Black cumin oil

Black cumin oil is derived from the black cumin (Nigella sativa), a member of the buttercup family.

The oil is extracted from the seeds of the black cumin and is produced either by cold pressing or steam distillation.

The more well-known caraway (Carum carvi), which belongs to the Umbelliferae family and is used gastronomically in cheese, bread and the like, has nothing to do with black cumin.

Black cumin oil has long been used medicinally and the black cumin plant has been used for at least 2000 years. Black cumin has even been found in the tomb of the ancient pharaoh Tut-ankh-Amon – but whether it had a medicinal role is unknown. It should be noted, however, that its medicinal properties are not scientifically proven.

Black cumin oil in capsules and whole seeds

Because there has been a general increase in interest in black cumin seed as a dietary supplement in recent years, black cumin seed oil is now also available in capsules and whole seeds

Properties of black cumin seed oil

Undocumented properties

Historically, black cumin seed oil has been used for the following health problems:

Today, black cumin seed oil is used for the following:

It should be emphasized that there is no scientific evidence for any of the above properties.

*There are a few studies that have indicated that black cumin seed oil may have an effect on blood pressure in rats and asthma in mice, but these results in no way prove that black cumin seed oil can be used to treat these health problems (and certainly not in humans). Similar studies have also been conducted for certain types of cancer, lung damage, intestinal damage, addiction, drug poisoning, diabetes and more.

Properties studied with a lack of evidence

Although the effects of black cumin seed oil on the following diseases have been investigated in scientific studies, there is no evidence that the oil can be used to treat them:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: A 2012 study showed that black cumin seed oil may have an effect on rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 40 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis and was based on the patients' disease activity, morning stiffness and number of swollen joints. The result was that all black cumin seed oil had a positive effect on all 3 factors and could therefore be used as a natural – and affordable – treatment option.

• Anti-inflammatory properties: One of the compounds in black cumin seed oil, Thymoquinone, has anti-inflammatory properties. However, this does not prove that the oil has the same properties or that it can be used as an anti-inflammatory in practice.

Documented properties

Black cumin oil has antibacterial properties, including an inhibitory effect on the bacterium S. aureus (“staphylococcus” in everyday speech). However, black cumin seed oil is not used for this property in the pharmaceutical industry and it is not recommended to use it for bacterial control or other forms of self-medication.

Black cumin or caraway?

In addition, black cumin (Bunium persicum) – sometimes also calledblack cumin – is often confused with black cumin. As black cumin is relatively rare and difficult to obtain, black cumin has gradually replaced black cumin in both gastronomy and natural medicine.

Precautions to take

• Skin: Black cumin oil can cause allergic skin rashes when applied (especially undiluted). If you want to apply black cumin seed oil directly to the skin, it is therefore recommended that you 1) dilute it with a base oil and 2) experiment with smaller areas of skin at a time

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: Black cumin used as a spice in food is not considered harmful to pregnant women. For breastfeeding women (and their children), the effect is unknown and all consumption is therefore not recommended. However, both black cumin and black cumin oil should only be consumed in moderate amounts, as larger doses can be harmful to health. It is especially when black cumin is consumed in oil or capsule form that there is a risk of overconsumption