Benefits of Sesame According to Ayurveda

[Guest guest]

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 wilSent from Midlothian, VA, United States