What are black seed’s main drawbacks?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    The main drawbacks of black seed include gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. Additionally, there have been reports of allergic skin reactions, ranging from mild dermatitis to severe conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and DRESS syndrome.

    Black seed is generally considered to be safe and well-tolerated. The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal in nature, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn.[1][2]

    There have been several case reports of allergic skin reactions following the topical or oral use of black seed, ranging from mild dermatitis and hives to cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, both of which are severe hypersensitivity reactions that can result in extensive blistering/rashes, fever, and potential damage to internal organs.[3][4]