The Cure: Black Seed
In the wave of the Google revolution, there’s a ton of information at one’s fingertips. With a press of a button, you can ask a question and quickly find your answer. The problem with that is that you have to ask the right question. Many people want to find quick solutions to their problems without any of the hassles, so you have companies selling supplements and pharmaceutical drugs that consumers believe would vastly improve their lives, but some of these drugs show no evidence or studies to support that or have many side effects that are worse than the current problem. You’ll be glad to know that black seed oil (BSO) is not one of those supplements.
Black seed oil comes from the plant Nigella sativa which originated from Southwest Asia. It also goes by the names black cumin or kalonji.¹ The seeds have been used in Middle Eastern or Southeast baking and cooking for thousands of years. They are tiny black seeds that you can add to the top of breads or salads. They can also be ground up with other spices and used as a seasoning.
So what are the benefits of black seed oil? One benefit that comes from taking black seed oil on a daily basis is that it helps those with diabetes. According to WebMD, black seed oil can help control blood sugar levels by taking 2 grams on a daily basis². The added bonus is that cholesterol levels were shown to improve as well. For someone who is having difficulty keeping their blood sugar under control, this could be beneficial to them.
Another benefit is in the treatment of eczema. If you live in an area that gets very cold and snowy, chances are you’ve had your own case of eczema. Eczema is a condition in which the skin gets very dry, scaly, and itchy; it has a tendency of flaring up in the wintertime. Studies show that by taking black seed oil on a daily basis, you can help relieve the symptoms of eczema².
An additional benefit to taking black seed oil is an improvement in arthritis. Arthritis can be very painful and affect the everyday lives of people, and it is very difficult to treat. Normally, those who are diagnosed are told to take ibuprofen daily, which has been shown to be harmful to the kidneys³. There is now research that shows that people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis who apply the oil to the joint or take it orally on a daily basis have had their symptoms of stiffness and pain greatly improved.
These are just a few of the benefits of black seed oil. There have been many studies done, and still, more to come. The fact that it can help control diabetes, lower cholesterol, treat eczema, and help the symptoms of arthritis is amazing. For all of those medical issues, one is normally prescribed a powerful pharmaceutical drug that can cause many side effects. Wouldn’t it be better to start with an all-natural alternative rather than expensive pharmaceutical drugs?
