SESAME SEED
Scientific name: Sesamum indicum
Indonesian name: Wijen
Batak name: Wijen
Basic Information
Sesama is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum, also called benne. 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. World production in 2018 was 6 million metric tons (5,900,000 long tons; 6,600,000 short tons), with Sudan, Myanmar, and India as the largest producers.
Sesame is an annual plant growing 50 to 100 cm (1 ft 8 in to 3 ft 3 in) tall, with opposite leaves 4 to 14 cm (2 to 6 in) long with an entire margin; they are broad lanceolate, to 5 cm (2 in) broad, at the base of the plant, narrowing to just 1 cm (13⁄32 in) broad on the flowering stem. The flowers are tubular, 3 to 5 cm (1+1⁄8 to 2 in) long, with a four-lobed mouth. The flowers may vary in colour, with some being white, blue, or purple. Sesame seeds occur in many colours depending on the cultivar. The most traded variety of sesame is off-white coloured. Other common colours are buff, tan, gold, brown, reddish, gray, and black. The colour is the same for the hull and the fruit.
Health Benefits:
- Sesame Oil Makes Your Skin Baby Soft And Moisturized
When you have Sesame oil at home, you don’t need to buy body oil separately. Sesame oil can make your skin soft, smooth and radiant. The powerful combination of linoleic acid and fatty acids in the oil makes it one of the best natural moisturizers for dry skin. They form a thin protective layer on the skin to trap moisture.
- Sesame Oil Help Prevent Premature Aging
Loaded with antioxidants, Sesame oil has an age reversing effect on the skin. It helps prevent premature aging while making your skin appear youthful. The fatty acids and vitamins help repair damaged skin cells while reducing enlarged pores, wrinkles, and fine lines on the skin. When applied regularly to your skin, it can visibly prevent fine lines and wrinkles from showing up.
- Sesame Oil Helps Treat Acne
The abundance of antibacterial properties of Sesame oil makes the oil a perfect home remedy to treat blackheads, whiteheads, and other kinds of stubborn acne.
- Sesame Oil Can Heal Your Skin
Let’s say you have cut or scraped your skin against something rough; Sesame oil is the first thing you need to apply as it calms the skin and heals your cut or wound. It helps enhance blood circulation and nutritional supply to the skin, which can lead to rapid recovery of the damaged skin. The quicker you apply the oil, the less likely the wound will leave any scars or marks on the skin.
- Sesame Oil Is A Natural Sunscreen
Ran out of sunscreen? Sesame oil is at your rescue. Apply a generous amount of Sesame oil on the skin 30 minutes before you step out in the sun. The antioxidant properties in the oil will form a protective layer on the skin and shield your skin from penetrating the harmful UV rays.
- Sesame Oil Helps Heal Cracked Heels
The nourishing and healing properties of the Sesame oil help heal cracked heels during winters. Apply the oil to the cracked soles of your feet before going to bed and leave it overnight. You can also use Sesame oil to moisturize your feet when doing a pedicure at home.
- Sesame Oil Removes Dead Skin Cells
Sesame oil helps in gently removing accumulated sebum, dead skin, dirt, oil-soluble toxins, and other pollutants from the skin. It acts as a natural cleanser. This, in turn, helps brighten the skin and make it supple and smooth.
- Sesame Oil Balancing Skin pH levels
The polyphenols present in the Sesame oil help restore the skin barrier’s natural balance. They also help in preventing the skin from getting too dry or oily.
- Sesame Oil Helps Treat Skin Conditions
Sesame oil is rich in Vitamin B and E, which help soothe skin rashes and fade scars. It is also very effective in treating skin conditions like inflammation, eczema, athlete’s foot, psoriasis, and redness.
- Sesame Oil Prevents Skin Pigmentation
The natural anti-tanning properties of Sesame oil make it an excellent barrier against the sun’s harmful rays. Its powerful SPF properties help in preventing hyperpigmentation in the skin.
- Sesame Oil For Ayurvedic Self-Massage
The calming, warming and nourishing Sesame oil is one of the most popular oils for an Ayurvedic self-massage. Sesame seed is sweet, astringent, bitter, and pungent with a heating effect. The warm and soothing properties of the oil are especially balancing for Vata Dosha (those who often experience dryness when out of balance). The healing properties of the oil also make it perfect for Kapha Dosha.
Fun Facts:
- Top producing country of sesame seeds are Tanzania, China, Myanmar, India, Sudan, Uganda and Nigeria.
- Japan is the world’s largest sesame importer. Sesame oil, particularly from roasted seed, is an important component of Japanese cooking and traditionally the principal use of the seed. China is the second-largest importer of sesame, mostly oil-grade.
- In myths, the opening of the capsule releases the treasure of sesame seeds, as applied in the story of “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” when the phrase “Open Sesame” magically opens a sealed cave. Upon ripening, sesame seeds split, releasing a pop and possibly indicating the origin of this phrase.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame
https://www.kamaayurveda.com/blog/sesame-oil-benefits-for-skin