Black seed oil against ticks: why it helps in dogs

natural defence
Black cumin oil against ticks: Effective remedy for dogs – thanks to “Jugend forscht”

Actually, a student from Regensburg only wanted to treat his dog’s allergies – and made an amazing discovery: By feeding him black cumin oil, his pet remained tick-free.

Black cumin belongs to the buttercup family and is therefore not related to its namesakes, caraway and cumin from the umbelliferae family. At the latest when you put a seed in your mouth, you will notice the difference: its taste is more reminiscent of sesame. Therefore, black cumin is also increasingly used as a spice, especially in the Orient, or in naturopathy. Because the oil obtained from it is said to have a positive effect on skin diseases (such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis) and allergies. However, what nobody knew until 2014 is that black seed oil can help against ticks in dogs. A young high school student found this out by accident.

The experiment: black cumin oil in dog food

The year is 2014: Alexander Betz is 18 years old, goes to high school in Regensburg, Bavaria, and has a dog named Filou. To treat his pet’s allergies, the student mixes black seed oil into the Dog Food – and after a short time you will notice that they are actually improving. But that’s not all: he hardly ever finds any ticks in his Labrador’s fur. But instead of accepting this random observation as a positive side effect, the 12th grader begins to investigate.

Alexander takes a towel, walks across a meadow with it and catches several ticks. He then transports the bloodsuckers into a Y-shaped vessel that he made himself. In the two forks are blood and sweat samples – one with and one without black seed oil in small amounts. No matter how many times he repeats the experiment, the result is always the same: the ticks avoid the fork in which the prepared oil mixture is located. The 18-year-old student comes to the conclusion that black cumin oil helps against ticks.

Following his groundbreaking discovery, Alexander submitted his newfound knowledge to the “Jugend forscht” competition and took third place.

How do you dose black cumin oil against ticks?

Even if there are only a few today studies The experience of many dog ​​owners has shown that black cumin oil has an effect on ticks: Not every animal remains 100 percent parasite-free after it has been administered the cold-pressed oil – however, the number of bloodsuckers found in the fur has decreased significantly . So if you want to give the natural repellent to your dog, use it black seed oil as follows: Mix eight to a maximum of ten drops (under no circumstances more, as the oil can have a liver-toxic effect in larger quantities) under the feed or in the drinking water of the four-legged friend.

Alternatively, you can drip the oil directly onto the dog’s collar or fur, the same dosage is recommended here. Massage the drops into the skin so it doesn’t get caught on the hair. There are no known side effects so far, but you can consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about use or dosage.

Tip: Researchers at the FU Berlin found out that coconut oil is also an effective remedy for humans and animals against ticks.

Is black cumin oil also suitable for cats?

vets strongly advise against itAdministering black seed oil for ticks to cats as well – since they lack an important enzyme to break down certain phytochemicals that essential oils contain. In other words, the animals could get breathing difficulties from the administration, suffer severe liver and kidney damage or, in the worst case, even die from it. Because black cumin oil acts on the velvet paws like a poison.

How do people properly use black seed oil?

Due to its positive effect on the human immune system black seed oil contribute to the relief of allergies or even skin and digestive problems. It can either be applied directly to the skin and rubbed in like a lotion, or taken orally: either neat or in the form of capsules. External use makes sense above all if you want to treat neurodermatitis or psoriasis. Direct intake, on the other hand, is the better choice for gastrointestinal complaints or high blood pressure. Here, take three teaspoons or two capsules daily.

Note: It is best to talk to your family doctor or dermatologist before using the product for the first time.

You might also be interested in:

This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.