Benefits of Sesame

Benefits of Sesame

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods.

Sesame is used in villages for auspicious occasions, rituals, religious sacrifices and marriage ceremonies due to it's religious and mythological importance. It is included in the rituals of gods and in the death ceremonies of ancestors, and is supposed to protect from bad spirits and devils.

This is the main reason that, even today, sesame laddu's (sweets) are prepared in villages on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranti (Winter Solstice, celebrated as a Hindu festival). On one hand this gives mental peace and on the other hand it grants a long and healthy life.


Kinds of Sesame

Apart from its religious significance, sesame is used as a medicine. In Ayurveda, it is considered to be an extremely beneficial and strong medicine. It is a rainy season crop, and is mainly of three kinds:  1. black sesame 2. white sesame 3. red sesame.

Black sesame contains the best qualities with respect to nutrition. White sesame possesses medium qualities and red sesame has no qualities at all.

The most important specialty of sesame is that is contains four rasas (flavors), hot, bitter, sweet and pungent.

Qualities of Sesame

Sesame is bitter in preparation, heavy for digestion, tasty, oily, hot, destroyer of phlegm - bile, provides strength and is beneficial for hair. Its lep (pack) is cold. It cures many diseases, dental and wind related problems, increases milk, fire and intelligence and decreases excess urination.

Sesame in the Form of Sweets

Sesame is hot in nature and is therefore used for preparing sweets in winter season. Different types of sweets like gajak, laddu, revadi, etc. are made of sesame during the winter and protect us from cold. The chances of catching cold reduce if we eat these sweets. Sesame laddu's are beneficial for those children who normally have the problem of bed-wetting in winters. Children having this problem should be given one sesame laddu each in the morning and evening. The bed wetting problem and the urge to urinate at small intervals also gets cured.

Sesame is not just an eatable item, in Ayurveda it is considered to be a great medicine. Regular consumption of sesame protects from many diseases and general physical weakness. The patient develops a good and effective resistance power when compared to normal persons. In other words, the patients develop the capacity to fight against disease.

Medicinal Use of Sesame

Dental problem: Sesame is extremely beneficial in case of loose teeth or the person is suffering from pyorrhoea and toothache. In such case, let the sesame oil remain in the mouth for 10 - 15 minutes and do gargles. This relieves toothache. Another instant remedy to cure toothache is to do gargles with hot sesame oil mixed with asa fetida and black cumin seeds.

Bleeding Dysentery:

Sesame is very beneficial for bleeding dysentery. Grind 20 gm of sesame and add 30 ml of goat's milk, this medicine gives relief in case of bleeding dysentery. Grind few sesame seeds and mix it with jaggery powder, let the child suffering with this problem lick it with honey, the child will get immediate relief. Grinded sesame mixed with butter also cures this problem.

Burns:

If any part of the body has burnt and the person suffers from extreme pain and burning sensation, then apply the lep (pack) of sesame, camphor and ghee on the affected area. This reduces the pain and burning sensation. Grind sesame with milk and apply the lep (pack) on the affected part, this will slowly reduce the burning sensation and the pain.

Impotency:

Consumption of sesame gives lot of strength and therefore it removes impotency. Boil 15 gm of sesame in 10 gm of Gokharu (briar) milk, this medicine taken regularly stops the secretion of vital humors of the body, reduces impotency and weakness. Regular consumption of this medicine for one month definitely cures the impotency.

Menstrual Cycle:

Consumption of Sesame can be very beneficial in case of severe pain during menstrual cycle or mild menstruation. Cook one tola (around 12 gm) sesame in 20 tolas (240 gm) of water and let it reduce to one-fourth of the quantity, remove it from flame and let it cool. Add jaggery in this syrup and consume it regularly every morning, this will cure the problem of mild or irregular menstruation. Add shakkar (jaggery powder) in sesame and barley powder and give this to a women who has delivered a baby, her bleeding will stop.

Sesame:

Almost all the ayurvedic texts have stated sesame to be capable of curing the tridoshas. Sesame is sweet, bitter, hot and oily. Black, white and red sesame are the three types of sesame found. Scientists say that the white sesame has medium medicinal value. Red sesame is ordinary and black sesame is best. Sesame contains a lot of fat. If a person eats 100 grams of sesame then he will get the required amount of calcium. 100 gm sesame contains 1.5 gm calcium, 5.5 gm phosphorous, and 10 gm iron. Sesame contains Vitamin B complex also. The substance called lecithin found in sesame is beneficial for the brain. Consumption of sesame improves the sexual capacity. It increases the sperm. According to Saint Charak, sesame oil is strengthening and beneficial for the skin. Massaging with sesame oil is beneficial in case of joint pain and swelling. It is said to be useful in case of ear pain, headache. During winters the skin becomes dry, rough and cracks and sometimes itching also occurs. In this case massaging the body with sesame oil is very beneficial.

Home remedies:

Sesame is used for festivals, sacrificial fires and other auspicious ceremonies. It is used to prepare delicious dishes. It is also used as a home remedy for various problems.


Sesame is beneficial for the teeth and strengthens them.  Take 10 gm of sesame and chew it slowly.


It is also beneficial for the uterus. Grind the sesame and add it in sesame oil, heat it slightly. Apply this near the navel area slowly. If there is pain in the uterus due to cold, it subsides.


Sesame is also beneficial in case of dandruff. Massage the scalp with sesame oil for 30 minutes and cover the head with a hot towel (soaked in hot water and squeezed). Repeat this for five minutes. Dandruff is removed within few days.


In case of excessive urination during winters and itching sensation eat fresh Gajak made with sesame and jaggery. This is effective in this case.


In case of bleeding dysentery, add five gm sesame, 10 gm unrefined sugar and 20 gm goat milk. It will control this complaint.


In case of acne and pimples, burn the sesame oil cake in cow urine. Apply the lep on acne and pimples.


Soak sesame in a sufficient amount of water, grind them after 30 minutes and add one spoon butter and two spoons sugar candy. The patients of bleeding piles should take this medicine twice daily.


In case of stomachache, grind the sesame and make a big ball, roast it on the pan and rotate it hot on the stomach. This subsides the stomach pain, however severe it may be.


Children who urinate in the bed and have the habit to pass urine on the bed, they should be given Revadi or Gajak made with sesame twice daily to get rid of this problem.


Add sesame oil and turmeric powder in milk and heat it slightly, apply this paste on the face everyday regularly. This makes the skin smooth and soft and also removes pimples.


Sesame is beneficial in case of evacuation of humors. Add sesame and Gokharu in equal quantities and mix it in milk. Boil it and sieve. Drink it regularly to cure this problem. Consume it depending on the condition of the body.


Soak the sesame oil cake in little bit off water and heat it. Apply this paste on the sprain area. This gives relief from pain.


Sesame cures mental weakness and strengthens the health. Add sesame and jaggery in equal quantities and eat the laddus with milk. This cures mental weakness and tension.


Add sesame, barley and unrefined sugar. This controls the bleeding occurring during pregnancy.


In case of arthritis, knee pain and other vata related problems, add ginger juice in sesame oil and boil till ginger juice burns out completely. Sieve the remaining oil and store it in a bottle. Massage the painful area with this oil.


In case of chronic constipation, mix sesame, butter and sugar candy and eat it. This is also beneficial in case of piles.


Incase of piles caused due to vata, chew two spoons of black pepper and drink cold water over it. Regular consumption of this medicine cures piles.


Take 15 gm each of black pepper and unrefined sugar, grind it and make lassi with raw cow milk. This is good to cure gonorrhea.


Grind 70 gm black sesame and soak it in water for 24 hours. Sieve it in the morning and give it to a pregnant lady. This helps in easy delivery.


Take two parts of sesame and one part of thymol seeds and grind it. Take 6 gm of this medicine regularly. This cures the problem of disease in which the humors are evacuated through urine.


Fistula in the anus is a very painful disease. Roast the sesame and grind it coarsely in milk. Apply this lep on the painful area for early recovery.


In case of dry cough, sesame is very beneficial. If the cough is due to cold then take four to five black pepper spoons of and same amount of sesame. Boil it in one glass of water till it reduces to half the quantity. Drink it thrice daily, this gives good results within two to three days.


Sesame is beneficial even in case of dental diseases. Chew 50 gm sesame twice daily. This controls shaking teeth, dental weakness and other problems. Sesame contains sufficient amount of calcium hence it is beneficial for teeth.


Burn sesame on fire and make a chutney with water, apply on the burnt area; this reduces the burning sensation due to burns.


Store the dew drops found on the white sesame flowers. Pour two to three drops of these drops in the eye. This cures itching sensation, heat, reddishness, burning sensation and other problems.


Take 100 gm sesame oil and add 200 gm of neem leaves juice, cook it on low flame. When the rasa burns out and the oil remains, sieve it and store it. Apply this oil oh head, to cure dandruff and hair loss. This is effective in case of psoriasis and boils on the scalp.


Add three garlic cloves in two spoons of sesame oil and cook it on oil. When the garlic burns remove it from flame. Take out the garlic and massage the painful area due to sprain with this oil.