ayurveda Medicinal properties of sesame
Ayurveda medicinal plants > Ayurveda Medicinal properties of sesame
Ayurveda Medicinal properties of sesame
Sesame is an oil crop which is widely grown in India and China.
Sesame is a common ingredient in almost all cuisines around the
world. With a rich nutty flavor, it has gained an important
place on kitchen shelves.
Sesame is an annual plant. This erect plant grows to a height of
40 to 90 cms. The leaves vary in size and shape. The flowers are
bell shaped and vary in color (white, pale yellow, purple). The
fruit of this plant is a capsule and contain small seeds. Upon
ripening the fruit naturally splits and releases the seeds. The
seeds have highest oil content than any other oil seeds.
The texts of ayurveda have described medicinal properties of sesame.
It is known as “tila” in Sanskrit, “til” in hindi. Ayurveda acharyas
describe three varieties of sesame based on colour of seeds. They
are “Raktha(red), Krishna(black) and shweta (white)”. Usually Krishna
tila or black sesame seeds are considered to have excellent
medicinal properties and are recommended in ayurvedic treatments and
ayurvedic preparations.
Sesame seeds contain approximately 50%
oil and 25% protein. The oil
of theses seeds contains about 47% oleic and 39% linoleic acid.
Foods prepared with sesame oil have long shelf life, because the oil
contains an antioxidant called sesamol. The residual sesame meal
left after the oil pressing is rich in protein and used as an
excellent protein supplement for live stock. Soaps prepared from
this oil help to maintain
skin health.
According to principles of ayurveda sesame is heavy to digest and
increases moistness of tissues. It tastes sweet and has hot potency
(ushna). The seeds and oil are used for medicinal purposes.
Ayurveda medicinal properties of sesame:
- Sesame normalizes
vata and vitiates pitta and kapha. It has
properties of “Yogavahi” . Yogavahi is a substance which has a
quality of penetrating the deepest tissues. When sesame is processed
with other herbs it normalizes all the three doshas. Hence this is
used in diseases arising due to vitiation of vata. And it can also
be used in diseases caused due to vitiation of tridoshas.
- The
sesame oil can be used in
dry skin conditions. It increases
the moistness of
skin and help to make it soft and smooth. The oil
has excellent wound healing properties. The
hair growth increases
when scalp is massaged regularly with this oil. It prevents
hair
loss, formation of
dandruff,
splitting of hair etc. It is used for
massaging patients who suffer from paralysis, body pain and pain in
joints.
- Sesame acts as a
brain tonic.
- Chewing these oil seeds help to reduce tooth ache. It also
increases appetite. Sesame can be effectively used in
indigestion
and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
- It is very helpful in conditions like
diabetes and reduces
frequency of urination.
- When sesame seeds are administered with butter, it reduces pain
and bleeding in hemorrhoids or piles.
- TThese oil seeds are useful in uterine conditions like dysmenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. They act as galactogague and increase the milk secretion in lactating mothers. The sesame seeds act as aphrodisiac and help in erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
This article is copyrighted. This article is copy righted. The author r.SavithaSuri is an Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com .
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