Black seed oil, as its name suggests, is oil derived from black seeds. They originate from a plant called Nigella sativa and, other than black seeds, they’re also known as black cumin, kalonji, black onion seeds or black caraway. They’ve been around and in use for medical reasons for thousands of years.
There is a whole list of benefits attributed to black seed oil, from helping with weight loss to treating various skin conditions. It may also promote better kidney and liver function, improve your blood sugar levels and help with infertility in men. Certain studies have even shown that thymoquinone, a compound found in black seed oil, can support programmed cell death in certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, breast cancer and brain tumor. Considering all the ways in which black seed oil can contribute to our overall health, it’s no wonder people use it daily. If you’ve never tried it before, or you’re simply curious about how other people consume it, here are five different ways you can use black seed oil.
Taking it as a supplement
Probably the simplest way to take your daily dose of black seed oil is by simply swallow a teaspoon of it up to three times a day. However, some find this to be easier said than done, since this oil is known for its bitter taste and thick consistency, quite similar to the oil used for cooking. To mask the strong taste, you can mix it with a teaspoon of honey or some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Taken this way, black seed oil can enhance your immune function, especially if you’ve managed to lower it by trying one of the eight worst fad diets in history.
Spicing your food
Making it a regular addition to all sorts of recipes is another way of using black seed oil. As mentioned above, it’s sometimes necessary to mask its flavor with some lemon or honey. Since these two are also frequent ingredients of smoothies and shakes, then you should invest in the best quality black seed oil you can find and add it alongside the lemon and the honey to any combination of fresh fruit and vegetables you can think of. In fact, not only can it become a part of smoothies, but also a nice salad dressing. You should merely sprinkle it over your veggie salad and enjoy all of its benefits.
Moisturizing your hair
You don’t have to eat your black seed oil in order for it to help you stay healthy and beautiful. Using it as hair moisturizer is another way to make the best of this amazing oil. The process is simple. Mix some black seed oil with some olive or coconut oil in the same amount and then just use your fingers to massage the mixture into your hair, downwards from your scalp. After that, all you have to do is wait about half an hour for it to work, and then wash your hair thoroughly using your regular shampoo, but without the conditioner, since the oil will be conditioning your hair.
Treating skin conditions
As black seed oil is helpful in case of inflammation and different skin conditions, it’s a good idea to use it for treating them. Whether you have a problem with bug bites, eczema, acne, or psoriasis, or you simply want something to hydrate and soften your skin a bit, black seed oil may prove to be of great assistance. However, before you rub it on your skin, you should dilute it with some water. You’ll need about 8 ounces of water and ten drops of black seed oil. Diluting it is just a precaution, since some people have sensitive skin and putting oil directly on the affected area may cause some additional irritation.
Reducing pain
Black seed oil can also help with headaches and toothaches. You can use it in two ways. One of them is to put a few drops of it on your finger or a cotton ball and rub it over the painful tooth or massage it gently into your temples. Another way is to put several drops of the oil on a clean piece of cloth and then periodically, throughout the day, smell it. You can even put a couple of drops of black seed oil into a vaporizer and inhale it. Not only can this help with headaches, but also with breathing difficulties.
No matter how many advances in medicine we’ve made over time, there are always some natural remedies people return to when they want to improve their overall well-being or treat some specific health issues. Black seed oil is definitely one of those remedies, which is why you should give it a try, if you haven’t already.
