Black Seed Oil: Benefits and Uses

May 30, 2025 0

Black seed oil is a supplement extracted from Nigella sativa seeds, also known as black cumin. Nigella sativa is a flowering plant native to Asia and the Mediterranean. Its seed has been used to make medicine for thousands of years. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs.

People commonly use black seed for asthma, hay fever, diabetes, high blood pressure, eczema, weight loss, menstrual cramps, and many other conditions. Although research on the health effects of black seed oil is relatively limited, there is some evidence that it may offer potential benefits.

Black seed might have effects in the body that help boost the immune system, fight cancer, prevent pregnancy, reduce swelling, and lessen allergic reactions by acting as an antihistamine. However, there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses, including for COVID-19.

The Amazing Benefits of Black Seed Oil

Uses & Effectiveness

Black seed oil has been studied in human, lab, and animal studies for headache and digestive disorders, in addition to the conditions listed below. However, more research is needed.

Here's a breakdown of the conditions where black seed has shown potential effectiveness:

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Possibly Effective For:

Acne: Applying a gel containing black seed extract to the skin might help to improve acne.
Hay fever: Taking black seed oil by mouth daily might improve allergy symptoms in people with hay fever.
Asthma: Taking black seed by mouth along with asthma medicines can improve coughing, wheezing, and lung function in some people with asthma. But it seems to work only in people with very low lung function before treatment.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Taking black seed oil by mouth helps to improve lung function in people with COPD who are also using prescribed inhalers.
Diabetes: Taking black seed powder or black seed oil by mouth daily seems to improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Researchers reviewed four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with people who had taken black seed as oil, tea, or seeds. Participants had a decrease in their fasting blood glucose.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection: Taking black seed powder along with standard therapies might help to get rid of this infection.
High blood pressure: Taking black seed powder or black seed oil by mouth might reduce blood pressure by a small amount in healthy adults. But it's not clear if it helps people with high blood pressure. Other studies have shown that black seed oil may be beneficial in helping to lower high blood pressure.
High cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia): Taking black seed supplements by mouth can slightly lower total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol in people with or without hyperlipidemia. Black seed oil may help lower lipid count in people with hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and high triglycerides).
Breast pain (Mastalgia): Applying a gel containing black seed oil to the breasts during the menstrual cycle seems to reduce pain.

There is interest in using black seed for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Additional Potential Benefits

Arthritis: In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 43 women with mild-to-moderate RA took black seed oil capsules or a placebo daily for one month.
Allergies: Black seed oil shows promise for treating allergies. Another report published in 2018 analyzed data to determine if black seed oil could help treat sinusitis.
Weight loss: For the study, women consumed Nigella sativa oil or a placebo while following a low-calorie diet for eight weeks.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis: Data supports the potent benefit of using powdered Nigella sativa to improve Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Metabolic syndrome: Metabolic syndrome (a group of five conditions that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other issues) responds well to treatment with black seed oil.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant: A 2016 comprehensive review of scientific reports concluded that Nigella sativa has many anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and wound-healing effects, among other therapeutic properties. Black seed oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic (preventing cell death) properties.

Side Effects, Precautions, and Warnings

Consuming a supplement like black seed oil may have potential side effects. Black seed oil may not be safe for everyone. Children and pregnant or lactating individuals should not take it. Certain drugs, herbs, and supplements can interact with the oil. As a supplement, the FDA does not regulate black seed oil.

When taken by mouth:

Black seed is commonly consumed in foods. Black seed oil and black seed powder are possibly safe when taken in larger amounts for up to 3 months. There isn't enough reliable information to know if larger amounts are safe when used for more than 3 months. Black seed can cause allergic rashes in some people. It can also cause stomach upset, vomiting, or constipation.

When applied to the skin:

Black seed oil or gel is possibly safe when used short-term. It can cause allergic rashes in some people.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy: Black seed is commonly consumed in foods. But taking amounts greater than those found in foods while pregnant is likely unsafe. Black seed can slow down or stop the uterus from contracting.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if black seed is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Black seed oil is possibly safe for children when taken by mouth short-term and in recommended amounts by weight.
Bleeding disorders: Black seed might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Black seed might make bleeding disorders worse. Bleeding risk: Black seed oil may slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid black seed oil if you have a bleeding disorder or take medication that affects blood clotting.
Surgery: Black seed might slow blood clotting, reduce blood sugar, and increase sleepiness in some people. This can interfere with drugs used during and after surgical procedures and cause severe side effects. Stop using black seed at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Talk with your healthcare provider if you are considering taking black seed oil. Black seed oil is not a replacement for conventional medical care.

Interactions

Be cautious with these combinations:

Diabetes medications: Black seed might lower blood sugar levels. Taking black seed along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Immunosuppressants: Black seed can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking black seed along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Anticoagulants: Black seed might slow blood clotting. Taking black seed along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Clopidogrel can slow blood clotting. Black seed might also slow blood clotting. Taking black seed along with clopidogrel might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Black seed might increase the effects of warfarin, which could increase the risk of bleeding.
Antihypertensives: Black seed might lower blood pressure. Taking black seed along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely. Amlodipine lowers blood pressure. Black seed also lowers blood pressure. Taking black seed with amlodipine might lower blood pressure too much. People taking black seed along with amlodipine should monitor their blood pressure.
Sedatives: Black seed might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking black seed with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Cyclosporine: Black seed might decrease levels of cyclosporine in the blood. This might reduce how well cyclosporine is able to work.
"Water pills": Black seed can decrease potassium levels. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium levels. Taking black seed along with "water pills" might make potassium levels drop too low.
Serotonergic medications: Black seed might increase a brain chemical called serotonin. Some medications also have this effect. Taking black seed along with these medications might increase serotonin too much. This might cause serious side effects including heart problems, seizures, and vomiting. OTC serotonergics: 5-HTP, L-tryptophan, SAMe, and St.
Medications changed by the liver: Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Black seed might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Phenytoin: Phenytoin is used to control some types of seizures. Black seed may increase or decrease levels of phenytoin in the blood. Taking black seed with phenytoin might reduce the effects or increase the risk of having side effects to phenytoin.
Sildenafil: Black seed might reduce levels of sildenafil in the body. Taking black seed with sildenafil might reduce the effects of sildenafil.

Be watchful with this combination:

Prednisolone: Black seed might decrease levels of prednisolone in the blood. This might reduce the effects of prednisolone.

Dosage

Black seed oil doses typically range from 1 to 5 grams by mouth per day for four to 12 weeks.

Black seed oil has most often been used by adults in doses of 1-2.5 grams by mouth daily for 4-12 weeks. Black seed powder has most often been used in doses of 1-2 grams by mouth daily for 8-12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Disclaimer: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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