The health benefits of blackseed oil may be numerous, but cheap nigella sativa oil is probably a waste of money. Nigella sativa is the botanical name for the spice that has been used since ancient times to flavor food and for medicinal purposes.

Its common names are many, including black cumin seed, kolonji, kezah, chamushka, corek otu, seeds of blessing, fennel flower, black caraway, black onion seed and others, indicating its widespread use throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. According to the book of prophetic medicine, we should “hold onto the use of the black seeds for in it is healing for all diseases except death.”

Researchers have evaluated the benefits of blackseed oil in the treatment of many medical conditions, including cancer, arthritis, diabetes, liver damage, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, viral infections, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. It was used historically as a pain reliever and modern research has supported this use, though the mechanism of action is unclear.

It is understandable that people would look for cheap nigella sativa oil, since the seeds are valuable and fetch a good price on the market. The problem with purchasing cheap nigella sativa oil is that the average person has no way of knowing what he is getting. Even as a food flavoring, cheap nigella sativa oil can be disappointing. If used as a health supplement, it could be a waste of money or even dangerous, particularly if a person is relying on the oil for the treatment or prevention of a disease.

Genuine nigella sativa is cultivated in France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, northern Africa, India and other parts of Asia. It grows wild on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt and in some parts of Turkey and the Balkans. Mainly because of the many health benefits of blackseed oil, it is a valuable commodity and not found in discount stores.

Cheap nigella sativa oil may contain additives including common vegetable or olive oils. They can be made from other species of Nigella, some of which are poisonous. The seeds are similar looking to onion seed and black sesame. Even black cumin seed, which is one of the common Nigella names, is actually a different spice. Because of the many common names, some of which are shared by other spices, it is important to look for the botanical name, “Nigella sativa” and buy from a trustworthy manufacturer that specializes in health supplements.

Benefits of Blackseed Oil in Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders in the world. The use of traditional botanical and herbal supplements among those who have the condition and those who are at risk is increasing, according to surveys conducted in several countries.

Researchers are currently evaluating the benefits of blackseed oil and other “folk” remedies in the treatment of type II diabetes for two main reasons. One reason is to insure that patients who use these alternative medicines are not at risk of detrimental side effects. The other is to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative remedies, since available pharmaceutical options are limited, have unwanted side effects and are ineffective in the long term.

Research on the benefits of blackseed oil is considered preliminary, as studies are being done using animal models, but the results are promising. It has been shown that an extract from nigella sativa seeds can reduce elevated blood sugar levels and the antioxidant activity of the extract may prevent the complications associated with uncontrolled type II diabetes.