No one is unaware of the phenomenal health benefits of black seed oil. It is one of the most potent, medically proven, and health-promoting supplements efficiently extracted from the seeds of Nigella Sativa. Its history dates back thousands of years, and even now, in the 21st century, its use is recommended for several purposes. A considerable reason black seed oil is a powerful supplement is the phytochemical thymoquinone TQ, a chemical prized for its antioxidant properties.
Unfortunately, not enough reliable research is available on its therapeutic effects. Due to the limitation of sound scientific evidence regarding its long-term safety, more and more interest has peaked in using black seed oil. At the same time, it is strictly advised that black seed is not intended for the treatment, curing, or prevention of any illness.
Regardless of the research, the black seed oil supplement must always be adapted and vetted by an experienced health professional, particularly a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and pharmacist. More importantly, kids under a certain age and pregnant or lactating women should never consume it as a remedy.
Black Seed Oil Interactions
The best practice is to consult your physician before adding black seed oil to your ongoing treatment. Why? Because it can potentially react with certain medicines, herbs, food, vitamins, etc.
Another good approach to avoid harmful black cumin seed oil interactions is to keenly read the list of ingredients along with the nutritional facts of a supplement. Reviewing the black seed oil supplement label will protect your body from health-deteriorating interactions.
Black Seed Oil Medication Interactions
Does black seed oil interact with medications? Well, yes!
Now, the question is, “what medications does black seed oil interact with?” The most common interactions perceived in black seed are described below:
- Anti-hypertensive medications – drugs for treating high blood pressure
One of the most common black seed oil and medication interactions is with Norvasc (Amlodipine). However, research has highlighted a minor effect of black seed oil on lowering blood pressure, but when it is taken with blood pressure-controlling medicines, it can become a major concern.
On the one side, Amlodipine works in full potency to lower blood pressure. On the other side, the black seed also helps drop blood pressure. Together, they drastically lower blood pressure, making you experience hypotension. That’s why I always keep a close check on blood pressure.
We are sure we have answered to does black seed oil interact with blood pressure medication – one of the most frequently asked questions.
- Cyclosporine
Drugs, such as Neoral and Sandimmune react with black seed and might suppress their effects by hindering the potency. It decreases how well cyclosporine can work by reducing its levels in the blood.
- Immunosuppressant
Black seed has the right composition to enhance the activity of your body’s immune system.
Medications prescribed after a transplant tends to decrease the activity of the immune system but if you are consuming black seed oil supplements as well, the efficiency of the medications might decrease.
- Anti-diabetic drugs
Diabetes and black seed oil are good partners as they can significantly lower blood sugar levels. Taking supplements in combination with such medications might drop sugar levels too low.
- Levothyroxine
Does black seed oil interact with levothyroxine? Yes, but positively!
Incorporating black seed oil in a healthy diet has shown a promising aspect of assisting thyroid health along with lowering thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
- Serotonergic drugs
Drugs known for increasing the brain’s serotonin levels must be avoided in case of consuming black seed oil and tablets as they share the same function. When taken along black seed, this brain chemical can increase beyond the safe/recommended amounts, and you will experience grave side effects, such as cardiac issues, seizures, and nausea/vomiting.
- Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet drugs
Talking about the black cumin seed oil drug interactions, the oil must be avoided in combination with drugs that slow blood clotting because the black seed has anti-clotting properties. Upon their interaction, the risks of bruising and bleeding are increased.
- Sedative drugs
Also known as CNS depressants, the sedative drug is not a good match with black seed!
Black seed oil can make you sleepy and drowsy, as do sedative drugs. If taken in combination, their interaction can result in excessively slowed breathing or other breathing problems.
- Diuretic drugs/water pills
One of the most essential roles of black seed is to control potassium levels. "Water pills" share the role. If they happen to interact inside the body, your potassium levels might drop faster and become too low.
Herbs & Supplement Interactions
Even if you are not taking medicines but has herbs in your daily routine, you must mind harmful herb-drug interactions. In exceptional cases, the interaction can get life-threatening. The results can be damaging, particularly when other herbs or supplements have similar roles, as the effects can double:
- Anti-hypertensive herbs and supplements
e.g., casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle
- Anti-diabetic herbs and supplements
e.g., aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, prickly pear cactus
- Anti-clotting herbs and supplements
e.g., garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng
- Sedation-causing herbs and supplements
e.g., hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian
- Serotonergic herbs and supplements
e.g., 5-HTP, L-tryptophan, SAMe, and St. John's wort.
Food Interactions
Apart from medicine interactions with black seed oil, there are no well-recognized interactions of black seed oil with foods. But be careful as black seed oil interacts negatively with any food in any possible case.
Enzymatic Interactions
There are plenty of interactions noticed between Nagilla Sativa and enzymes. But the most important study was conducted in 2018. The study provided evidence of how nigella sativa can significantly inhibit CYP3A4.
Moreover, it was concluded that black seed oil might interact with P-glycoprotein by enhancing its activity, ultimately inhibiting CYP2D6 along with CYP2C19 or CYP2C9 or both.
Does Black Seed Oil Interact With HIV Medications?
It is still vague to say anything due to limited research. But if you value the recent studies, you might be convinced to see the positive aspects of using black seed oil against HIV infection as it works with certain medications. If a proper method is exercised with safety measures, you can expect it to become a miracle cure for HIV in the near future.
Interaction with Iron and Vitamin D3
When black seed oil interacts with iron, it makes the body absorb it more, increasing its iron levels. In short, you must keep a close check, or else you will have an increased risk of iron toxicity.
We all know ibuprofen interaction with black seed oil is healthy only because both promote anti-inflammatory actions. Talking about Vitamin D3, TQ tends to partner up with it to reduce inflammatory biomarkers. Additionally, the immunity system will be strengthened. The Journal of Food & Nutritional Sciences has published a recent study where the positive effects of black seed oil have been evidenced on immune health. On the hand, their combination can brilliantly reduce the size of the average lipid droplet. On the other hand, TQ decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokine. Not only this, but it also increases mitochondrial biogenesis as well as energy metabolism.
Best Quality, Cold Pressed Organic Black Seed Oil
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