Asthma
The placebo-controlled study of 80 asthmathics had similar results. In the study, black seed oil taken by mouth for 4 weeks improved asthma control. Scientists also observed a trend in lung function improvement.
A boiled extract of the seeds improved asthmatic symptoms in one study (15 mL/kg of 0.1 g% boiled extract daily) of 29 asthmatic patients. It reduced the frequency of asthma symptoms, wheezing, and improved lung function over 3 months. The patients who took black cumin seed extract also had a reduced need for additional medications and inhalers.
Diabetes
In patients with type 2 diabetes on oral anti-diabetes drugs, black seed supplementation helped to reduce heart complications. In a study of 114 patients, 2 g of black cumin seeds daily over one year reduced lipids, blood pressure, and BMI.
In rats, black cumin seed extract helped sensitize the muscles to insulin and activated energy balance pathways–both important in type 2 diabetes.
However, the current evidence is limited and inconclusive. Additional clinical studies are needed to determine whether black seed is beneficial for all people with diabetes.
3) High Blood Pressure
Daily use of black seed extract for 2 months lowered blood pressure in patients with mildly elevated blood pressure (systolic BP 140 – 159 mmHg). The test group received either 100 mg or 200 mg of the extract 2 times per day. Aside from reducing blood pressure, the extract also lowered “bad” cholesterol , which may clog blood vessels.
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In a different study of 70 healthy volunteers, the oil lowered blood pressure after 2 months. No adverse effects were reported. The treated group took 2.5 ml of black seed oil twice daily .
However, in another study (64 participants), the effects of powdered black seed capsules on blood pressure, lipids, and BMI were not statistically significant .
Similarly, in elderly patients with moderately high blood pressure (systolic BP 160 mmHg), black cumin seed extract had a statistically insignificant effect. In this study (76 participants), 300 mg of the extract was given 2 times per day for a month .
Finally, a large review of over 800 patients concluded that black seed may lower mildly elevated blood pressure, with black cumin seed powder having a stronger effect than the oil. The authors emphasized that it may help lower blood pressure in only mild cases and may take 2 months to achieve any effect.
All in all, the evidence to support the blood-pressure-lowering effects of black seed is weak and needs to be confirmed in larger studies.
Animal studies also looked into additional potential effects of black seed on the heart. For example, black cumin seeds improved the recovery of damaged heart tissue in rats (in response to heart surgery or post-heart attack treatment) .
In another rat study, both exercise and black seed increased heart blood flow and new blood vessels, potentially helping to prevent heart problems. These effects remain unexplored in humans.
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4) Male Infertility
In a single, small study of 68 infertile men, daily intake of 5 ml (1 tsp) of black seed oil for two months improved semen quality without any adverse effects. We can’t draw any solid conclusions from this study, whose findings have not been replicated by other researchers.
In diabetic rats, black seed increased testosterone. It also improved sperm quality and motility in another rat study, probably due to its antioxidant activity. Additional research is needed.
5) Breast Pain
Mastalgia is breast pain that may or may not be connected to the menstrual cycle in women.
In one clinical study of 52 women, a gel containing 30% black seed oil applied at the site of pain twice daily for two menstrual cycles reduced breast pain by about 82% . This was significantly greater than seen with a placebo gel, which reduced pain by 18%.
Insufficient Evidence
The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of black seed for any of the below-listed uses.
Remember to speak with a doctor before taking black seed oil supplements. Black seed should never be used as a replacement for approved medical therapies.
6) Allergies and Hayfever
A couple of small-scale human studies suggest that black seed may help reduce allergic symptoms, especially in people with breathing difficulties.
One review (of 4 studies, a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases) concluded that black cumin seed oil may help with allergies. When used as an add-on to conventional therapy, it reduced subjective allergy symptoms, including asthma, eczema, and stuffy nose.
According to the review, patients received black seed oil capsules 40 to 80 mg/kg daily, which would be about 2 – 4 g of oil daily for someone who weighs about 110 lbs.
In another study of 66 patients with allergic rhinitis, black seed oil reduced symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, and congestion after 2 weeks. And in 39 patients with similar symptoms, 2 g daily of black seed cumin seeds after immunotherapy reduced symptoms and increased neurology
Despite these promising findings, large-scale, high-quality studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of various black cumin seed oil preparations on allergic symptoms.
Some scientists believe that black seed may also help with breathing problems that are not caused directly by allergies. The boiled extract of the seeds improved breathing and lung function, reducing the need for inhalers, in a study of 40 chemical war victims who had breathing difficulties.
7) High Blood Lipids
Some scientists hypothesize that black seed may protect the heart by reducing blood lipids, which may help prevent atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
A review of clinical studies (SR-MA, 17 RCTs) concluded that black seed supplementation may help lower :
Total cholesterol
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
However, scientists emphasize that further high-quality, randomized-controlled trials are needed to explore the effects of back cumin on lipid and cardiovascular health.
Black seed oil had a stronger effect on lowering lipids than the powder, but only the powder was able to also increase cholesterol
For example, in a small study of 10 patients with high cholesterol, 1 g of black seed powder before breakfast for 2 months also reduced the above-mentioned blood lipids. In a study of 88 similar patients (RCT), 2 g of black seed capsules lowered cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides after a month.
How It Works
Based on the available scientific evidence, black seed may protect the heart by:
Flushing excessive fluids from the body (diuretic)
Reducing the fight-or-flight (sympathetic) response
Increasing blood vessel-relaxing nitric oxide
Lowering blood lipids
However, the above-mentioned mechanisms were mostly drawn from animal or cell-based studies and remain clinically unproven.
8) Inflammation
Black cumin seed (Thymoquinone) has promising anti-inflammatory properties. Some people think it is good for both, though the evidence is lacking.
Only several extremely small studies (with 4 and 1 patients) suggested that black seed oil may help with inflammatory conditions like arthritis.Much larger studies are needed. Black cumin’s anti-inflammatory potential was attributed to the active ingredient, thymoquinone, in animal studies.
Black cumin seed essential oil reduced inflammation and pain in mice. It also reduced autoimmune brain inflammation in rats with Multiple Sclerosis. These effects remain unproven in humans.
In rats with arthritis, the active ingredient, thymoquinone lowered numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory ones.
Some scientists believe that it may reduce brain inflammation by blocking and preventing the immune cells from creating more nitric oxide, which is overly produced in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. However, their theories remain unproven.