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Dr. Kiefer reports no financial relationships relevant to this field of study.
* One or two grams of black seed daily led to minimal changes in spirometry and laboratory analyses in people with mild-moderate persistent asthma.
SOURCE: Salem AM, Bamosa AO, Qutub HO, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on lung function and inflammatory mediators in partly controlled asthma: A randomized controlled trial. Ann Saudi Med 2017;37:64-71.
Black seed (Nigella sativa), also known as black cumin, is a flowering plant native to Asia that is developing a reputation for a variety of health concerns. It is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and is used both orally and topically. The physiological effects center on its volatile oils and fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated), which may explain some studies showing decreased inflammation, lipids, glucose, blood pressure, pain, and anxiety, as well as other cardiovascular effects.1,2
Dovetailing from the plant’s anti-inflammatory effects, as well as some evidence for bronchodilation, Salem et al randomized people with “partially controlled asthma” into three groups: a placebo (one capsule twice daily) group (n =...