I have a confession to make. I only have any idea what black seed oil is good for because I am a dedicated herbalist.
Once I began exploring herbalism in detail, I tripped across black seed oil. I am a self-proclaimed tea witch, and as such, I enjoy including the full range of herbs in my tea concoctions. I came across black seed and black seed oil when I began experimenting with chai.
As you may or may not know, chai tea is an ayurvedic tea that hails from India and typically includes cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and ashwagandha. In my research on ayurvedic medicine, I discovered the roots of using black seed oil therein and began adding the oil to my chai for its plethora of health benefits.
Yes, it is true. My homemade chai packs a powerful punch of nutritional and healing qualities. I call it my afternoon potion. So, now you must be wondering what black seed oil is good for, and more importantly, how you can integrate it into your diet.
Table of Contents:
- The History of Black Seed Oil
- The Top 5 Things Black Seed Oil Is Good for
- High in Antioxidants
- Respiratory Health
- Fights Inflammation
- Maintains Blood Sugar
- Skincare
- How to Integrate Black Seed Oil into Your Health Habits
- Add Black Seed Oil to Your Shower Shelf
- Black Seed Hair Oil
- Red Onion and Black Seed Shampoo and Conditioner Pack
The History of Black Seed Oil
Unlike many of the other oils I discuss – coconut, argan, avocado – black seed oil does not have quite the same long history. While the other oils go back almost as far as civilization, black seed oil dates back just about two thousand years. I know, that is still a long time.
Technically, the black seed is a black cumin seed, which is derived from the Nigella Sativa flower. The plant grows in the Mediterranean and Western Asian countries. It has been referenced in the bible and the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs.
In medicine, the seeds have been used as diuretics and for relaxing muscles as well as for immunity enhancement. On the skin, they have been employed to treat a range of conditions, due to their antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Yes, black seeds are one of those magnificent wonder supplements that seem to have escaped our attention here in the west for thousands of years. But thank goodness we have slowly begun to integrate them into our society now.
The Top 5 Things Black Seed Oil Is Good for
Black seed oil has a wide range of health benefits, and you can access them both internally and externally. Here are just a few:
High in Antioxidants
In a world virtually filled with toxins, chemicals, and free radicals, all the antioxidants you can introduce into your diet can only help. Of course, consume black seed, and any other strong supplement in moderation as any medicinal plant can have side effects and contraindications.
Respiratory Health
Great for lung health, black seed oil can prevent and fight bronchial asthma thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Fights Inflammation
Its anti-inflammatory properties are why I love black seed oil in my chai. Combined with fellow anti-inflammatory turmeric, I’m in good shape with aches and pains as a 43-year-old working mama. It has even been shown to reduce the risk of cancer!
Maintains Blood Sugar
A boon for anyone who has been diagnosed with prediabetes or who has a history of diabetes in the family, black seed oil has been shown in studies to regulate blood sugar levels. This regulation can also help you maintain a healthy weight. Win/win.
Skincare
Finally, black seed oil is a wonder for skincare, both preventative and curative. Because of those same antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it helps with conditions like psoriasis and eczema as well as acne. It is natural, then, to note those same effects on the hair and scalp.
How to Integrate Black Seed Oil into Your Health Habits
Honestly, the easiest way I have found to introduce any seed or oil into my diet has been as a tea. I love to invest in teapots and presses that allow me to add my own teaspoons, tablespoons, and sprinkles of plants and seeds into new concoctions. You can add black seeds into your teas, as I do, especially for a nice spicy chai. You can also add it to your curries or vegetable sauté dishes.
Anytime I add a new ingredient in, particularly one as power-packed as black seeds, I like to start small and work my way up.
For your skin, you can invest in a bottle of 100% black seed oil and apply it to any skin condition you may be suffering from. Again, start small and see how your skin reacts. One of the wonderful things about plant medicine is that it is commonly known that not every plant works for every body and not every body reacts in the same way. Always start small.
For your hair, I have linked a couple of products below that you can add to your shower shelf to reap their myriad benefits.
Add Black Seed Oil to Your Shower Shelf
Black Seed Hair Oil
This hair oil is a combination of many nutrient-packed, protective oils that will help and heal your hair, and it smells great too!
Red Onion and Black Seed Shampoo and Conditioner Pack
This set is a magical addition for repairing and rejuvenating damaged or lifeless hair. It is full of antioxidants and vitamins that get to work right away.
In the end, you cannot go wrong with a little black seed oil in your diet and your beauty routine. It is one of the strongest oils in the plant medicine market, and perhaps that is why it often gets overlooked – some may worry about side effects.
Again, start small, and experiment with what works for you. The links above are a smart and perfectly safe way to begin.
Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products.
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