Nigella sativa · Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Hi, I'm Black Seed! I'm tiny and black, and I love sitting on warm bread.
In grown-ups, black seed lowered blood sugar Sugar from food that travels in your blood to give your body energy. a little in studies. Better studies are still needed.
🟡 Scientists think so
Black seed may lower blood pressure a little in grown-ups.
🟡 Scientists think so
In some countries, mums eat black seed to make more milk. Science has not proven this.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
A sprinkle of black seed on bread is fine for kids. Black seed oil capsules are for grown-ups, with a doctor's OK.
👀 Be careful
People taking diabetes medicine should ask their doctor before black seed oil or pills.
👀 Be careful
People taking blood-pressure medicine should ask their doctor first.
👀 Be careful
Mums who breastfeed should ask a doctor before black seed supplements.
👀 Be careful
Black seed oil on the skin can cause an itchy rash in some people.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
Black seed comes from a small plant with pale blue or white flowers. After the flowers, it makes round pods full of tiny black seeds.
The seeds taste a little like onion and pepper. In Morocco they are called sanouj. People sprinkle them on bread and use their oil.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
It is sometimes called black cumin, but it is not related to cumin at all!
Its seeds were found in the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamun.
The plant is a cousin of buttercups.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
What is black seed called in Morocco?
In Morocco, black seed is called sanouj.
Is black seed a kind of cumin?
Despite the nickname black cumin, it is a cousin of buttercups, not cumin.
Where do the black seeds grow on the plant?
After flowering, the plant makes pods full of tiny black seeds.
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Nigella sativa
Blood sugar
Heart & blood vessels
Mum's milk supply
🤩 It is sometimes called black cumin, but it is not related to cumin at all!
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Blood sugar | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2019 meta-analysis of clinical trials found black seed lowered fasting and after-meal glucose and HbA1c, with oil more effective than powder[2]. An overview of 20 meta-analyses judged most of this evidence to be of low or very low quality[1]. |
| Heart & blood vessels | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2023 meta-analysis of randomised trials found black seed supplements lowered systolic blood pressure by about 3 mmHg and diastolic by about 2.7 mmHg, with high variation between studies[3]. |
| Mum's milk supply | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | Black seed is used as a galactagogue in India, Türkiye and the Middle East, but no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use[4]. |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Spices
If you have too much…
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
On skin & body
Fun facts
