Ancient Ayurvedic medicine
Sesame seed oil has a long history being used in the ancient Ayurvedic tradition.
Scientific name: Sesamum Indicum.
Looking at the many good things it can do for both your body, it is almost incredible to find all these benefits in one single oil. Sesame seed oil is a great vegetable oil used in natural, organic skin care products and homemade aromatherapy skin care. Sesame seed oil can be used for facial care, body care, the daily skin cleaning ritual, massage and even as a mouth-wash.
Sesame seed oil is antibacterial, antiviral antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Sesame seed oil for dry skin
For dry skin, sesame seed oil is nourishing and moisturising. It contains a lot of vitamin E, also some vitamin B (complex) and vitamin A, plus important minerals like calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Also beneficial for dry scalp and dandruff.
Sesame seed oil for oily skin
Even for young, acne-prone skin, the use of sesame seed oil in a daily aromatherapy skin care routine is helpful. Don’t be afraid of using oil on acneic skin. Instead of making the skin more oily than it already is, sesame oil will act against bacteria causing inflammation and dissolve sebum and toxins clogging the pores. When using abrasive products for an oily skin, the body will come to believe it needs to produce even more oil/sebum, causing the skin to break out instead of healing it. Treating oily skin with an oil instead, will calm down the skins own oil-production, resulting in a more clear complexion.
Sesame seed oil and the sun
Sesame seed oil can be used to protect the skin from the sun and its UV rays. If the damage is already done, apply to the sunburned area.
Please note that even though vegetable oils have some protective properties, they do not replace a good sunscreen. Especially if you have very light skin, applying only sesame seed oil will not save you from getting burned. Do not use sesame seed oil instead of a good, natural, organic sunscreen. If you have darker skin, with more natural ‘built-in’ protection, a vegetable oil might be enough, but remember that UV-rays are one of the principal causes of cell degeneration and ageing. Not over-doing sun exporuse will keep your skin looking younger longer.
Sesame seed oil for oral hygiene
The most surprising perhaps – sesame seed oil can be used as a mouth-wash! It heals bleeding gums and bad breath.
Especially in the winter, when you feel a cold coming, rinse your mouth with sesame seed oil a few times a day. Swish the oil around for up to twenty minutes (while doing other things). Then spit it out and rinse with salt water or brush as usual. More microbes and germs from your mouth will attach to the sesame seed oil the longer you swish, so make sure to spit it out in the end, not swallow.
Other skin conditions the healing properties of sesame oil can be beneficial for: eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, cracked heels and abrasions.
*Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net
