Black seed (Nigella sativa) is a small flowering shrub with purple or white-tinged flowers. While it may look unsuspecting, the shrub produces fruits that have tiny black seeds. These black seeds have been used in remedies for thousands of years. Archaeologists even found black seeds in King Tut’s tomb, emphasizing their importance in history for healing and protection. Black seed oil has shown promise in treating some of the most common health conditions, including high blood pressure and asthma. It also shows strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans — yeast that can overgrow in the body and lead to candidiasis. Taking black seed oil has been shown to reduce high cholesterol. It’s high in healthy fatty acids that can help you maintain healthier cholesterol levels. Taking oral black seed oil may help to reduce inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. The anti-inflammatory effects of black seed oil may extend to improving asthma symptoms. Its effect in reducing inflammation in the airways may also help with bronchitis symptoms. The oil can help to reduce gas, stomach bloating, and the incidence of ulcers as well.