Speaking Herbs

Commonly known as black seed, black cumin, or fennel flower, Nigella sativa is a flowering plant that is used as herbal medicine. It has been known to have beneficial properties for your health. It is used as a remedy for inflammation, pain relieves, infections, and fever. Black seed oil is also used as a medicine to prevent metastasis of neoplastic cells that are associated with cancer. Black Seed Oil for hair growth also holds significant value, when it is being taken alone or as a mixture with another carrier oil. It energizes hair follicles, thereby promoting hair growth. However, despite all the benefits that it provides, black seed oil can also cause side effects in some people. Before taking black seed oil or any other herbal supplement, you should always consult your doctor.

Contact Dermatitis

One of the potential side effects of black cumin is Contact Dermatitis. It is an adverse reaction caused by coming in contact with an allergen or irritant. Cumin seeds can cause red rashes on the skin by simply coming in contact with it. The rashes caused by black seed are often accompanied by itching sensations. It may also cause blistering, pain, or tenderness to the exposed skin.

Hypotension

According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Cancer Center black seed can be the cause of low blood pressure to the point of hypertension, especially to the people who are taking a diuretic or antihypertensive medication. The drop in blood pressure prevents oxygen from reaching the brain, heart, and other organs. This can lead to fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, shallow breathing, dizziness, lightheadedness, and loss of consciousness. If blood pressure falls too low, it can be life-threatening. 

Pregnancy

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says that women who are pregnant should not use black seeds for any purposes. The herb has been known to affect the smooth muscle contraction of the uterus. There are research going on about how exactly this can affect pregnancy, so it is best to avoid black seeds when you are expecting a child.

Adverse Interactions

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre also warns people about the use of black seed oil as it adversely interacts with both chemotherapy medications and radiation. Because of its antioxidant properties, it can decrease the efficacy of standard cancer treatments.

Other Allergic Reactions

Like almost any herbal supplement, black seed oil has the potential for an allergic reaction when ingested. This allergic reaction, unlike Contact Dermatitis, is not limited to the skin. It may cause swelling and breathing difficulty, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramping.