Five Health Benefits of Applying Black Seed Oil Externally

Black Seed is a prized ancient ingredient that is still used as a natural therapeutic aid today. Although many acknowledge Black Seed’s internal uses, emerging evidence has uncovered 5 key topical applications that target inflammatory conditions.

Five Health Benefits of Applying Black Seed Oil Externally
Black Seed Oil has benefits when applied externally

Rubbed on the skin, Black Seed oil from Nigella sativa may provide relief to sufferers of conditions such as:

Acne:
A common skin condition prevalent in adolescence, acne results in spots, redness and irritation. Black Seed oil applied topically significantly reduced the size of skin lesions after two months of use in a novel study in Iraq⁽¹⁾. It is believed that Black Seed has this effect on acne lesions due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Eczema & Psoriasis:
Inflammation from eczema and psoriasis can cause itchy rashes, dry patches of skin and a flare up of spots. In a study with sufferers of eczema, topical Black Seed oil application significantly reduced dry patches of skin and irritation compared to placebo⁽²⁾. Likewise, individuals with psoriasis also experienced reduced silvery scales on their skin after applying black seed oil topically for 3 months⁽³⁾.

Joint Pain:
Debilitating joint conditions can cause pain, swelling and reduced mobility to the sufferer. Using Black Seed oil as a topical rub on sore joints has been shown to significantly soothe pain and improve quality of life, according to emerging research⁽⁴⁾.

Vitiligo:
An autoimmune disorder that manifests as a loss of pigment to the skin, vitiligo may be improved by reducing inflammation. In a study on 52 patients with vitiligo, topical Black Seed oil applied twice daily reduced skin lesions compared to placebo⁽⁵⁾.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Anti-inflammatory plant oils, such as Black Seed oil, may also help relieve wrist pain experienced by carpal tunnel syndrome patients. In studies, topical application of anti-inflammatory plant oils reduced pain and numbness associated with carpal tunnel syndrome⁽⁶⁾.

Author: Salma Dawood is a Technical Advisor at Viridian Nutrition. She holds a BSc honours degree in Human Nutrition.

References:

1) Nasir Abdul-Ameer Hadi Al-Harchan (2010) Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With Nigella Sativa Oil Lotion. The Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal VOL.9, NO

2) Yousefi M, Barikbin B, Kamalinejad M (2013) Comparison of therapeutic effect of topical Nigella with Betamethasone and Eucerin in hand eczema. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Dec;27(12):1498-504. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12033

3) Jawad Hassan Ahmed, Sheima Nadim Kadhim , Khalil Ismael Al-Hamdi (2014) The effectiveness of Nigella sativa, methotrexate and their combination in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis 2014; 5 (4): 521-528

4) Kooshki, A., Forouzan, R., Rakhshani, M. H., & Mohammadi, M. (2016). Effect of Topical Application of Nigella Sativa Oil and Oral Acetaminophen on Pain in Elderly with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Crossover Clinical Trial. Electronic physician, 8(11), 3193-3197. doi:10.19082/3193

5) Ghorbanibirgani, A., Khalili, A., & Rokhafrooz, D. (2014). Comparing Nigella sativa Oil and Fish Oil in Treatment of Vitiligo. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 16(6), e4515.

6) Hashempur, M. H., Homayouni, K., Ashraf, A., Salehi, A., Taghizadeh, M., & Heydari, M. (2014). Effect of Linum usitatissimum L. (linseed) oil on mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 22(1), 43. doi:10.1186/2008-2231-22-43

Related Blogs:

Black Seed: A Prevailing Ancient Remedy

The History of Black Seed

3 Simple Ways to Use Black Seed

5 Health Benefits of Black Seed - Internal Use

5 Tips when choosing Black Seed Oil

The information contained in this article is not intended to treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a health practitioner. Please consult a qualified health practitioner if you have a pre-existing health condition or are currently taking medication. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.