Black Seeds May Improve Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

A 2024 study found that 1000mg of black seeds (Nigella sativa) taken daily was significantly more effective than medroxyprogesterone (a type of contraceptive) at improving symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) over 16 weeks in adolescents. PCOS symptoms included hirsutism, menstrual irregularities and hormone levels. Another study showed significant improvement in premenstrual syndrome with black seeds vs placebo after 2 months. Long-term use and high doses of black seeds may cause stomach upset among other, possible serious, side effects.

Mahmoudian A, Ashouri A, Bilandi RR, Mohammadzadeh F, Dashti S, Bahri N. The possible short-term of Nigella sativa - L in the management of adolescent polycystic ovarian syndrome: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Ovarian Res. 2024 Jul 12;17(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s13048-024-01460-x. PMID: 38997723; PMCID: PMC11242022.

Afrin F, Neela MM, Islam A, Islam MR, Hossain MM. Nigella sativa Seeds Ease Severity of Premenstrual Syndrome in Women: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study. Biomed Res Int. 2025 Nov 19;2025:9811666. doi: 10.1155/bmri/9811666. PMID: 41267796; PMCID: PMC12628082.

Kemal Sener, Adem Cakir, Onder Yesiloglu, Ertugrul Altug, Ramazan Guven, Semih Korkut, Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury after consumption of black seed oil, Toxicon, Volume 245, 2024, 107787, ISSN 0041-0101, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107787.