What is Nigella Sativa?

What is black seed? Nigella sativa is also known as black cumin or black seed. It is an herb that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Black seed (Nigella sativa) is a flowering plant native to the eastern Mediterranean, northern Africa, southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Its seed have been used to make medicine for thousands of years. Black seed might have effects in the body that help boost the immune system, fight cancer, prevent pregnancy, reduce swelling, and lessen allergic reactions by acting as an antihistamine.  (Web Md https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-901/black-seed)

It can help with managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. It is known for its many health benefits, from among some of them are; reducing acne, inflammation, boosting the immune system, preventing hay fever, diabetes, asthma, weight loss, menstrual cramps, high blood pressure, and improving digestion. There are much more health benefits to taking black seed. It can be taken as an oil, in capsule form or the seeds themselves. The taste though, is not to pleasant. I personally use the capsules.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, soft tissue pain and tenderness in localized areas. It affects around 2-8% of the population and is more common in women than men. There is no known cure, various therapies can help you with managing the symptoms.

Nigella Sativa contains several active compounds, the most important of which is thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties that make it an excellent treatment option for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. A study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that thymoquinone was effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and tender points in patients with fibromyalgia.

In addition to its effect on the treatment of symptoms, Nigella Sativa has a positive influence on the body's immune system.  Nigella Sativa has been known to manage and treat the immune system, preventing overactivity and managing inflammation,  it is known for reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Another study published in the journal Rheumatology International evaluated the effect of Nigella Sativa oil combined with ibuprofen in the treatment of fibromyalgia patients. The study found that the combination was significantly more effective than ibuprofen alone in reducing pain and stiffness and improving the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia.

It is important to note that Nigella Sativa might not be suitable for everyone. Pregnant women, people taking blood thinners, children and those with allergies should talk to their healthcare provider before using Nigella Sativa. As with all of natural supplements, it is important to buy these products from reputable sources and follow the recommended dosage on the bottle.

In conclusion, Nigella Sativa, black seed, offers the possibly that, it can be a  natural intervention for managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Its active compound, thymoquinone, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties that can help reduce pain, fatigue, and tender points in people with fibromyalgia. Due to its positive influence on the immune system and doesn’t have severe side effects, Nigella Sativa can make an excellent addition to the management of fibromyalgia symptoms. However, further research is required to verify its efficacy and to make the safety in the management of fibromyalgia.

References:

- Cheikh-Rouhou, S., Besbes, S., Hentati, B., Blecker, C., Deroanne, C., & Attia, H. (2007). Nigella sativa L.: Chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics of lipid fraction. Food Chemistry, 101(2), 673-681.

- Hosseini, A., Sobhani, V., Ghorbani, Z., & Sabzichi, M. (2014). The effect of Nigella sativa L. seed extract on serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and testosterone in rats. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 4(4), 245-251.

- Khan, T., Ahmad, S., & Alkhathlan, H. Z. (2018). Nigella sativa: A potential natural therapeutic candidate for fibromyalgia. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1-11.

- Karim, A. M., Mohiuddin, M. A., & Chowdhury, M. H. (2018). Combination of Nigella sativa and ibuprofen in reducing pain and stiffness in knee osteoarthritis. Rheumatology International, 38(4), 603-608.