Sesame
Ajonjolí, Beniseed, Benneseed, Benniseed, Chamkkae, Gergelim, Gimgelim, Gingelly, Goma, Hu Ma, Sesam, Sésame, Sesamo, Sésamo, Sesamum indicum , Sesamum mulayanum, Sesamum orientale, Simsim, Til, Ufuta, Wangila, Zhi Ma.
Sesame is crop that is grown for the oil in its seed. It is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, and South America. Compared to similar crops, such as peanuts, soybean, and rapeseed, the seeds of sesame are believed to have the most oil. Sesame seeds are also rich sources of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.
People take sesame by mouth for Alzheimer's disease, anemia, arthritis, heart disease prevention, cataracts, constipation, high cholesterol, infertility in men, menopause, osteoporosis, pain, stomach ulcers, stomach cancer, stroke, and weight loss.
People apply sesame oil to the skin for aging skin, hair loss, anxiety, frostbite, psoriasis, warts, wound healing, and to prevent bug bites.
People use sesame oil injections to improve the vocal cords.
In foods, sesame oil is used as cooking oil and to make dressings and sauces. Sesame seeds are added to food for flavoring.
How does it work?
Sesame seems to stimulate the immune system and increase how quickly skin wounds heal. Sesame might slow how fast sugar is absorbed from food. This might help people with diabetes. Sesame might also eliminate bacteria that cause plaque. Sesame contains calcium, which might help treat rickets. Sesame also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Possibly Effective for...
- Cough. Research suggests that taking sesame oil by mouth at bedtime for 3 days does not reduce coughing in children with a cold.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Weight loss due to AIDS. Early research suggests that consuming a chickpea sesame-based, ready-to-use food supplement daily for 3 months, along with antibiotics, improves weight gain in people with HIV who are chronically sick.
- Burns. Early research suggests that applying a burn ointment containing sesame oil, beta-sitosterol, berberine, and other ingredients every 4 hours improves healing rate and reduces pain in people with burns.
- Diabetes. Early research suggests that replacing other cooking oils with a specific brand of sesame oil (Idhayam Gingelly oil, V.V.V. & Songs, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, India) for 45 days reduces blood sugar in people with diabetes who are also taking the drug glibenclamide.
- Gingivitis. Early research suggests that oil pulling, which involves swishing oil around the mouth, for one minute daily before brushing in the morning for 10 days reduces dental plaque and gingivitis in boys with gingivitis.
- High blood pressure. Early research suggests that replacing other cooking oils with a specific brand of sesame oil (Idhayam Gingelly oil, V.V.V. & Songs, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, India) for 45-60 days reduces blood pressure in people with high blood pressure who are also taking blood pressuring-lowering medications.
- Infant growth. Early research suggests that giving a daily message to infants using sesame oil for 4 weeks improves growth.
- Rickets. Early research suggests that adding high calcium foods to the diet, including ground sesame seeds, improves rickets in children.
- Blockage in the small bowel. Early research suggests that adding sesame oil through a tube that is inserted into the stomach through the nose along with standard care reduces the need for surgery in people with small bowel blockage when compared to standard care alone.
- Alzheimer's disease.
- Anemia.
- Arthritis.
- Heart disease prevention.
- Cataracts.
- Constipation.
- High cholesterol.
- Infertility in men.
- Menopause.
- Osteoporosis.
- Pain.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Stomach cancer.
- Stroke.
- Weight loss.
- Aging skin.
- Hair loss.
- Anxiety.
- Frostbite.
- Psoriasis.
- Warts.
- Wound healing.
- Bug bite prevention.
- Vocal cord improvement.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Sesame is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in food.
Sesame is POSSIBLY SAFE when inserted to the stomach through the nose or when used as a nasal spray, short-term. A specific nasal spray (Nozoil) containing sesame oil has been used safely for up to 20 days.
There is not enough information available to know if sesame is safe to take for medical conditions by other routes.
QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerChildren: Sesame is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in food. Sesame is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately, short-term. A dose of 5 mL of sesame oil has been used safely before bedtime for up to 3 days.
Diabetes: Sesame might affect blood sugar levels. In theory, sesame might affect blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
Low blood pressure: Sesame might lower blood pressure. In theory, sesame might make blood pressure drop too low in people who already have low blood pressure.
Surgery: Sesame might affect blood sugar levels. In theory, sesame might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. If you have a planned surgery, stop using sesame as a medicine at least 2 weeks before.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Sesame might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking sesame along with some medications that are changed by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking sesame, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some of these medications that are changed by the liver amiodarone (Cordarone), fluconazole (Diflucan), lovastatin (Mevacor), paroxetine (Paxil), zafirlukast (Accolate), and many others.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Sesame might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking sesame along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Sesame can lower blood pressure. Using sesame with drugs that lower blood pressure might increase the effects of these drugs and may lower blood pressure too much.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Sesame seed might reduce the effects of tamoxifen. People using tamoxifen should avoid taking sesame in amounts greater than those in food.
Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein Substrates)Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are moved by pumps in cells. Sesame can make these pumps less active and increase how much of some medications get absorbed by the body. This might increase the effectiveness of some medications. However, it's too soon to tell if this is important.
Some medications that are moved by these pumps include etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, ketoconazole, itraconazole, amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, cimetidine, ranitidine, diltiazem, verapamil, corticosteroids, erythromycin, cisapride (Propulsid), fexofenadine (Allegra), cyclosporine, loperamide (Imodium), quinidine, and others.
The appropriate dose of sesame depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for sesame (in children/in adults). Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
