Nigella Sativa - A Miracle Ingredient
Lise
Before realizing how useful this fabulous herb is for skin and haircare, I enjoyed the seeds in a culinary context. The warm, rich, peppery taste and scent of nigella is a favorite of mine.
When I discovered the oil, I started researching nigella and its applications. There was one happy discovery after the other. Let’s take a look at Nigella seed!
Nigella’s Numerous Facets
Also known as black cumin, black caraway, kalonji, kalojeera and more (see here), uses of nigella have been traced back as far as Ancient Egypt.
Not only is Nigella Sativa a bit of a miracle ingredient, there's a whole heck of a lot of science behind the (well deserved) claims. With the results this modest-looking seed is showing in studies, it's understandable why even science is getting increasingly excited about the prospects.
Fun fact: It was a scientific paper from the National Library of Medicine Science that dubbed Nigella the Miracle Herb.
Here are a few headlines of what Nigella has to offer in the way of health and beauty miracles. Apart from a rich content of both fixed and essential oils, nigella seeds contain proteins, alkaloids, saponin, and a pile of actives. Fatty acids include lineolic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acids and there’s even a natural content of vitamin E.
Active Components Galore
Some of the active components that have been isolated from nigella seed
Thymoquinone is antibacterial and showing promising results in battling tumors
Dithymoquinone has shown promising results in the treatment of multi drug-resistant cancers
Thymol (which we also know as a constituent of thyme) shows antimicrobial activity
Carvacrol (which is also present in Oregano) demonstrates antibacterial properties
Alpha-hederin is being studied for its anti-cancer activity
Properties
Nigella seed is (rightly) attributed with the following properties
anti-sceptic
anti-inflammatory
immunostimulant
promotes good cohesion of skin cells
helps lock in moisture
nourishing
regenerating
invigorating
parasiticide
insect repellant
Shall we catch our breath a moment?
I told you it just keeps getting better, and this is why we're 'just' looking at the headlines of what nigella has to offer.
What Science Says About Nigella Seed Oil
Scientific studies (check the links below) have shown that Nigella Seed Oil:
Decreases blood pressure and increases respiration
Promotes wound healing
Helps treat acne with a reduction of 10%
Significantly decreased vitiligo over a 6 month period with topical application
Is effective for treating psoriasis
Significantly reduced skin irritation and improved hydration and epidermal barrier function in an emulsion combined with borage oil (2010 study)
Shows promise in minimizing tumors (2007 study)
Bonus fact: Nigella Seeds are characterized by a very low degree of toxicity
Antibacterial Power
Due to its history of use in folk medicine, some sources say nigella has been used as an effective preservative for hundreds of years – some claim for centuries.
The Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants attributed nigella with a history of use as a food preservative in 1956, but it was the isolation of thymoquinone in 1965 that established a basis for modern science to take a serious look at nigella's antibacterial properties.
A study in 1991 showed the oil to be antibacterial with high activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and an additional study in 2014 confirmed this.
Even though there may be many versions of how effective and how long nigella has functioned as an antibacterial agent, there is no discussion as to the fact that it has several effective antibacterial components that are showing results in scientific studies.
With all of this anti-bacterial power, one might imagine it could function as an all natural cosmetics preservative if paired with the appropriate fungicides. (There’s another one for my ever-growing to-do list.)
What Science Might Also be Saying Soon
With all the fabulous properties this miracle herb continues to show, there are many ongoing studies. A few of these are currently trying to establish if nigella can
help relieve allergic reactions
help relieve epliepsy in children
be neuroprotective
help relieve the rashy, itchy reaction from nickel allergy
Recommended Uses
Nigella seed oil is recommended for all kinds of skincare, helping strengthen fragile nails, bringing new life and bounciness to dull brittle hair and is even recommended for soothing joint pain.
Cautions
Due to its high natural content of essential oil, dilute the oil before use in cosmetics. Do not use near the eyes. Consult your physician before using nigella seed oil for any ailments
Links and References
National Library of Medicine, Review on therapeutic potential of nigella sativa
Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties of Nigella Sativa (PubMed)
Plants for a Future, Nigella Sativa
Journal of Dermatology, Dermatological Effects of Nigella Sativa, 2015, (Science Direct)
M.S. Hanafi, M.E. Hatem, Studies on the anti-microbial activity of the Nigella sativa seed (Black Cumin), J. Ethnopharmacol., 34 (2–3) (1991), pp. 275–278
S. Amin, S.R. Mir, K. Kohli, B. Ali, M. Ali, A study of the chemical composition of black cumin oil and its effect on penetration enhancement from transdermal formulations, Nat. Prod. Res., 24 (12) (2010), pp. 1151–1157
Brazilian Journal of Medicine and Biological Research, Antitumor properties of nigella seed extracts
Chopra RN, Nayar SL, Chopra IC. Glossary of Indian medicinal plants. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; 1956
Mohammad Akram Handawa, AntiCancer Activity of Nigella Sativa
Thymoquinine - 50 years of success in the battle against cancer models, Science Direct
