Black Seed Oil | Uses, Effects During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes, especially as it relates to your diet. This is because, at this stage, two lives are involved – yours and your baby’s. One of the new options you may be advised to include in your diet and routine is black seed oil. In this article, you’d learn about the uses and effects of black seed oil during pregnancy.

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As you would discover in this post, black seed oil has many functions and health benefits. Despite these benefits, there is still the question of whether pregnant women can or should use black seed oil.

Read more on this article to discover what black seed oil is; its uses, benefits, and effects during pregnancy. In addition, there’s a section that contains all the precautions to follow while using black seed oil during pregnancy.

What is black seed oil?

Black seed is a flowering plant and people have used the seed to produce different medicines over the years. Black seed oil is extracted from the black seed plant and can be found in Asia, the Mediterranean, and also Pakistan.

Furthermore, black seed oil can act as an antioxidant because it contains the phytochemical thymoquinone. Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from harmful chemicals known as free radicals.

Sources of black seed oil

Black seed oil exists as an ingredient in certain processed foods. Furthermore, this essential oil can be a spice or food preservative. It can also be purchased as an oil or in powder form.

Alternatively, tea or natural supplements also serve as a reliable source of black seed oil. However, you should be sure to check the labeling of any tea or supplements before purchase to know the actual components used in producing it.

What are the uses of black seed oil?

Extensive research on the health benefit of the black seed oil is relatively limited, especially as it concerns pregnant women.

Nevertheless, some potential benefits have been found from the current studies available. In general, black seed oil has been found to have multiple therapeutic effects including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-histaminic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immune boosting.

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Other benefits include:

  • Nasal inflammation: Black seed oil can help reduce nasal symptoms including runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy nose.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: Research has shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis who use black seed oil have a reduction in their arthritis symptoms, the number of swollen joints and the blood levels of inflammatory markers.
  • Obesity: Black seed oil has been found to reduce risk factors in obese people. It helps to reduce weight, waist circumference and level of triglyceride in the body. In combinations with exercise and diet, black seed oil can help to reduce cholesterol level and body mass index.
  • Diabetes: Black seed oil has shown some benefits for people with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. Research has shown that diabetic patients who took black seed in form of oil, seed or tea in addition with their diabetes medications had a decrease in their fasting plasma glucose.

Other uses of black seed oil:

  • Acne management
  • Breast pain
  • Constipation
  • Hair and Skin Moisturizing
  • Hair growth stimulant

What are the effects of black seed oil during pregnancy?

All drugs have a potential side effect and black sees oil is not an exemption. These side effects may be mild or severe.

If you are pregnant and want to use black seed oil, it is best that you consult with your doctor before doing so. After approval, you can take black seed oil in foods in small amounts. Taking black seed oil in large quantities is unsafe in pregnancy. Excessive consumption of black seed oil can affect the uterus’ ability to contract.

It can also lead to miscarriage in some women.

Some of the other common side effects of black seed oil include:

  • Toxicity: Black seed oil contains a substance known as melanthin which when consumed in larger quantity can be poisonous to the body.
  • Allergic reaction: Black seed oil when consumed through the mouth can help to relieve allergic reactions. When it is applied directly to the skin in some individuals, it can cause allergic contact dermatitis.
  • Risk of bleeding: Black seed oil can slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Those with any bleeding disorders or blood clotting problems should not take black seed oil.

Precautions to take when using black seed oil

Regulate Consumption

If you are pregnant, don’t consume black seed oil in large amounts by mouth for more than three months. This is because there is not enough information to know if larger amounts of black seed oil are safe when consumed for more than three months.

Avoid consuming large amounts of black seed oil in pregnancy as this can stop the uterus from contracting.

Watch Out For Allergies

When applied directly on the skin, black seed oil can cause allergic reactions. You can try it first with a small area of your body to see if there will be any reaction before applying on a wider area.

Avoid Black Seed Oil While Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding, it is safe to avoid using black seed oil. This is because there is no reliable information to know whether it is safe to use or not.

Don’t Use Black Seed Oil Before Surgery

Avoid black seed oil at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery. This is because black seed oil can interfere with blood clotting thereby increasing the risk of bleeding during the procedure. It can also reduce blood sugar which interferes with blood sugar monitoring. Black seed oil can also increase sleepiness in some people. This disturbs the anesthesia procedure before and after the surgery.

Monitor Your Blood Sugar

Monitor your blood sugar closely if you have diabetes and you are using black seed oil. This is because black seed oil can lower blood glucose levels, leading to hypoglycemia if not properly monitored.

You can discover how to monitor your blood sugar by reading this post on the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Conclusion

It is important to note that black seed oil is not a replacement for conventional medical care. Irrespective of its many benefits, you shouldn’t use the black seed oil or quit any prescribed medication without consulting your doctor.

Ensure that you seek the advice of your health care professional if you want to start taking black seed oil, especially during pregnancy.