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Why Sesame Oil Is the "King" of Ayurveda

セサミオイルは、なぜアーユルヴェーダの"王様"なのか

oil stories — sesame

The Oil that Has Been at the Heart of Things for 5,000 Years

In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, there is a "wisdom of oil" that has been refined over 5,000 years. The base for the majority of the hundreds of medicinal oils was familiar in kitchens: sesame oil. It is no exaggeration to say that when "oil" is mentioned in Ayurveda, it primarily refers to sesame. It is, truly, the oil at the center of everything.


Why has this one oil been cherished so much? And what does modern science say about it? This is a story about oil that might just change your perspective a little.

Three Reasons Why Sesame Oil Has Been Considered "Central"

① Because it is a "warming" oil that warms the body.

In Ayurveda, oils themselves are believed to have specific properties. Sesame oil is considered "warming" — an oil that has been used to warm the body and alleviate dryness and cold.

Many of our ailments are said to stem from dryness, cold, and imbalance (what Ayurveda calls "Vata imbalance"). Sesame oil was thus a "linchpin of defense" that gently calmed these imbalances.

② Because it was believed to have a special ability to penetrate deeply.

In Ayurvedic tradition, sesame oil was considered to have an exceptional ability to penetrate deep into the body, more so than many other oils.

This is why it has been valued as a "carrier" for the power of herbs. The idea is to slowly infuse medicinal plants into sesame oil, then apply that oil to the skin to deliver the benefits of the plants to the body. This is why a vast array of Ayurvedic herbal oils have been made with sesame as their base.

③ Because it is fundamental to full-body care.

Abhyanga, an oil massage where sesame oil is massaged all over the body, is central to daily Ayurvedic care. Filling the skin with moisture, loosening stiffness, calming the mind — sesame oil has supported this daily ritual.

With the saying "oil cures a thousand diseases," oil, and sesame in particular, has remained at the heart of life.

Sesame's Components as Seen by Modern Science

So, what can be observed about this tradition from a scientific perspective?

Sesame contains unique antioxidant compounds such as sesamin and sesamol. Antioxidants work to inhibit oxidation — or "rusting," so to speak. Thanks to these compounds, sesame oil itself is a very oxidation-resistant oil.

The ancient people who intuitively felt that "sesame oil lasts a long time" without knowing the reason, actually had scientific backing for their observation in these compounds.

Furthermore, research using these compounds has also reported on changes related to pigmentation under UV light and components related to skin firmness.

(This is an example of an experiment with components in oil, and does not indicate product efficacy.)

Modern science is gradually shedding light on the traditional belief that "sesame keeps skin healthy" — we are at that stage.

The center and pinnacle
of all oils.

Sesame, a warming oil. It has remained at the heart of Ayurveda, harboring antioxidant compounds and serving as a "foundation" that embraces many herbs. There's a 5,000-year story hidden in this kitchen oil. The next time you pick up sesame, take a moment to recall its special nature.

Note The sesame oil used in Ayurveda is refined sesame oil (taihaku goma abura). Commercial sesame oil is not necessarily applicable.