Black seed oil is the cold-pressed oil of the black cumin seed nigella sativa, which grows widely across Southern Europe, Western Asia and South Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Across those regions, black seed oil has extensive traditional use as a “cure-all” or a medicinal whole food.
- In ancient Egypt, black cumin seed was a first-line medicine against a host of maladies. When archaeologists unearthed King Tut’s tomb, they found traces of black seed and black seed oil—ostensibly placed there to protect him as he made his way to the underworld.
- The Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said that “the black seed can heal every disease, except death.”
- For thousands of years, Indian Ayurvedic medicine prescribed black seed oil to treat hypertension, high blood sugar, eczema, asthma, and general diseases of inflammation.
I’m not saying these statements or beliefs are fully accurate, but they do show the reverence these cultures had for black seed oil. We don’t have to rely on ancient texts as the only evidence we have, though. Plenty of studies show the efficacy of black seed oil against a wide range of human health conditions.
This is the Primal way: taking heed of traditional wisdom and confirming its accuracy with modern science.
Black SEED OIL?
I know what you’re thinking. Industrial seed oils (like corn or canola oil) are stripped of nutrients that prevent lipid degradation, undergo high-heat and chemical processing, and have no place in a Primal eating plan.
Black seed oil is a different kind of seed oil. It’s unrefined, so it contains all the protective components that help fragile fatty acids resist oxidation and prevent rancidity. It’s a medical oil, not a food, so we’re not using it to make salad dressings or fry potatoes.
Most importantly, black seed oil has science-backed benefits.
Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil
Black seed oil shows great promise as a medicinal food. I wouldn’t say you should take it all the time, especially if you’re healthy, nor should you treat it like a food and consume it for the calories. However, studies suggest that black seed oil can be used to address a variety of symptoms and health issues, including:
- In pre-diabetes, black seed oil may be as effective as metformin, the “gold standard” pharmaceutical for diabetes, for improving glucose numbers. In pre-diabetes and full-blown type 2 diabetes, it also improves lipid numbers and inflammation.
- Speaking of inflammation, black seed oil inhibits the secretion of IL-6— an inflammatory cytokine implicated in heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and many types of cancer—and reduces levels of inflammatory biomarkers like HS-CRP and TNF.
- It improves asthma and allergy symptoms and lung function.
- It seems to reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections.
- There may be some reduction in blood pressure when taking black seed oil.
Any Downsides?
There have been reports of allergic reactions, some serious. Check with your doctor, especially if you’re currently taking any medications such as antidiabetic, antihypertensive, or anticoagulant drugs since black seed oil can exert similar effects.
How to Choose the Best Black Seed Oil
Quite simple: look for a high thymoquinone content. Researchers have concluded that thymoquinone, the most prominent phenolic compound found in black seed oil, is responsible for most of its therapeutic effects. Anything above 2% thymoquinone is a good quality oil. Ideally, you want 3-4% or more. Fair warning: the more thymoquinone it contains, the more bitter it tastes.
Take care, everyone. Let me know if you have experience using black seed oil over on Facebook or Instagram. 
