Black Currant Seed Oil
Black currants are berries produced by a shrub called Ribes nigrum, that is native to some parts of Europe and Asia. The purple-black berries of this shrub are edible and are rich in nutrients. Black currants have a sweet and sharp taste and these berries are mainly used for making jellies, jams, desserts, etc. Black currant juice is also very popular and is employed as an alternative for cranberry juice. Black currant seed oil is one more product derived from this berry. As is the case with these fruits and juice, this oil too, is highly nutritious with a variety of health benefits. Read on, for more information about benefits of black currant seed oil.
Black Currant Seed Oil
Black currants, as such, were utilized in European folk medicine for a very long time. These berries were utilised in treating diarrhea, as a diuretic and also for reducing the symptoms of arthritis. The health benefits of back currants have been recognized by Chinese folk medicine too, as they used these berries as a supplement, as a diuretic (increase urine output), diaphoretic (induce perspiration) and febrifuge (lower body temperature). Even the leaves of the plant had been used in making an infusion, that was employed in treating whooping cough, dropsy, rheumatic pain, strep throats, and mouth ulcers. The roots and bark had been also utilized for making decoctions. However, nowadays, black currant juice extract and black currant seed oil are found to be used as a supplement, as these products are claimed to be rich in nutrients and have numerous health benefits. As the name rightly suggests, black currant seed oil is extracted from the seeds of black currant berries. Let us take a look at some of the black currant seed oil benefits.
Health Benefits of Black Currant Seed Oil
Black currant seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids. Apart from that, this oil contains high levels of vitamin C, flavanoids, rutin, and other nutrients. It is said that most of the health benefits of black currant seed oil is due to the presence of essential fatty acids, like, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is a very rare Omega-6 essential fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid (an Omega-3 essential fatty acid). The following information is about the health benefits of black currant seed oil.Black currant seed oil is mainly utilised for alleviating symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases, like, arthritis. It truly is found to be effective in reducing the swelling and pain caused by such inflammatory conditions.It’s claimed that black currant seed oil have anti-aging properties. According to the exponents of this oil, it can reduce the production of the prostaglandin E2 inside the body. Prostaglandin E2 is required for various bodily functions, but, with age, its production increases, thereby, making the body susceptible to age-related diseases and conditions.Black currant seed oil for acne treatment is 1 of the very popular uses of this product. It’s said that the essential fatty acids in this oil protect the body from free radicals and the vitamin C prevents infection by raising immunity. Apart from that, the essential fatty acids control the production of androgen. All these factors jointly aid within the prevention of acne.Black currant seed oil is said to be effective in lowering blood pressure, as it contains gamma linolenic acid. It truly is also helpful in preventing blood clotting and platelet aggregation. Use of black currant seed oil is believed to be beneficial in reducing cholesterol and prevention of heart diseases.It has excellent anti-viral properties, that can aid the body by preventing viral infections, like, influenza. Black currant seed oil is also utilised for treating skin disorders, for achieving weight loss, for remedying menstrual problems, etc. Read much more on black currant oil benefits.Now, you have a basic idea about what is black currant oil utilized for. However, these health benefits are not substantiated with scientific evidence. So, it will always be better to approach a qualified herbal practitioner and follow his instructions regarding the use of black currant seed oil. You may also seek the opinion of your doctor, before using this oil, as it may cause side effects and interactions with other medicines and supplements. No major black currant seed oil side effects have been reported so far, but, some people develop allergic reactions (like rashes and respiratory problems), after using it. Epileptic patients are advised to avoid using this product.
