Which Is Better - Black Seed Capsules or Black Seed Oil?

Black seed, also called black cumin, is an herb that has been extensively grown for millennia. Taking black seed oil in capsule form can be better if you wish to calculate a specific supplementary dose, but it also comes in a bottled form that can be easier to incorporate into food or a cosmetics regimen.

Black seed oil is extracted from the seeds of a flowering plant grown in Asia. It has been in use for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. This article will look at some of the health benefits of black seed oil and the best way to consume it.

Black seed, also called black cumin (scientific name Nigella sativa), is an herb that has been extensively grown for millennia in India and the Middle East. Black seed oil is obtained from this plant and has many medicinal properties.

This herb’s use dates back more than 2,000 years. It has been widely used in foods and medicine, mainly in India and the Arabian civilizations. Traditional medicine has used this plant's seeds and oil because of its many purported, positive effects on the respiratory, digestive, liver, cardiovascular and immune systems.

Black seed oil is indeed a rich source of several active biological compounds and nutrients such as thymoquinone, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, proteins, and fatty acids. These components come with many benefits and help treat various conditions. Among them, thymoquinone is the most abundant compound in black seed oil, and many of the oil’s alleged benefits are attributed to it.

While not all of its reported medical capabilities have been proven, the nutrients in black seed oil have been linked to many health benefits, some of which are listed below. 

Research indicates black seed oil could help people with type 2 diabetes. A 2020 study found considerably lower blood sugar levels in participants with type 2 diabetes who were given black seed oil capsules. The study involved 50 participants who were given 1,000 milligrams of black seed oil daily in the form of two capsules for eight weeks. According to the study, black seed oil capsules reduced the participants' total cholesterol levels and lipid profile.

Another study found that when people with type 2 diabetes ate two grams of crushed black seeds, it considerably reduced their fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin levels. 

A separate 2017 study involving 99 participants with type 2 diabetes revealed that taking as little as 1.5 milliliters of black seed oil daily reduced blood sugar levels.

The antioxidant properties of black seed oil help preserve kidney and liver functions. A 2014 study identified a reduction in potentially harmful levels of oxidative stress in participants who consumed black seed oil. According to the study, black seed oil stimulates the immune system and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

The antioxidant effects of black seed oil are attributed to thymoquinone, which prevents liver damage. It blocks free radical activity and increases the activity of specific enzymes that counter the damaging effects of free radicals. 

Some of these enzymes are:

• Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
• Catalase (CAT)
• Glutathione peroxidase

Research indicates that black seed oil could help lower the body mass index in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes. A 2015 study involving 84 women between the ages of 25 and 50 revealed that black seed oil aids weight loss and reduction in waist circumference. The study also found that the participants who were given black seed oil every day reported lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

More research is needed to identify the specific effects of black seed oil on weight loss, though, and whether it’s safe to take it for a long time.

Research has revealed the effectiveness of black seed oil when managing rheumatoid arthritis. High levels of C-reactive proteins (CRP) are linked to increased inflammation, but a 2016 study found that black seed oil reduces these protein levels.

Many studies have identified the positive effects of black seed oil on asthma, a condition that blocks the airways and the muscles around them and makes breathing difficult.

In traditional medicine, black seed oil has been widely used to treat respiratory conditions, and recent research also shows the effectiveness of thymoquinone in preventing asthma and bronchitis.

A 2017 study involving 80 participants with asthma found that participants who were given black seed oil reported increased lung function. The study also revealed that the blood eosinophil levels in these participants were more normal compared to the control group. Low eosinophil levels indicate lesser white blood cell activity. They are linked to normal physiological functioning, while higher levels are linked to a variety of disorders. 

The study was carried out for four weeks, during which the 80 participants were divided into two groups. One group was given 500 milligrams of black seed oil capsules twice a day, while the second served as the control group.

Black seed oil certainly seems to have many health benefits, especially when used in small quantities for cooking. Still, there is not enough research regarding the long-term effects of using it, and there are risks associated with excessive consumption of black seed oil.

A 2017 study found that black seed oil contains a volatile oil called melanthin that could be toxic at higher concentrations.

Another 2013 study revealed that black seed oil could harm kidney functions, though other studies have contradicted this, showing that black seed oil doesn’t affect the kidneys and, in fact, helps treat certain kidney conditions.

Research also indicates that black seed oil may slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding, though, so it may worsen existing bleeding disorders.

While black seed oil is widely used as a supplement, it’s always recommended to check with your doctor before starting to take a supplement and determining which form would suit you best. Your doctor will check your medical history to advise you.

Taking black seed oil in capsule form can be better if you wish to calculate a specific supplementary dose, but it also comes in a bottled form that can be easier to incorporate into food or a cosmetics regimen.