Does Black Seed / Kalonji Oil help with type 2 diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition. It is caused by excess of sugar or glucose level in the body’s bloodstream. In such cases the hormone insulin is injected in the bloodstream (either by the body or manually) which helps by moving the sugar or glucose from the blood stream to the cells in the body where it used as a source of energy. There are various types of diabetes in medical studies. The most common of them is type 2 diabetes.
About 90% of the people who suffer from diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. In this form of diabetes the body’s cells are not able to respond to insulin as well as they should do in a body’s normal working condition. When the problem becomes too severe, the body may not be able to produce sufficient or any amount of insulin either. There has been constant research done to find alternate and natural medicines to regulate the levels of insulin in type 2 diabetic people. One main focus of these researches have been the black seed oil. It is a plant, botanically known as the Nigella Sativa. Black seeds have been known in various countries like Mediterranean, India, Southeast Asia, and in the Middle East where the seeds have been used in ayurvedic practices and as a natural remedy in households since centuries.
The first experiment was done on diabetic lab rats in 2013.They were given thymoquinone (a substance found in black seed) orally for 45 days. It was found that there was an improvement in glycemic status, decrease in glucose and HbA (1C) levels. There was also a decrease in oxidative stress level which preserved the pancreatic β-cell integrity. Post this success; studies were conducted with human beings in 2017. It was observed that consumption of black seed “improves glucose tolerance as efficiently as metformin; yet it has not shown significant adverse effects and has very low toxicity.” Black Seed has thymoquinone, beta-sisterol and nigellone which act as natural oxidants in the body and strengthen the immunity in the body.
Though there is no scientific proof that black seed will permanently cure type 2 diabetes, there is significant proof that it improves the level of glucose in the body. Though the results are promising, more research is required to provide conclusive data. One should consult a physician before starting on the black seed oil course. Always start in small quantity and increase the dosage once the body starts accepting the oil.
