medicinal herbs
Sesame
Sesamum indicum

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Sesame

Latin name: Sesamum indicum

Synonyms: Sesamum orientale

Family: Pedaliaceae (Sesame Family)

Medicinal use of Sesame:

The leaves and seed are astringent. The leaves are rich in a gummy matter and when mixed with water they form a rich bland mucilage that is used in the treatment of infant cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, catarrh and bladder troubles. The seed is diuretic, emollient, galactogogue, lenitive and tonic, and acts as a tonic for the liver and kidneys. It is taken internally in the treatment of premature hair loss and greying, convalescence, chronic dry constipation, dental caries, osteoporosis, stiff joints, dry cough etc. It has a marked ability to increase milk production in nursing mothers. Externally it is used to treat haemorrhoids and ulcers. The seed is very high in calories and so should be used with caution by people who are overweight. The oil is laxative and also promotes menstruation. It is used to treat dry constipation in the elderly. Mixed with lime water, the oil is used externally to treat burns, boils and ulcers. A decoction of the root is used in various traditions to treat asthma and coughs.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Edible parts of Sesame:

Seed - cooked. Usually roasted or stewed, it can also be ground into a powder and used as a flour, added to breads, vegetables etc, used to make sweetmeats, or crushed and used as a butter or as "tahini". It can also be fermented into "tempeh", ground into a powder and mixed with a sweetener to make "halva", or made into a paste and used as the spread "tahini". The seeds can also be sprouted and used in salads. The seed contains about 21.5% protein, 60.8% fat, 8.9% carbohydrate, 3.4% ash. It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, calcium and vitamins A, B and E. The calcium is absorbed well by the body, making sesame an excellent dietary source. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. It is used for cooking or in margarines etc. The oil is very stable and will keep for years without turning rancid. Leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb or added to soups.

Other uses of the herb:

The seed contains up to 55% of a semi-drying oil. Apart from being edible, it is also used in soap making, lighting, as a lubricant and a source of pharmaceutical drugs etc. When added to the insecticide pyrethrum it acts as a synergist, a 10% content of oil doubling the potency of the pyrethrum. The oil can also be used in barrier creams to protect the skin from harmful UV light radiation.

Propagation of Sesame:

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Give them the protection of a cloche until they are growing away well. In warm temperate zones, where frosts are very rare and light, or non-existent, the seed can be sown in situ in the spring or the autumn.

Cultivation of the herb:

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Known hazards of Sesamum indicum:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.