Joint pain in most cases can be due to arthritis, resulting in a chronic problem and when untreated can cause disability.

The different musculoskeletal pain related disability can be ranked as, low back pain (in the first position), neck pain (fourth), osteoarthritis (eleventh), and other musculoskeletal disorders are in the sixth position.

Current National Health Interview Survey data showed 22.7 percent of adults in the United States suffer from arthritis and if it continues like this, one in four Americans will have arthritis by 2030.

This is not just a case by case issue now through the prevalence of the condition but also has an impact on whole society. According to the report of the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey during  1996 to 2011, Arthritis-related conditions caused the highest health-care expenditures i.e. almost 192 percent. [1] Therefore, it is an important time to be cautious to any type of joint pain.

Common Joint Pain related Disorders

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Knee, hand and hip joints become painful due to osteoarthritis. However, the pain is not only restricted only in these sites, but it also affects the spine and causes lower back pain.

Gout is another example of crystal-related arthritis in which the joints initially become inflamed but later turns to chronic arthritis.

Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is developed due to autoimmune systemic inflammatory arthritis. The characteristic features include joint inflammation, pain, and substantial morning stiffness. [1]

Moreover, the symptoms of joint pain differs from individual to individual due to a wide range of joint disorders, including arthritis.

 

Different synthetic drugs like anti-inflammatory medications and immune-suppressing steroids are commonly used for treating joint inflammations and arthritis but these drugs have severe long-term side effects. Due to regular use of such drugs, the scope of dealing with these side effects become a threat.

The awareness of negative effects has considerably increased in general population and they understand that the only option to get relief from such complications without dealing with the negative events is to follow alternative therapies which have no side effect.

The alternative medicinal system is popular in most of the underdeveloped and developing countries. But in the present century, developed countries are also searching and opting for evidence-based herbal remedies to treat different chronic disorders as an adjuvant therapy. Black seed oil is one of them, which is popularly accepted to treat joint disorders due to its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving activities. [2]

Black seed oil acts against Joint Pain, including Arthritis

Alternative medical therapists recommend black seed oil to patients suffering from different types of joint pain including arthritis.

There are many health promoting journals which publish articles to support the effectiveness of black seed oil, for example, the journal  ‘Phytotherapy Research‘ published an animal study report in 2007, which showed thymoquinone present in black seed oil has immense anti-inflammatory effect against arthritis.

In 2011, ‘Journal of Cellular Biochemistry’ published a report on laboratory test which shows the effectiveness of thymoquinone on rheumatoid arthritis affected isolated human cell samples. [3]

Furthermore, 40 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis took 500 mg black seed oil capsule twice daily for one month and they reported suppression of disease progression with reduction of joint inflammation and improve morning stiffness. [4]

It is considered that anti-inflammatory drugs are also effective in reduction of pain as they can reduce inflammation. So, a similar effect is also expected from black seed oil. This is not an over-expectation, as research conducted by Dr. Al-Ghamdi concluded that black seed oil has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. [5,6]

In the Middle East, back seed oil is traditionally used to treat arthritis. WP Chen et.al showed that matrix metalloproteinase enzyme secretion is suppressed by black seed oil and thus prevent bone and joint tissue degeneration in osteoarthritis.  [7] Different inflammatory mediators like cytokinins, interleukins are suppressed by using black seed oil. [8]

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease which gradually spreads and affects many organ functionalities. Black seed oil has the potentiality to alter disease signaling pathway and provide protection against rheumatoid arthritis induced multiple symptoms and also prevent liver and kidney damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [9]

Psoriatic skin issues are quite frequent in Psoriatic arthritis but the oral intake and topical application of black seed oil provide a good result in patients with Psoriatic arthritis, [10] as anti-proliferative effects of black seed oil prevent skin thickening. [11]

Apart from these research-based evidences, the regular users had provided several positive benefits of black seed oil in respect of pain and inflammation related symptomatic relief. These experiences obviously showcase realistic facts that support anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of black seed oil. [12]

References

1. Tuhina Neogi, Joint Pain Epidemiology; FACT SHEET No. 11; 2016 International Association for the Study of Pain; Retrieve from http://iasp.files.cms-plus.com/Content/ContentFolders/GlobalYearAgainstPain2/2016/FactSheets/English/11.%20Joint%20Pain%20Epidemiology.pdf
2. Imtiyaz Ahmad. et al.; NIGELLA SATIVA – A MEDICINAL HERB WITH IMMENSE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL (A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW) International Journal of Biological & Pharmaceutical Research. 2014; 5(9): 755-762; Retrieve from http://www.ijbpr.com/cadmin/article/595_755-762(ijbpr).pdf
3. Aubri John, (2015); Cumin and Arthritis; Retrieve from http://www.livestrong.com/article/504689-cumin-and-arthritis/
4. Gheita TA,Kenawy SA.; Effectiveness of Nigella sativa oil in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a placebo controlled study; Phytother Res.2012 Aug;26(8):1246-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3679. Epub 2011 Dec 12; Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22162258
5. Al-Ghamdi MS; The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of Nigella sativa; J Ethnopharmacol.2001 Jun;76(1):45-8; Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11378280
6. Amin B, Hosseinzadeh H.; Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) and Its Active Constituent, Thymoquinone: An Overview on the Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects; Planta Med 2016; 82: 8–16; DOI http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1055/s-0035-1557838; Retrieve from https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0035-1557838.pdf
7. Chen WP,Tang JL,Bao JP, Wu LD.; Thymoquinone inhibits matrix metalloproteinase expression in rabbit chondrocytes and cartilage in experimental osteoarthritis; Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2010 Dec;235(12):1425-31. doi: 10.1258/ebm.2010.010174; Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21127340
8. Logan Bronwell, (2013); What Doctors Don’t Know about Inflammation, Life Extension Magazine; Retrieve from http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2013/1/What-Doctors-Dont-Know-about-Inflammation/Page-01
9. Black Seed Oil for Rheumatoid Arthritis; Retrieve from https://www.nabiblackseedoil.com/black-seed-oil-rheumatoid-arthritis/
10. Sasha Stankovikj, ( 2016); Only few drops of this oil can cure psoriasis !!! Retrieve from http://www.healthyfoodelements.com/only-few-drops-of-this-oil-can-cure-psoriasis/
11. Lalitha Priyanka Dwarampudi, Dhanabal Palaniswamy, Muruganantham Nithyanantham, P. S. Raghu; Antipsoriatic activity and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extract of Nigella sativaseeds; Pharmacogn Mag. 2012 Oct-Dec; 8(32): 268–272.doi:  10.4103/0973-1296.103650; Retrieve from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3785163/
12. HowDoes Black Seed Help to Cure Arthritis? Retrieve from https://www.peashealth.com/how-does-black-seed-help-to-cure-arthritis/