Throughout the lands of the southern Mediterranean, across Turkey and Iran, and into northern India, a special flowering shrub blooms abundantly in sunny spots.
Its flowers are light blue or white, with elaborate stamen and slender, airy leaves reminiscent of fennel. But it’s not the flower or the leaves that make this one of the most sought-after plants in the world.
It’s the tiny black seeds.
Nigella sativa – popularly known as Black Seed – has been prized for thousands of years in western Asia, North Africa and southern Europe for its health-promoting qualities.
Black seeds were found among the treasures included in King Tut’s tomb when he was buried almost 3500 years ago. Queen Nefertiti, who lived around the same time as King Tut and was renowned for her beautiful complexion, was known to use black seed oil regularly.
Cleopatra, the famed Macedonian beauty who lived centuries later, from 70-30 B.C., also prized black seed oil in her beauty treatments.
While black seed has long been celebrated in the Eastern parts of the world, it has only recently begun to undergo rigorous scientific study.
And researchers are making some amazing discoveries...
Tradition Validated by Science – Black Seed’s Unique Array of Health-Promoting Compounds
Since the turn of the 21st Century, hundreds of scientific peer-reviewed articles have been published about the oil that comes from the tiny black seeds of the Nigella sativa plant.
As its fame has grown in North America, interest in examining its traditional reputation through scientific study has also grown.
In addition to the popular name of Black Seed, Nigella sativa is also known as Black Cumin, Fennel Flower, Kalonji and Roman Coriander. It is a member of the buttercup family of flowers.
Even though black seed oil contains a multitude of active compounds, including alkaloids, saponins, sterols, B vitamins, minerals as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fats, researchers believe its major actions come from three naturally occurring phytochemicals:
- Thymoquinone (TQ) – This acts as a scavenger for both free radicals and superoxide radicals.
- Thymohydroquinone (THQ) – THQ supports the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine for brain vitality.
- Thymol – This is the active ingredient also found in thyme essential oil shown to potentially enhance your respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Triple-Action Super Ingredients Work Together for Amazing Synergistic Health Benefits
Studies show that each of these three active ingredients (TQ, THQ and Thymol) have powerful benefits by themselves. However, they appear to work even better when combined with one another, just as they are naturally found in black seed oil.
Years of extensive research on these compounds have yielded an astounding array of benefits, including how they potentially support:
- Metabolic health – Studies show TQ may support normal glucose tolerance, intestinal glucose absorption, and help to maintain blood glucose levels already in the normal range.
- Cellular health and an already normal inflammatory response – TQ has been shown in multiple studies to affect the expression of cytokines and to promote an already normal inflammatory response.
- Liver health – Your liver works hard to protect your body from toxins and heavy metals, like lead and mercury. In the process, these substances can harm your liver enzymes and damage your liver. A study showed Thymoquinone may have positive effects on liver health.
- Respiratory health – Studies have shown how TQ and THQ can have positive effects on respiratory and sinus health.
- Digestive health – TQ has been found to have a gastroprotective effect by supporting a healthy inflammatory response and helping to protect your stomach lining from insults. TQ also promotes nitric oxide production, which supports mitochondrial health as well as endothelial function and heart health by promoting relaxed blood vessels.
- Brain health and cognitive function – A study on mice demonstrated potential neuro-protective effects of Thymol on cognitive function.
- Hormonal and reproductive organ health – A systematic review of research done during a 14-year span shows that the antioxidant properties of TQ support male fertility by helping to protect against free radical and DNA damage.
Unfortunately, not all black seed oil producers place high priority on purity and quality. Some products sold as black seed oil should even be avoided altogether.
Let’s take a look at what you need to know to get the purity and quality you’re looking for.
Taking Organic to the Next Level
With popularity of black seed oil growing, there are many organic black seed oil options available in the marketplace today.
My team has uncovered a phenomenal Biodynamic® source located right in the heart of the finest black seed producing region in the world – Egypt. Working with this producer, we are able to provide a black seed oil at an even higher quality level than organic.
While Certified Organic is a high-quality standard that helps you avoid harmful synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and GMOs, foods grown under this standard may still lack some important nutrients if the soil where it was grown has been depleted.
Under the Demeter Certified Biodynamic® standard, farmers work to replenish and maintain a rich, bio-diverse soil full of living nutrients. A step above organic, Certified Biodynamic® farming utilizes regenerative farming methods with a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Striving for a higher standard whenever possible, we work exclusively with Demeter Certified Biodynamic® farmers to offer you a cold-pressed, extra virgin Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil, certified by the platinum standard for high-quality nutritious food.
Let’s take a closer look at how Certified Biodynamic® compares to NOP’s (National Organic Program) Certified Organic standards:
| Allows imported organic fertilizers |
Reduces imported materials by utilizing nutrient-rich humus created within the farming system |
| Allows imported organic pesticides |
Creates a biologically diverse habitat that encourages balanced predator-prey relationships |
| Does not require the use of livestock |
Integrates livestock to improve soils |
| Does not address the rotation of crops |
Promotes crop rotation and intensive use of cover crops (green manure) to add nutrients to the soil |
| Organic feed for livestock can come from anywhere in the world |
50% of livestock feed must be grown on the farm |
| Does not require biodiversity |
10% of total farm acreage must be set aside for biodiversity |
| Focuses on crops and allows for only one section of a farm to be certified |
Focuses on farms as a whole and requires that the entire farm be certified |
| Product certification focuses mainly on ingredients used |
Product certification uses 12 Biodynamic® processing standards so the agricultural ingredients used define the product |
Avoid Inferior Products – Insist on Using Only the Finest Black Seed Oil
As soon as black seed oil started to become recognized for all its potential benefits, it didn’t take long for products – both good and bad – to start flooding the market.
Some companies have been accused of diluting their black seed oil. Pure black seed oil is amber in color, and a lighter-colored oil should be suspect.
You should also be aware that not all claims on black seed oil products are true. At least one company claims their black seed oil has much a higher – as much as five times higher – level of thymoquinone (TQ), one of the most valuable compounds in black seed oil.
Here’s why that’s a false claim…
When you press black seeds, about 2% of the oil that is produced is essential oil, the part where the TQ is found. Only about a quarter of that 2% is TQ. Therefore, you typically find about 0.45% TQ in any pure black seed oil.
If you see advertised levels of 1%, or even 2%, of TQ, be very skeptical. Ask for substantiation and valid third-party testing results.
So, how can you tell a high-quality black seed oil from one that’s not? Here’s what to look for when buying black seed oil. Make sure it’s…
- Made from the Nigella sativa plant and not cumin.
- Raw and cold pressed – exposure to high heat can destroy the fragile volatile compounds of black seeds.
- Not processed with hexane or other harsh chemicals.
- Not diluted – black seed oil should be amber in color.
- Produced without genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) – Certified Biodynamic® provides that assurance.
- Made by a company you can trust.
By choosing a black seed oil that’s produced according to biodynamic standards, you’ll gain all the benefits of organic plus optimal environmental stewardship and quality. Certified Biodynamic® provides an extra layer of insurance that you’re getting authentic, high quality black seed oil.
Premium High-Quality Black Seed Oil, Sustainably Sourced from Egypt
We’ve taken every measure possible to ensure our Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil is of the highest quality – it’s raw, cold-pressed, biodynamic, undiluted and made exclusively from the seeds of the beautiful flowering Nigella sativa plant.
We source our Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil from an Egyptian community and organization that has been embracing sustainable development for more than 40 years.
Sharing our beliefs in ethical and fair business practices as well as environmental stewardship, this organization is Certified by the Egyptian Biodynamic® Association and applies Demeter International guidelines in its agricultural processes.
Best of all, it is supplying more than 20,000 local people with fair wages and a life-affirming livelihood. In 2015, it earned the Land for Life award from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
With your purchase of our high-quality Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil, you are also helping support this organization’s sustainable regenerative practices and its neighboring communities, and actively helping to combat local desertification and soil erosion.
How to Get the Greatest Benefit Out of Our Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil
The most common way to use Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil is the same way the ancients used it…
Black seed oil was an important part of Egyptian daily life. They used it like a topically to nourish their skin, and took it orally to support digestion and overall health.
The Assyrians conquered Egypt and occupied it for over a decade, bringing with them the practice of drinking “tin tir” – their name for black seed oil – for occasional upset stomach.
During the Roman empire, people took black seed oil, which they called “Greek Coriander,” as a dietary supplement.
For internal use, you can take a tablespoon on its own, as stated on the label, or you can take one teaspoon two to three times a day, as many experts recommend for a daily tonic. Ideally, take it on an empty stomach 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime.
Some people like to combine it with a small amount of raw honey. Alternatively, you can add it to yogurt, tea, smoothies, or drizzle it over your favorite salad.
As heat tends to damage the valuable compounds, avoid using black seed oil for cooking. If you’d like to add it to foods, always do so after cooking and once the dish has cooled down.
For topical use, always dilute with a carrier oil, like our Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Argan Oil or Organic Jojoba Oil.
Here are some ideas for using Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil topically:
- Add one or more drops to massage oils and lotions.
- Combine a few drops with your shampoo or conditioner for regular support of your scalp and hair health.
- For a deep conditioning treatment, combine with coconut or olive oil, and massage into scalp and hair; wait 30 minutes before shampooing.
For its supportive respiratory effects, add a couple of drops of undiluted oil to a vaporizer or essential oil diffuser.
Discover All This Incredible Oil Has to Offer – Order Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil Today
With hundreds of research studies to back up its reported benefits, black seed oil is sure to impress – but make sure you’re getting the real deal.
You can now find black seed oil just about anywhere online. However, you’ll have to look far and wide to find one that can compare with our Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil from our award-winning Egyptian partner.
Discover why Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra valued black seed oil. Whether you use it orally or topically, or diffuse it, you’ll find that this extraordinary oil has a lot to offer.
Experience the benefits of this ancient and celebrated health tonic, and order Biodynamic® Organic Black Seed Oil today.