Black seed oil for oral use – cold-pressed, 50 ml with dropper

Black seed oil is pressed from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a plant in the buttercup family. It is not related to caraway. The oil consists mainly of linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, and oleic acid. Volatile components such as thymoquinone are typical of its strong, slightly peppery taste; their content varies with the seed and the pressing.

This oil is cold-pressed and unrefined, with no other ingredients.

No health claim for black seed oil is authorised in the EU. We therefore cannot promise any effect, including for allergies, skin, blood sugar or cholesterol. What research says about individual questions is further down.

Nutritionally, it is a plant oil with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

According to the label, you take 25 drops three times a day before meals, neat or with honey. Depending on drop size, the 50 ml bottle lasts about two weeks at this amount. You should not take more than the stated amount.

If you find the taste too strong neat, you can take the oil with honey or a spoonful of yoghurt. Store cool and dark and use within a few months of opening.

There is little data on long-term use. In studies, black seed was usually taken for a few weeks to months and was generally well tolerated; digestive complaints and belching are possible. On the skin, the oil can cause allergic contact dermatitis (PubMed 30000936).

There are individual case reports of kidney and liver damage after ingestion, for example (PubMed 38844000). If you notice dark urine, muscle pain, yellowing of the skin or severe tiredness, stop the oil and see a doctor.

There is insufficient safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding; caution is usual here. Do not take the oil if you are known to be allergic to black seed.

Because black seed has affected blood sugar and blood pressure in studies, it may interact with medicines for diabetes or high blood pressure; interactions with anticoagulants are also discussed. If you take medicines or have a known kidney or liver condition, talk with the ORY expert team or with your doctor or naturopath first.

No claim about this is authorised for foods. Meta-analyses of mostly small studies found lower total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides with black seed (PubMed 38777430), and blood pressure about 3 mmHg lower (PubMed 37341696). The studies varied widely in dose, form (oil, powder, extract) and duration, and the results were widely scattered.

Raised blood lipids or high blood pressure should be assessed and monitored by a doctor. A food supplement does not replace prescribed medicines.

No allergy claim is authorised for foods, and robust large studies are lacking. Frequently cited studies are small and methodologically limited.

If hay fever, breathing problems or skin reactions bother you, a medical assessment is the right way to clarify the cause and suitable treatment.

At ORY, measuring comes before supplementing. There is no measured value for black seed oil itself, but a basic check shows how you are doing overall. Prevent 360 measures, among other things, vitamin D, minerals, amino acids and fatty acid status including the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio from capillary blood.

A lab report on its own is not a recommendation. What a value means for you is something you discuss with the ORY expert team or with your doctor or naturopath.