Black Seed Oil: A Natural Powerhouse for Women's Health!
Today, we're taking a closer look at a powerful player in the natural wellness arena: Black Seed Oil. But this time, let's look at it from a different angle and focus on women's health.
From regulating the menstrual cycle to reducing post-menopausal symptoms and even supporting bone health, Black Seed Oil has a lot to offer to women. The best part? It’s safe and all-natural!
Related article: Discover 8 Amazing Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil Now!
Black Seed Oil Pills, Organics Nature
What is Black Seed Oil?
Black Seed Oil, also known as Nigella Sativa or Black Cumin Oil, is a natural oil derived from the seeds of the Nigella Sativa plant native to southwest Asia.
Revered for its therapeutic properties, it has been used for centuries across different cultures, including Egypt, Asia, and the Middle East, earning it a prized position in the natural health realm.
Black Seed Oil can be consumed in several ways, depending on the desired benefits and individual preferences, including:
- Direct consumption: Usually, a teaspoon or two is taken pure once or twice a day, preferably before meals.
- In food and drinks: Black Seed Oil can be added to pretty much any of your foods and drinks, including salad dressings, mixed into yogurts, smoothies, and beverages, or used in cooking.
- Capsules and supplements: For those who may not like the taste of Black Seed Oil, capsules are a convenient alternative. They provide a measured dose and are easy to take with water. Organics Nature’s black seed oil capsules, for example, are made with 1000 mg of pure cold-pressed black seed oil.
- Topical use: You can also apply pure Nigella Sativa oil directly to the skin and hair. It's very efficient at improving skin conditions like acne and eczema and promoting healthy hair.
Related article: The Ultimate Guide to Using Black Seed Oil for Health and Beauty!
Uses
Consuming black seed oil regularly has been proven to provide numerous health benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties: The main active compound in Black Seed Oil, thymoquinone, has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's often used to help reduce inflammation in chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma, for example.
- Immune system support: Black Seed Oil boosts the immune system and has potent antiviral properties. This makes it an excellent supplement to support overall health and help the body fend off illnesses.
- Digestive health: Traditionally, Black Seed Oil has been used to aid digestion and alleviate gas, constipation, and diarrhea. It’s commonly used to help ease the symptoms of chronic bowel conditions like Crohn’s disease.
- Respiratory health: Nigella Sativa also helps with respiratory conditions, easing symptoms of allergies, asthma, bronchitis, and even colds due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Additionally, Black Seed Oil is commonly used for weight loss, skin and hair health, cardiovascular issues, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and other health and wellness purposes.
Related article: How to Use Black Seed Oil for Weight Loss Efficiently?
Black Seed Oil Benefits for Women
But besides the above-mentioned general health benefits that both men and women can enjoy, Black Seed Oil also has secret powers for women only!
It contains plenty of essential women's health-supportive nutrients like fatty acids, proteins, vitamins B1, B2, B3, folic acid, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and phosphorous, and helps with numerous issues like menstrual cramps, female fertility, post-menopausal osteoporosis, breast pain, and others.
So, let’s dig a bit deeper and discover what black seed oil can do for women exactly.
Related article: Top 10 Sea Moss Benefits for Women!
1. Menstrual health
Research shows that black seed oil helps with issues related to menstruation, including cramps, mood swings, and bloating.
- Menstrual cramps: The anti-inflammatory properties of black seed oil significantly help soothe menstrual cramps. This is believed to be due to thymoquinone, an active compound in the oil, which can reduce inflammation and pain. According to this study[1], Nigella Sativa is a safe “analgesic supplement in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea” (the cramping pain during periods).
- Mood swings: Black seed oil has been used in traditional medicine to help with mood regulation, potentially offering benefits for the mood swings that often occur during menstruation. The exact mechanism isn't well understood, but it's thought that the oil's phytochemicals may impact neurotransmitter functions in the brain.
- Bloating: The oil's incredible effects on digestive health also help with bloating during menstruation. The anti-inflammatory and carminative (gas-reducing) properties of black seed oil considerably alleviate symptoms of bloating during menstruation for numerous women.
Related article: Can Sea Moss Help with Menstruations, Fibroids, and PCOS?
2. Breast pain
When applied topically, black seed oil is also proven to reduce pain in women with breast pain.
Breast pain, or mastalgia, is a common complaint among women and can have several causes, including hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, menopause, fibrocystic breast condition, injury, or other non-hormonal factors.
A study published in the "Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association."[2] explored the use of topical black seed oil for the treatment of breast pain. Participants with cyclical mastalgia were asked to massage black seed oil on their breasts every day. The results indicated a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of breast pain.
The thymoquinone in black seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties, explaining pain reduction. Moreover, the oil also contains other anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds with powerful pain-relief effects.
Related article: Sea Moss & Cancer, What the Research Says.
3. Post-menopausal osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease characterized by decreased bone density, increasing the risk of fractures. Women are more likely to develop this condition after menopause due to reduced estrogen levels, a hormone that protects against bone loss.
Black seed oil, or Nigella sativa, is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and a great variety of vitamins and minerals, making it a focus of interest for researchers exploring natural ways to help prevent and manage osteoporosis.
And indeed, several studies [3]conducted on animals have revealed that black seed oil can help prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
4. Female fertility & PCOS
Nigella Sativa, the plant behind Black seed oil, has been used traditionally in various cultures to enhance fertility and treat reproductive issues, both in men and women.
Today, research indicates that black seed oil helps regulate the menstrual cycle, a critical aspect of female fertility.
Then, a study published in the "Journal of Herbal Medicine" in 2021[4] suggests that black seed oil might help reduce testosterone levels and improve certain aspects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS, a common cause of female infertility.
Moreover, black seed oil is known for its antioxidant properties, which are also beneficial for female fertility. Oxidative stress can damage cells, including egg cells, and antioxidants neutralize these harmful effects.
Related article: Does Sea Moss Help With Fertility in Men & Women?
5. post-menopausal symptoms
Another great benefit of black seed oil for women is its ability to help reduce post-menopausal symptoms, including:
- Hot flashes: While there are no specific studies on black seed oil reducing hot flashes, its antioxidant properties help regulate the body's temperature control mechanisms.
- Bone health: As mentioned above, studies have found that black seed oil helps prevent bone loss, which often accelerates after menopause.
- Mood swings: Black seed oil has a positive impact on mood regulation and can help manage mood swings and depression that can occur during menopause.
- Vaginal atrophy: the oil's anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties help with the dryness and discomfort that can come with vaginal atrophy after menopause.
- Cardiovascular health: Last, black seed oil is excellent for heart health, particularly during post-menopause, as the risk of heart disease increases with the decrease in estrogen levels.
According to this study[5], Nigella Sativa oil could even be used as “an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT)” for women with post-menopause syndrome.
Remember: Always talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. Although black seed oil is safe, it can interfere with certain medications and isn't recommended for everyone. It should never substitute your medical treatment.
Related article: Black Seed Oil Side Effects, Safety Comes First!
Black Seed Oil During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy and lactation are particularly sensitive periods in women's lives, and many safe substances for non-pregnant women can pose risks during these times.
Unfortunately, there’s limited research on the safety of using black seed oil during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Therefore, we would always recommend our customer to err on the side of caution.
Black seed oil is considered a safe ingredient with very few side effects. Its nutrient profile can even be very interesting to support the health of pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding and considering taking black seed oil or any other supplement, discuss it with your healthcare provider first. They can provide advice based on the most recent research and your individual health circumstances.
We'd love to hear from you! If you've used Black Seed Oil, could you share your experiences? What improvements have you observed in your women's health?
Try Organics Nature's Black Seed Oil Capsules Here!
References:
[1] Samadipour E, Rakhshani MH, Kooshki A, Amin B. Local Usage of Nigella sativa Oil as an Innovative Method to Attenuate Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial. Oman Med J. 2020 Sep 9;35(5):e167. doi: 10.5001/omj.2020.109. PMID: 32953142; PMCID: PMC7480012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7480012/
[2] Huseini HF, Kianbakht S, Mirshamsi MH, Zarch AB. Effectiveness of Topical Nigella sativa Seed Oil in the Treatment of Cyclic Mastalgia: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Active, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Planta Med. 2016 Mar;82(4):285-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1558208. Epub 2015 Nov 19. PMID: 26584456. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26584456/
[3] Seif AA. Nigella Sativa reverses osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Jan 14;14:22. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-22. PMID: 24422662; PMCID: PMC3898005. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898005/
Shuid AN, Mohamed N, Mohamed IN, Othman F, Suhaimi F, Mohd Ramli ES, Muhammad N, Soelaiman IN. Nigella sativa: A Potential Antiosteoporotic Agent. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:696230. doi: 10.1155/2012/696230. Epub 2012 Sep 3. PMID: 22973403; PMCID: PMC3438907. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3438907/
[4] Khani S, Abdollahi M, Khalaj A, Heidari H, Zohali S. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella Sativa seed on the dehydroepiandrosterone-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats: An experimental study. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2021 Mar 21;19(3):271-282. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v19i3.8575. PMID: 33842824; PMCID: PMC8023008. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8023008/
[5] Parhizkar S, Latiff LA, Parsa A. Effect of Nigella sativa on the reproductive system in an experimental menopause rat model. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2016 Jan-Feb;6(1):95-103. PMID: 27247926; PMCID: PMC4884222. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884222/