For centuries, Nigella Sativa has been attributed to many medicinal properties: from a medicine for diarrhea to a drug that relieves bronchitis. Thanks to this, it has gained recognition in many healing systems of the East, from Ayurveda known in Poland, through the less popular Siddha, Unani and Tibb. Black cumin seeds and oil are used in the treatment of many different diseases and ailments. Check, maybe Black Cumin can help you ;)
You may know it as black cumin. Black cumin is the seed of a plant called Nigella sativa, which blooms in purple, blue or white and grows in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and the Middle East. Black cumin has gained popularity as a spice similar to cumin or oregano. However, due to the content of thymoquinone, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that can also reduce cancerous tumors, black cumin and oil from it are also used in medicine. To date, scientific research has proved that black cumin can be helpful in:
A lot for small inconspicuous seeds, right? Let's look at how black cumin and black cumin oil affect the functioning of the human body.
In most cases, inflammation is a normal reaction of the immune system that helps protect the body against injuries and infections. On the other hand, chronic inflammation contributes to many diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In a 2016 study, scientists showed that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who took black cumin oil for 8 weeks decreased the inflammation and oxidative stress antibodies.
Black cumin, due to the high content of antioxidants, fights free radicals that can contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer. Test tube tests have shown the impressive anti-cancer properties of black cumin and thymoquinone, which we mentioned earlier, in cancers of the blood, breast, pancreas, lungs, cervix, prostate, skin and colon.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance whose excess increases the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown that taking black cumin supplement reduces the levels of total and "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increases the level of "good" HDL cholesterol.
Bacteria are responsible for a long list of diseases from otitis to pneumonia. Scientific research has proven the effectiveness of black cumin in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the same effectiveness in treating streptococci in infants as antibiotics.
Diabetes in blood tests results in too high sugar (glucose). Untreated disease leads to nerve damage, vision and slow wound healing. Black cumin improves fasting sugar level and its average level as well as insulin sensitivity.
The liver is one of the necessary organs - it removes toxins, metabolizes drugs, processes nutrients and produces proteins and chemical compounds that maintain good health. Studies show that black cumin protects against liver and kidney damage under the influence of toxic chemicals.
Scientists have found that black cumin oil, due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, helps with eczema (such as atopic dermatitis), psoriasis and acne.
However, this is not all the advantages of this spice. In summary, nigella:
 Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, et al. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013;3(5):337–352. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075-1
 Hadi V, Kheirouri S, Alizadeh M, Khabbazi A, Hosseini H. Effects of Nigella sativa oil extract on inflammatory cytokine response and oxidative stress status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2016;6(1):34–43.
 Khan MA, Chen HC, Tania M, Zhang DZ. Anticancer activities of Nigella sativa (black cumin). Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):226–232. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.10
 Badar A, Kaatabi H, Bamosa A, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation over a one-year period on lipid levels, blood pressure and heart rate in type-2 diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemic agents: nonrandomized clinical trial. Ann Saudi Med. 2017;37(1):56–63. doi:10.5144/0256-4947.2017.56
 Bamosa AO, Kaatabi H, Lebdaa FM, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa seeds on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21675032
 Al-Ghasham A, Ata HS, El-Deep S, Meki AR, Shehada S. Study of protective effect of date and nigella sativa on aflatoxin b(1) toxicity. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2008;2(2):26–44.
 Aljabre SHM, Alakloby OM, Randhawa MA. Dermatological effects of Nigella sativa. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352241015000286
 Rafati S, Niakan M, Naseri M. Anti-microbial effect of Nigella sativa seed extract against staphylococcal skin Infection. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2014;28:42. Published 2014 Jun 8.