Despite being more susceptible to high blood pressure, menopausal women remain underrepresented in studies. This important study of black seed as a herbal treatment helps address that gap in the science.
High blood pressure is a global problem that contributes to other conditions, like heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney disease. Women may be at even higher risk because of hormonal changes at menopause.
This study included 52 postmenopausal women whose high blood pressure was not being controlled by their medications. They all stayed on their meds, but some added 400mg of the herb black seed oil (Nigella sativa), and some added 800mg.
Both black seed doses were beneficial, but the higher dose was especially effective. After 8 weeks, there was significantly greater improvement in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the 800mg black seed group.
800mg of black seed also significantly reduced total cholesterol and the harmful LDL-cholesterol compared to the control group.
But that’s not all. The black seed also significantly and substantially improved weight loss and body mass index. In the 800mg black seed group, weight decreased from 62.3 kg to 57.09 kg in 8 weeks.
But that’s still not all. The black seed also significantly improved the women’s menopausal symptoms with scores on the Greene Climacteric Scale improving from 18 to 7 in the 800mg group.
There were no side effects or adverse events, “confirming the safety and good tolerability of [black seed] supplementation in postmenopausal women with essential hypertension.”
This exciting study shows that black seed can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and menopausal symptoms in women.
Nutrients. 2025 Mar 11;17(6):985.