Black Seed Oil

It May help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Black seed oil has also been studied for its potential effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure and high total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels are important risk factors for heart disease (27Trusted Source).

Two studies, one in 90 women with obesity and the other in 72 adults with type 2 diabetes, found that taking 2–3 grams of black seed oil capsules per day for 8–12 weeks significantly reduced LDL (bad) and total cholesterol levels (21Trusted Source, 28).

Another study in 90 people with high cholesterol levels observed that consuming 2 teaspoons (10 grams) of black seed oil after eating breakfast for 6 weeks significantly reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol levels (29).

The oil may also help lower blood pressure.

One study in 70 healthy adults noted that 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of black seed oil twice a day for 8 weeks significantly reduced blood pressure levels, compared with a placebo (30Trusted Source).

While promising, the overall research on black seed oil in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels is limited. More research is needed to confirm the optimal dose.

May protect brain health

Neuroinflammation is inflammation of brain tissue. It’s thought to play an important role in the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (13Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source).

Early test-tube and animal research suggests that thymoquinone in black seed oil may reduce neuroinflammation. Therefore, it may help protect against brain disorders like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease (13Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).

However, there’s currently very little research on the effectiveness of black seed oil in humans specifically regarding the brain.

One study in 40 healthy older adults found significant improvements in measures of memory, attention, and cognition after taking 500 mg of N. sativa capsules twice a day for 9 weeks (35Trusted Source).

Still, more research is needed to confirm black seed oil’s protective effects for brain health.

May be good for skin and hair

In addition to medical uses, black seed oil is commonly used topically to help with a variety of skin conditions and to hydrate hair.

Research suggests that due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, black seed oil may help in treating a few skin conditions, including (36Trusted Source, 37, 38Trusted Source):

• acne
• eczema
• general dry skin
• psoriasis

Despite claims that the oil can also help hydrate hair and reduce dandruff, no clinical studies support these claims.

Other potential benefits

Black seed oil may have other benefits for health, including:

• Anticancer effects. Test-tube studies have shown thymoquinone in black seed oil to help control the growth and spread of several types of cancer cells (39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source).
• Reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, limited research suggests that black seed oil may help reduce joint inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis (41Trusted Source, 42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).
• Male infertility. Limited research suggests that black seed oil may improve semen quality in men diagnosed with infertility (44Trusted Source, 45Trusted Source).
• Antifungal. Black seed oil has also been shown to have antifungal activities. In particular, it may protect against Candida albicans, which is a yeast that can lead to candidiasis (46Trusted Source, 47Trusted Source).

While early research shows promise in the applications of black seed oil, more studies in humans are needed to confirm these effects and the optimal dosage.

SUMMARY

Black seed oil is high in antioxidants and may have several benefits for health. These include the treatment of asthma and various skin conditions, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, aiding in weight loss, and protecting brain health.

Potential side effects and safety concerns

When used in small amounts for cooking, black seed oil is likely safe for most people.

However, there’s limited research on the long-term safety of consuming larger doses for therapeutic purposes.

In general, short-term use of 3 months or less hasn’t been linked to any serious side effects. However, in one study, taking 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of black seed oil per day for 8 weeks did cause nausea and bloating in some participants (2Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source).

One potential concern is that black seed oil may interact with medications that are processed through the cytochrome P450 pathway. Common medications that could be affected include warfarin (Coumadin) and beta-blockers like metoprolol (Lopressor) (49Trusted Source, 50Trusted Source).

There’s also concern that taking too much black seed oil could harm your kidneys. In one reported case, a woman with type 2 diabetes was hospitalized for acute kidney failure after taking 2–2.5 grams of black seed capsules daily for 6 days (51Trusted Source).

However, other studies haven’t shown negative effects on kidney health. In fact, some studies have even suggested that black seed oil has a protective effect on kidney function (2Trusted Source, 52Trusted Source, 53Trusted Source).

If you have any current kidney problems, it’s recommended to talk with your medical provider before taking black seed oil.

Finally, due to limited research, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid using black seed oil, except for in small amounts as a flavoring for food.

Overall, more research is needed on the safety of black seed oil in humans, especially for long-term use.

SUMMARY

Culinary use of black seed oil is likely safe in most individuals. Due to a lack of research, long-term safety of using larger doses of black seed oil for medicinal purposes is unknown.

How to use black seed oil

As a supplement, black seed oil can be ingested in pill or liquid form. The oil can also be used topically on skin and hair.

If buying the liquid form of black seed oil, it’s recommended to choose a high quality product that doesn’t have any added ingredients.

Furthermore, as supplements aren’t tested for their safety and effectiveness by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s important to choose a reputable brand.

It can help to look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International, all of which test for quality.

Black seed oil has a strong flavor that’s slightly bitter and spicy. It’s often compared to cumin or oregano. As a result, if consuming black seed oil as a liquid, you may want to mix it with another strongly flavored ingredient, such as honey or lemon juice.

For topical uses, black seed oil can be massaged onto the skin.

SUMMARY

Black seed oil can be consumed in either capsule or liquid form. However, due to its strong flavor, you may want to mix the oil with honey or lemon juice before ingesting.

Dosage recommendations

While black seed oil may have some benefits for health, it doesn’t replace any current medications that you may already be taking.

Additionally, there’s currently insufficient evidence to establish a recommended dosage. As a result, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider before using black seed oil.

Depending on the intended use, black seed oil amounts that have been studied vary greatly.

For example, in people with asthma, taking 1 mg of black seed oil capsules daily for 4 months was found to be safe and effective as a supplementary treatment (16Trusted Source).

On the other hand, in weight loss and reducing blood sugar levels, studies have shown higher doses of 2–3 grams of black seed oil per day for 8–12 weeks to be most effective (19, 21Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).

As the dosage can vary by use, it’s recommended to first talk with your healthcare provider for personalized dosing recommendations.

SUMMARY

Due to insufficient research, there’s currently no established recommended dose of black seed oil. It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider for personalized dosing recommendations.

The bottom line

Black seed oil is a common supplement used in alternative medicine to help treat a variety of conditions.

Current research suggests black seed oil may be effective in the treatment of asthma, aid in weight loss efforts, and help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of thymoquinone in black seed oil may be protective of brain health and slow the growth of cancer cells.

Still, more research is needed to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of black seed oil.

Before trying black seed oil, make sure to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine if and how much black seed oil to take.

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Last medically reviewed on May 8, 2020FEEDBACK:

Written by Kelli McGrane, MS, RD on May 8, 2020 — Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Oil is used to soothe nausea, indigestion and other stomach issues.
Peppermint Oil can help to relieve headaches, reduce mental fatigue, increase and maintain alter mess and tackle symptoms from PMS. Peppermint Oil repels insects effectively. It blends well with lavender, orange, geranium, Rosemary, juniper and other oils that also repel insects.

Ingredients: Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil

Caution: For external use only. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use it for babies or toddlers.

Sweet Almond Oil

There are two types of almond oil: sweet and bitter. Sweet almond oil is the kind that’s better suited to your skin. It contains the following nutrients:

• Vitamin A: The retinol in vitamin A has the ability to stimulate the production of new skin cells and smooth fine lines.
• Vitamin E: This nutrient has antioxidant properties that may help prevent cell damage and help reduce ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skinTrusted Source caused by the sun.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: These nutrients may help prevent premature aging and safeguard against sun damage.
• Zinc: This is an essential nutrient for healing acne or other facial scars. However, it’s worth noting that zinc is more effective for this purpose when taken orally.

What are the benefits of using almond oil on your face? 

Although there’s plenty of research that touts the benefits of eating almondsTrusted Source, there’s less scientific evidence on the benefits of using almond oil on the skin.

However, according to some clinical studies and anecdotal evidence, applying almond oil to the skin may have the following benefits:

• Reduces puffiness and under-eye circles. Because almond oil is an anti-inflammatoryTrusted Source, it may help ease swelling of the skin.
• Improves complexion and skin tone. Due to its emollient propertiesTrusted Source, almond oil has the potential to improve both complexion and skin tone.
• Treats dry skin. Almond oil has been used for centuries to treat dry skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis.
• Improves acne. The oil’s fatty acid content may help dissolve excess oilTrusted Source on the skin, while the retinoids in the oil may reduce the appearance of acne and improve cell turnover.
• Helps reverse sun damage. Animal studiesTrusted Source have shown that vitamin E, one of the nutrients in almond oil, may help reduce damage to the skin caused by UV exposure.
• Reduces the appearance of scars. In ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, almond oil was used to reduce scarringTrusted Source. The vitamin E content may contribute to helping smooth the skin.
• Reduces the appearance of stretch marks. According to a 2016 study, sweet almond oil may be an effective treatment for preventing and reducing stretch marks.

Is it safe to use almond oil on your skin? 

Almond oil is generally considered safe to use on your skin. However, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind.

• If you’re allergic to nuts, avoid using almond oil on your skin.
• If you’ve never used almond oil on your skin before, do a patch test before applying to your face.
• You can do a patch test by dabbing a small amount of almond oil on the inside of your wrist or elbow. If there are no signs of redness, itching, burning, or swelling within a few hours, the oil is likely safe to use on your skin.