The healing power of sesame seeds

1. It is estimated that the sesame plant was first cultivated only 5,000 years ago. Sesame plant is a plant that can withstand drought well; it continues to grow in hot conditions while other plants have already died. The sesame plant has an extensive root system that makes it easier to search for water than its competitors. It grows to a height of 50 centimeters to one meter. The flowers on this plant turn blue, purple or white. Originally, most wild seam species are found in the steppe region south of the Sahara. Alfred Vogel already saw that sesame seeds are good for the liver. In phytotherapy it is mainly used for heart problems.

Traditional use

1. In ancient Egypt, sesame seed was called sesem and was assigned a role among medicinal plants. It is in the papyrus scroll of Ebers in which many Egyptian medicinal plants are described. In the past, a lot of honey with sesame seeds was eaten. In Babylon it was said that you stay beautiful longer. Roman soldiers ate honey with sesame because they said it made them stronger. Sesame seed is currently a medicine in phytotherapy; it is mainly used in cardiovascular diseases

Naming

1. In Latin, sesame seed is called Sesamum orientale. A Latin synonym is Sesamum indicum. The Dutch

Active ingredients

1. From sesame plant, sesame seed is used for phytotherapeutic purposes. It contains the following important active ingredients: 35 to 50% fatty oil with mainly an omega 9 fatty acid, namely: oleic acid. This is a mono-unsaturated fatty acid. It also contains an important omega 6 fatty acid: linoleic acid. This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. It's a completely different kind of linoleic acid than a butter manufacturer pretends to put in its trans fat rich margarine. Furthermore, sesame seeds contain palmitic acid, sesamin, sesamoline, sesamol, squalene, vitamins A, E, B11 and B3, choline, the minerals calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, proteins including the amino acids tryptophan

Sesame oil as massage oil

1. Sesame oil is used externally as a massage oil. It is then used in a mix where 20% of the massage oil consists of sesame oil. It can be used with a head massage; mixed with olive oil, sesame oil helps with dandruff. It is very good and relaxing to massage the scalp with oil every now and then. It is even better to have this massage done by a partner. Incidentally, it doesn't hurt to add a few drops of essential lemon balm

Visit a doctor or herbalist

1. Much of the information about the medicinal plant mentioned in this article comes from Geert Verhelst's book Great Handbook of Medicinal Plants. That is a handbook in phytotherapy. However, it is not suitable for self-healing. Anyone who is bothered by something should visit a doctor or phytotherapist for a proper diagnosis and choice of the best remedies, tailored to your personal situation. The knowledge and science mentioned here is of a purely informational nature.