Sesame Oil

Sesame oil (Tila Taila) is considered the best among all oils in Ayurveda. It is described as being sweet, bitter, and astringent in taste, hot in potency with sweet post-digestive effect. It is unctuous, penetrating, and heavy. Sesame oil is excellent for the skin (Tvachya), promotes hair growth (Keshya), strengthens the body (Balya), enhances intellect (Medhya), kindles digestive fire, cleanses wounds, and destroys parasites. It is the primary oil used in Panchakarma therapies, especially Abhyanga (oil massage) and Basti (enema). It pacifies Vata dosha while not excessively aggravating Kapha. It penetrates into minute channels (Sukshma Srotasa). Sesame oil is beneficial in skin diseases, hair problems, wound healing, and strengthening bones and teeth. It is the oil of choice for cooking in Ayurveda. Black sesame seeds yield the most therapeutically valued oil. The text notes that all types of sesame oil — whether from white, black, or brown seeds — share similar properties, though black sesame oil is considered superior. Verses: 1-2, 10-11.

• Tvachya (good for skin)
• Keshya (good for hair)
• Balya (strengthening)
• Vata-shamaka (pacifies Vata)
• Medhya (intellect-promoting)
• Agni-deepaka (kindles digestive fire)
• Vranashodhaka (wound-cleansing)
• Krimi-hara (anthelmintic)

Sesame oil is the most important among all oils.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Sesame oil is Tvak doshanut – cleanses and detoxifies skin Chakshushya – good for eyes Sukshma – pierces into deep tissues Ushna – hot, balances Kapha useful for both obese and emaciated people.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

एक यं पायससुराकृशराः प रवजये त ् Mixing of milk, beer and Krishara (rice – green gram dish) - 38 मधुस पवसातैलपा नया न एक वा समांशा न व वशाि शः य ते पर परम ् ३९ Mixing of equal quantities of any 2, 3 or all of the following is not recommended – honey, ghee, meat fat, sesame oil and beverages.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi

Dadhi Sara – yoghurt water, whey from curds mixed with Guda (jaggery), Panchaprasruta Peya – thin gruel prepared from one Prasruta each of ghee, sesame oil, muscle fat, marrow and rice (tandula).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Snehavidhi oleation therapy

to this decoction, equal quantity of sesame oil is added and cooked for ten times.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Nasya Vidhi Nasal

Anuvasana basti (oily enema) should be given with eranda taila (castor oil) or tila taila (sesame oil) processed with sour and anti vata drugs [65].

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Shamana (palliative) treatment is done in kaphodara by oral intake of gomutra (cow’s urine), arishta (fermented decoctions), drug powder, ayaskriti (medically processed iron) and sesame oil added with kshara (alkali obtained from ash of herbs) [73].

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

The ingredients like pippali (Piper longum), madan (Randia spinosa), bilva (Aegle marmelons), shatavha, madhuka, kushtha (Saussurea lappa) shati (Hadychium spicatium), pushkarmoola (Inula racemosa), chitrak (Plumbego zylanicum), devadaru (Cedrus deodara) made in paste, added sesame oil 4 times to kalka then added milk 2 times more the oil and prepare the medicated oil as per standard procedures.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

Later add 512 tolas (60144 l) of sesame oil and equal quantity of milk in this decoction, along with paste of 1 tola (12 gm) each of cardamom, ela, mamsi, nata, ushira, sariva, kushtha, chandana, bala, tamalaki, meda, shatapushpa, riddhi, jeevaka, kakoli, ksheerakakoli, shravani, atibala, nakha, mahashravani, jeevanti,vidari, kapikacchu, shatavari, mahameda, karkata, harenu, vacha, gokshura, eranda, rasna, kala, sahachara, bala, veera, shallaki, musta, tvak, patra, rishabhaka, balaka, ela, kunku

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)

072 l) of sesame oil are cooked in 800 tolas (9.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)

When oil is unspecified, sesame oil (Tila taila) is meant.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

384 g) each of ghee (Ghrita) and sesame oil (Taila).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)

384 g) each of ghee (Sarpi) and sesame oil (Taila), and one Tula (approx.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)

While still hot, quench them successively in the following liquids: Taila (sesame oil), Takra (buttermilk), Gomutra (cow's urine), Kanji (sour gruel), and Kulattha Kashaya (decoction of horse gram — Dolichos biflorus).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 11: Dhatushodhana-Marana (Purification and Calcination of Metals)

Four types of oleating substances (Sneha) are recognized: ghee (clarified butter), Taila (sesame oil), Vasa (muscle fat), and Majja (bone marrow).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 1: Snehapana Vidhi (Oleation Therapy)

Poultices for Vata wounds: warm, unctuous, with sesame oil.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 18: Vrana-alepa-bandha Vidhi Adhyaya - Wound Poultices and Dressings

Sesame oil (tila-taila) is hot, sharp, penetrating, sweet in taste, sweet in post-digestive effect, strengthening, pleasant to the mind, subtle, clear, promotes skin health, improves complexion, is binding, scraping, drying, digestive, pacifying, cleansing, promotes intelligence, memory, and strength.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Oils (Taila) - Sesame and Other Oils (Verses 112-119) Sesame oil (tila-taila) is hot, sharp, penetrating, sweet in taste, sweet in post-digestive effect, strengthening, pleasant to the mind, subtle, clear, promotes skin health, improves complexion, is binding, scraping, drying, digestive, pacifying, cleansing, promotes intelligence, memory, and strength.

— Sushruta Samhita, Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances