UK health experts are increasingly calling Black Seed Oil the ‘immunity powerhouse’. And although this oil has been used as a natural remedy for a large variety of health issues, their opinion is based on factual evidence that proves the oil’s abilities to address a large variety of health conditions.
The reason for this is due to the oil’s unique composition of various bioactive compounds. Of these, thymoquinone tends to stand out. This is because research indicates that the compound has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and immune-modulating properties.
Our Immune System
Our immune system is our body’s first line of defence and is designed to fight off infections and diseases. But this response immediately triggers another response, i.e., an inflammatory response. This is 100% normal and lets us know that our immune system is fighting to make us well again.
But how does this happen?
As soon as your immune system responds to a situation, whether it is the presence of bad bacteria, viruses, or a wound, your immune cells release chemicals that move to the affected area to fight off what the body sees as foreign pathogens. This is when we experience inflammation.
The most common symptoms of a body fighting off inflammation include:
- Warmth because of increased blood flow to the area
- Swelling due to fluid leaking from blood vessels into tissue
- Pain because swelling puts extra pressure on the nerves
- Redness because of blood vessels near the skin dilating
- Depending on the area affected, you could experience loss of function or mobility because of the pain and swelling
Although this natural process typically lasts only for a brief time, certain conditions can lead to an extended immune response and, consequently, a prolonged inflammatory response. This could result in chronic inflammation, which could result in the development of a host of health issues.
Health Issues Associated With Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a risk factor or component of a large variety of health issues that may seem unrelated.
These include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type-2 diabetes
- Fatty liver disease
- Metabolic disorders
- Autoimmune disorders
- Lupus
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain types of cancer
- Asthma
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s disease
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
The Role Of Black Seed Oil As An ‘Immunity Powerhouse’
Black Seed Oil is an immunity powerhouse for many reasons. We will look at a few.
Antioxidant Properties
The term ‘oxidative stress’ refers to an imbalance between the number of free radicals and antioxidants in your body. When this imbalance occurs, the free radicals can cause damage to proteins, lipids, and your DNA. Your body produces free radicals during the metabolic process.
Oxidative stress can induce an inflammatory reaction. This is because your body may not be able to get rid of the free radicals, and your immune system sees this as a threat.
Black Seed Oil can suppress oxidative stress. It does so by neutralising free radicals and thus their ability to do any sort of damage. In doing so, it prevents them from promoting an immune response and thus reduces inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Various studies show that Nigella sativa seeds have anti-inflammatory properties. Black Seed Oil made from these seeds has these same beneficial properties. Thymoquinone, one of the compounds found in the oil, is the main cause of this.
Black Seed Oil can suppress your body’s inflammatory response. But it also helps with immune system regulation. This is because the active compounds in the oil, like thymoquinone, have a balancing effect on how your immune system works. It can both calm an overactive immune response or stimulate a weaker response.
The Antimicrobial Properties
Thymoquinone has both antibacterial and antifungal properties. This means it targets and gets rid of these microbes. The term ‘microbes’ refers to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. These microbes, when multiplied, can cause health issues that induce an immune response accompanied by inflammation.
By targeting these microbes, Black Seed Oil may thus decrease your risk of an immune response and the various symptoms associated with it.
The Anti-Cancer Effect Of Black Seed Oil
We get many different types of cancer. All types of cancer are the result of certain cells in your body growing uncontrollably. These cells have become compromised and no longer function as they should. They can form malignant tumours and spread to various parts of your body.
Many types of cancer have a strong link to inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of Black Seed Oil may thus reduce your risk of these types of cancer.
But Black Seed Oil can also stop new cancer cells from forming and spreading. It does this in several ways:
- It induces cellular death in cancer cells. We call this apoptosis.
- It slows down the growth of new cancer cells. They can thus not increase as they would normally do.
- The compounds in the oil inhibit the migration of cancer cells. In other words, it helps to reduce their ability to spread through the body.
- The oil’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protect healthy cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Because the oil supports the immune system, it strengthens the body’s ability to naturally act against the onset of cancer and tumour formation.
Protection Against Liver Damage:
Inflammation in the liver is your body’s immune response to injury or toxicity, and numerous factors can cause it. These include viruses, autoimmune conditions, bacteria, fatty liver disease, and the overuse of alcohol.
Chronic inflammation may cause permanent damage to your liver.
The oil’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may help support liver health. Additionally, it can play a significant role in addressing fatty liver disease in a unique way. It can reduce oxidative stress and lower triglyceride levels that contribute to fatty liver disease.
Strong Neuroprotective Properties:
Many neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are associated with reduced cognitive function, oxidative stress, and cellular death in certain parts of the brain.
The compounds in Black Seed Oil not only benefit your immune response in the brain by addressing inflammation and other issues, but they also protect the brain’s ability to send chemical messages to various parts of the brain and body.
Other neuroprotective benefits include the compounds in the oil’s ability to improve cognitive function and memory. This has been greatly beneficial to those with certain neurological disorders.
The oil may also help in addressing anxiety and depression in certain individuals.
How to Spot the Best Quality Of Black Seed Oil
When purchasing Black Seed Oil, consumers should keep in mind that quality is crucial. The better the quality of the oil, the better the outcome.
Reading the brand’s label will give you the best idea as to an oil’s quality. To ensure the best quality, look for the following:
- A cold-pressed oil has the most preserved nutrients. Using heat during the oil’s extraction from the seeds may reduce the oil’s nutrients and their effectiveness.
- Ensure the oil is 100% pure and contains no additives.
- Look for the oil’s thymoquinone content. A higher thymoquinone percentage means a stronger, more powerful oil.
- Make sure the oil has an organic certification. This means that the seeds were not exposed to any chemicals while growing.
- Your Black Seed Oil should be packaged in a dark glass bottle. This ensures the oil is protected from light exposure, which could cause degradation.
- If possible, smell and taste the oil. High-quality Black Seed Oil has a strong aroma, often described as peppery or spicy. Its taste can be characterised as pungent, bitter, peppery, earthy, or smoky. Additionally, you may experience a slight burning sensation in your throat when you swallow it.
In Closing
Black Seed Oil has been a part of traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is referred to in both the Koran and the Bible. It has been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs and was specifically mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad as ‘the cure to everything except death’.
Modern science has studied many of the traditionally claimed benefits of the oil and found them true. Furthermore, increasing research into the oil’s different compounds has found many additional benefits. And these include its amazing benefits regarding immune health support.
Taking the oil’s many proven benefits into consideration, it is no wonder that UK health experts are calling Black Seed Oil the ‘Immunity Powerhouse’ of 2025. The ancient oil has made a huge comeback and may, in future, go on to show even more amazing benefits as the research continues.
