Sesame oil (also known as "gingelly oil" or "til oil") is an edible vegetable oil derived from Sesame seeds. Sesame Seed Oil has been used as a healing oil for thousands of years. It is naturally antibacterial for common skin pathogens, such as staphylococcus and streptococcus as well as common skin fungi, such as athlete's foot fungus. It is naturally antiviral. It is a natural anti inflammatory agent. It has been used extensively in India as a healing oil, including in experiments which showed it was useful in unblocking arteries. In recent experiments in Holland by physicians, the oil has been used in the treatment of several chronic disease processes, including hepatitis, diabetes and migraines.
In vitro, sesame seed oil has inhibited the growth of malignant melanoma (a skin cancer): PROSTAGLANDIN LEUKATRINES and ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS.
Also in vitro, sesame seed oil has inhibited replication of human colon cancer cells: ANTI CANCER
Sesame oil is a light, nutritious oil obtained from sesame seeds. It has got lots of uses and health benefits. Sesame oil may not be the most popular oil in our times, but it was the most sought after oil in Ancient India. One of the earliest and profound writers on Ayurveda, Charaka in his Charaka Samhita mentions that sesame oil is the best oil. It was widely used back then for alleviating the body from various diseases and conditions. That is perhaps the oldest reference to this oil. Only now are we beginning to realize the strong health benefits of sesame seed oil.
Sesame oil has got many powerful therapeutic and medicinal properties. The source of these properties are often taken from ancient medicinal texts, like Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita and Ebers Papyrus ( famous ancient papyrus scroll from Ancient Egyptian civilization ). Few of these properties have been evaluated and verified through scientific research.
Anti-inflammatory: It aids in reducing inflammation because of healthy fatty acids in it Antioxidant: Sesame oil contains many antioxidants. It does not spoil quickly because of these antioxidant nutrients Anti-diabetic: Sesame oil exhibits synergistic effect with antidiabetic medication in patients with diabetes Hypotensive:Lowers blood pressure Anti-bacterial: Kills many strains of bacteria Anti-atherogenic:reduces the risk of atherosclerosis Anti-depressant:lowers the state of depression DNA protection:sesame oil safeguards the DNA of body cells from damage by external factors, like radiation Anti-cancer: sesame oil has now been identified to protect and inhibit the growth of specific cancers, as we shall see later Emollient : Excellent moisturizer, heals dry skin Anti-aging: Sesame oil has powerful anti-aging nutrients ! Skin regeneration: Promotes repair and regrowth of skin cells Cicatrizant: moderate wound healing propert Sunscreen: Sesame oil has natural SPF, although mild. It doesn't compare to sunblocks, but it can be used in natural sunscreen formulations Anti-rheumatic: Used in Ayurvedic oil formulations as base oil to infuse herbs. These are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis Anti-cholesterol: Improves lipid profile of people who use it Detoxifier: One of the few massage oils known to remove toxins from the body Warming: Creates a warming sensation upon massage Laxative: Quickly provides relief from constipation
Sesame seeds are used all over the world. They have a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and aroma. They are believed to be one of the first condiments and one of the first plants to be used for edible oil. Its origin is somewhat disputed -- some experts contend that it originated in Africa and others claim it originated in India. Usage dates back to 3000 BC and the earliest recorded use of sesame comes from an Assyrian myth, which claims that the Gods drank sesame wine the night before they created the earth. Over 5,000 years ago the Chinese burned sesame oil not only as a light source, but also to make soot for their ink blots. African slaves brought sesame seeds also called benne seeds, to America where they became popular in Southern dishes. One of the most widely known phrases -- "Open Sesame" -- came from the words used by Ali Baba to open the treasure cave in the classic tale The Thousand and One Nights. By that time sesame was so well known to the Arabs that it was thought that they would quickly forget the phrase because it was so common. The phrase is thought to mean that the cave would pop open much like the seed pods which burst open when ripe.
Sesame seed cultivation spread early through West Asia to India, China and Japan and is now found in most of the tropical, subtropical, and southern temperate areas of the world. The sesame plant, or sesamum indicum in Latin, is an annual herb that grows anywhere from 2 to 4 feet. It has deeply veined ovate leaves and white or pink flowers. The flowers mature into pods containing the edible sesame seeds, which burst with a pop when the small seeds mature. In fact it is said that if you walk through a sesame field in late summer in Mexico after dark, you will hear the loud "popping" sound of the sesame plants exploding and spilling their seeds. The seeds are caught in a cloth under the plants and then gathered for cleaning and shipping. Sesame seeds are also harvested while still green, unripe and still contained in the pod to prevent the scattering that would occur if harvested later. Prime season for sesame seeds is between September and April when the new crops are harvested.
There are several varieties of sesame seeds including white, red and black. The black variety is the most flavorful and yields the best quality of oil. All seeds contain fifty- percent oil. The white seeds are extremely rich in calcium. One-half cup of sesame seeds contains over three times the calcium of a comparable measure of whole milk. The red variety is exceptionally rich in iron. The seeds are also rich in vitamins A, E and protein and high in zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Although sesame seeds contain no cholesterol, they still contain fifty-percent unsaturated fat so weight conscious persons should use them in moderation. Sesame seeds have emollient properties that soften skin and have a mild antioxidant effect. Sesame is also used as a base in cosmetics and soap.
In the United States over one-third of the crop is purchased by McDonalds for their famous sesame seed buns. It is the McDonalds purchases that set the tone for the market pricing each August. Most of the United States' crop comes from Mexico. In Africa, sesame seeds and oil are used for perfumery as well as for frying vegetables and meat. The Japanese use the oil for salads and cooking fish. In China, the seeds are used for candy and sweets and in Greece they are made into cakes. In Sicily the seeds are eaten and scattered on breads. Koreans sprinkle the seeds over braised ribs, add them to salads, meatballs, noodle dishes and vegetables. Tahini is a paste of untoasted white seeds used extensively in Middle Eastern cooking.
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant that is grown throughout the world and cultivated for its edible seeds. Sesame oil, a source of vitamin E, is derived from sesame seeds. There are many varieties of sesame oil that range in flavor and color. Sesame oil is used as cooking oil, in body massage, as a hair treatment, in food and drug manufacture, in various practices of worship, and as an industrial solvent. Sesame oil is also frequently used as a vehicle for oral and intravenous agents, and in folkloric medicine, sesame seeds have reportedly been used to treat various kinds of wounds.
African medicine: Use of sesame in Egyptian medicine and cuisine reportedly dates to around 1500 BC. Sesame oil was used to illuminate lamps found in Egyptian archeological sites. Sesame oil is reportedly a traditional Egyptian remedy for circulatory disorders, arthritis and nerve pain or neuralgia (such as sciatica), and for removing excessive earwax. Sesame plants were used as a source of oil in Syria and Mesopotamia during the Bronze Age. Slaves from Africa reportedly first brought sesame to the Americas in the 1600s. Today, sesame oil is considered one of the most important sources of dietary fat in African countries. It is also traditionally used for its aromatic properties to prepare perfume. In Nigeria, locally consumed sesame leaf extracts are used to treat skin disorders such as infections. In the East African country of Tanzania, sesame oil (boiled with resin) has reportedly been used for its antimicrobial effects in treating schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection). In Mozambique, the juice of the sesame plant is taken for its aphrodisiac effects, while the seed is primarily taken for its emmenagogue and abortifacient effects. In the West African country of Ivory Coast, sesame leaves are expressed as juice and taken orally to help aid in childbirth (expelling the placenta). In North Africa (Morocco), sesame seeds are taken for their hypnotic effects (for treating insomnia) and galactogogue effects (for increasing milk flow).
Ayurveda: In the Sushruta Samhita, a Sanskrit text of Ayurvedic medicine, sesame oil is deemed the "most commendable" of oils and recommended for wounds, burns and bites from animals or insects. Ayurveda recommends regular topical application of sesame oil with massage to promote general health. In Ayurveda, medicated oils are prepared by prolonged cooking of sesame oil with a pasty mass of herbs and a decoction of herbs in water. Modern Ayurvedic physicians around the world have used sesame oil to treat various chronic conditions, including liver disorders (such as hepatitis), diabetes and migraines. Application of sesame oil to the hair is said to darken hair color; it is also used to prevent graying hair as well as hair loss.
Caribbean medicine: In Cuba, sesame oil is traditionally used for its purported galactogogue properties. In Haiti, decoctions of dried sesame seeds are taken as a treatment for asthma or colic. In the Dominican Republic, sesame is a traditional cold remedy.
Chinese and East/Southeast Asian medicine: For as long as 3,000 years, sesame seed has reportedly been used in China as food and medicine, and in producing ink for calligraphy. Sesame was included in the ancient Chinese pharmacopeia Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica, which was written about 2,500 years ago. In traditional Chinese medicine, dried sesame flowers have been used to cure alopecia, frostbite, constipation (because of sesame oil's laxative effects), and warts. According to secondary sources, sesame oil has been a traditional Chinese remedy for dental and periodontal disorders (such as toothache and gum disease) since the 4th Century BC.