Topical Nigella Sativa for nasal symptoms in elderly

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Natural Product Therapeutics

Background:

• Aging often leads to nasal dryness and related discomforts.
• Intranasal treatments are commonly used to manage these symptoms.
• Nigella Sativa oil (NSO) is a natural remedy with potential therapeutic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of intranasal black seed oil (NSO) versus isotonic sodium chloride solution (ISCS) for elderly nasal symptoms.
• To evaluate the impact of NSO and ISCS on subjective nasal complaints and mucociliary function in geriatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, crossover randomized controlled trial involving 42 elderly participants.
• Two-week treatment periods for NSO and ISCS, separated by a 3-week washout period.
• Assessment of nasal dryness, burning, obstruction, itching, and crusting via visual analog scale; mucociliary function measured by saccharin test.

Main Results:

• NSO significantly improved nasal dryness, obstruction, and crusting compared to ISCS (p<0.05).
• No significant differences were observed between NSO and ISCS for nasal burning and itching (p>0.05).
• Mucociliary clearance remained unchanged throughout the study periods for both treatments.

Conclusions:

• Intranasal black seed oil (NSO) is a more effective treatment than ISCS for age-related nasal mucosal symptoms.
• NSO presents a beneficial alternative for managing nasal discomfort in the elderly population.