Carrier Oils For Aromatherapy

Sesame OIl

• Latin Name
  Sesamum indicum DC
  Family: Pedaliaceae
• Etymology
  From the arabic simsim, the Coptic semsem and the Egyptian semsemt. Also known as gingelly (or gingili) oil, teel oil, benne oil and thunderbolt oil. Sesame is mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus which dates from about 1800 BC. In Hindu mythology sesame relates to the god Yama, the judge of the dead, and as the symbol of mortality.

• The Plant and its environment
  The sesame plant, originating  from the tropical regions of the East Indies, is an upright annual with long bell-like flowers resembling those of the foxglove. The flowers are white with just a tinge of red, blue or yellow. The seeds are difficult to harvest as the keel shaped seed pods shatter easily , so they need to be gathered by hand. However, there are now several different modern varieties, varying in height from 0.6-2.5 metres (2-8 feet) which allow machine harvesting.
• As a result, sesame is grown world wide, especially in China, India, Africa and South America (where it was introduced by the Portuguese ). Sesame has been cultivated for at least 4000 years in Mesopotamia and is documented somewhat later in India and China. Sesame was one of the plants found in the tomb of Tutankhamun 1370-1352 BC (Chevallier 1996).

• The hulled seeds are waxy, measuring approximately 3mm in length, with a shape like a flat teardrop. Their colour varies from white, through reddish brown to black; in fact, they are known commercially as 'white and black' .The white seeds yield the superior oil. The seeds escape spontaneously from the ovary at maturity and this may be the source idea behind Ali Baba's exclamation in the Arabian Nights  - 'Open sesame'.   
•                    
• The Oil
  The oil has properties similar to Olive oil. It is very stable as it contains  a natural antioxidant  system made up of sesamol and sesamolinol formed from sesamolin; these reduce the rare oxidation significantly (Hughton 1995).
• Method of Extraction
  The seed contains up to 55% oil and the best grade is obtained by single cold pressing and filtering. It is a pale yellow colour. A lesser quality oil is available  which has been hot pressed  at high pressure  and then refined and deodorized before being suitable for use. Most sesame oils have some colour and sometimes they are bleached , but such oils tend to be somewhat acid. 

Principal Constituents

• Folk-lore and traditional uses
  These seeds are helpful in cases of constipation and, when ground up with water, can be used to treat haemorrhoids. In India a liquid extract is made by boiling the seeds with water to use as an emmenagogue (Stuart 1987). Sesame oil may be used as a drug solvent. The cosmetic industry uses an extract as an antioxidant, radical scavanger and regenerating agent (Bruneton 1995).
• The seeds were ground in ancient Egypt  to produce a flour  and today throughout the east and the Mediterranean they are made into a paste called tahini, supposed to give long life. The women of ancient Babylon ate halva, a mixture of sesame and honey, to retain their youth and beauty; Roman soldiers mixed sesame seeds with honey for energy during their campaigns.

• Therapeutic Properties - Internal use
  Sesame oil is said to improve the blood platelet count and combat anaemia (Bartram 1996). It is said that 20 drops taken daily double the count in children in three to four weeks. It is also said to be effective against spleen disorders. The oil is soothing to the digestive tract (high in calcium, not acid forming) and is a mild laxative.
• Therapeutic Properties - external use
  excellent for massage when used around 20% in the base carrier
  beneficial for rheumatic and skin conditions
  in Scandinavia for psoriasis, dry eczema, broken veins (Thomsen 1986).
• Therapeutic Properties - external use
  excellent for massage when used around 20% in the base carrier
  beneficial for rheumatic and skin conditions
  in Scandinavia for psoriasis, dry eczema, broken veins (Thomsen 1986).

• Cosmetic use
  Sesame oil is used in brilliantine, sun screens, shampoos, soaps and lubricating creams. Mixed with olive oil it can be used to counteract dandruff.
• Culinary use
• The natural oil does not have a definite taste  and is suitable for flavoured dips, salad dressings and deep frying. Toasted sesame oil is also available and is used to add flavour to salad dressings and eastern dishes. Both tahini and halva  are now available in some supermarkets and stores.
• Cautionary notes
  Sesame  oil has been reported as causing hypersensitivity (Torsney 1964).
• Reference: Carrier Oils/ Len Price et al