Sesame oil has been used as a key culinary ingredient for thousands of years. Its beneficial effects on overall health are only recently emerging, along with remedies for various ailments. It is rich in omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids along with powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Research is ongoing in its effect on diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and hypertension. It also has antibacterial properties, which can provide relief from a variety of ailments.
Benefits
Some external remedies can help to treat conditions like chronic sinusitis, oral infections/bacteria, sore throats, scalp ailments (including lice and dandruff), vaginal dryness (due to menopause), joint problems, headache, sunburn, athlete's foot, yeast infections, dry skin, minor injuries (cuts, scrapes, bruises), rash and earaches.
Taken internally, sesame oil has abundant benefits also. Rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, sesame oil also contains lecithin, which plays a major role in the prevention of heart disease, improving the condition and elasticity of blood vessels and preventing plaque build-up in the arteries.
Remedies
Sesame oil's reputation includes many therapeutic purposes.
Arthritis: Massage the affected area with sesame oil (up and down on limbs, circular motion for joints).
Menopause: Apply oil to cotton cosmetic pad. Wring out excess oil and insert into vagina overnight. Remove in the morning. Can be repeated for seven days and then once per week.
PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome): Ayurvedic medicine (in India) use sesame oil applied topically to the abdomen to alleviate cramps and abdominal pain associated with PMS.
Cancer prevention: Used as part of a healthy diet, sesame oil is showing great potential for preventing cancer. Researchers in the study published in the "Prostoglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids" journal in 1992 studied cell cultures and discovered that sesame oil blocked malignant melanoma from growing, possibly due to the linoleic acid content. The results of another study, which was published in 1991 in the publication "Anticancer Research," suggest that sesame oil may stop cancer from developing.
Anxiety/Insomnia: Apply a few drops of sesame oil inside your nostrils. Blood vessels in the nasal cavity quickly absorb the calming properties and carry them directly to the brain.
Constipation: 1 tsp of sesame oil, taken at bedtime.
Dandruff: Warm slightly and apply to entire scalp. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Sunburn: 1 cup sesame oil, half-cup vinegar, 1 tsp iodine, couple drops lavender oil. Apply topically.
Use With Caution
There is no research that suggests that sesame oil has any harmful effects, though it is a calorie-dense food (one tablespoon has 120 calories and 14 grams of fat). Too much sesame oil on a regular basis could result in weight gain and possible negative health effects. There has been no long-term research and the effects are unknown on children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and people with kidney or liver disease. If you have diarrhea, you should be aware that sesame oil can have a laxative effect. It should be used with caution and ideally under the care of a doctor experienced with its use.
Keep your sesame oil in the refrigerator, ideally in a dark spot to prevent oxidation. Do not use sesame oil to cook food, as high temperatures may alter any therapeutic effects; instead, add it to cooked food or use in cooler-temperature sautés.
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