. The herb is considered “generally recognized as safe” for culinary use by the FDA (The United States Food and Drug Administration) along with being available in supplemental forms. Whole ground seed and extracts have been used in some studies, although black seed oil is probably the most common form, used topically or taken by mouth. Each formulation will likely have somewhat different treatment effects since they contain different levels of the herb’s active ingredients. More research is necessary to understand how best to utilize each form for specific conditions.
While more evidence is needed, the research on black seed shows promise, even for some conditions that can be difficult to treat.
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By Dr. Scott Buesing, N.D.
