Sesame Oil
- Chinese
- 麻油
- Pinyin
- Ma You
- Latin
- Oleum Sesami
Known in TCM as Ma You (麻油), this sweet, cool herb enters the Large Intestine. Traditionally, it moistens dryness and relaxes the bowels ... Ma You is used for dry constipation when lubrication is needed more than harsh purgation, most often applied for constipation, burns, and traumatic injury. Modern research has identified Sesamin among its active constituents.
Part used: Oil
Also Known As
Latin: Oleum Sesami | Pinyin: Ma You | Chinese: 麻油
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet
- Temperature
- cool
- Channels
- Large Intestine
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Moistens dryness and relaxes the bowels ... Ma You is used for dry constipation when lubrication is needed more than harsh purgation.
- Supports external treatment of burns, sores, bruises, and dry damaged skin ... later materia medica values it as both a soothing topical and a carrier oil.
- Bridges food and medicine ... unlike a toxic oil or a strongly purgative oil, sesame oil is familiar as food yet still has a recognizable medicinal lane.
Secondary Actions
- This page is the shorter-name alias lane of the already-live `oil-of-oriental-sesame` / `Zhi Ma You` record and should stay aligned with it.
- It should also stay distinct from `black-sesame` ... same plant family, but the seed and the expressed oil do not share the same TCM emphasis.
Classic Formulas
- Simple oral use with honey or other moistening substances ... traditional logic for dry constipation and intestinal dryness.
- Topical mixtures with wound or burn powders ... sesame oil is widely used as a protective and softening base.
- External applications for dry fissured skin, bruises, and minor superficial injury ... practical later-materia-medica uses more than famous named formulas.
Classical References
- Later Chinese materia medica records emphasize Ma You as a topical vehicle that can also moisten the bowels internally.
- The oil's therapeutic role is gentler and more lubricating than that of strongly purgative medicinal oils.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Sesamin and sesamolin ... the best-known sesame lignans in modern oil research
- Linoleic and oleic acids ... major unsaturated fatty acids tied to barrier support and nutritional effects
- Vitamin E and other antioxidant fractions ... supportive constituents in skin and oxidative-stress literature
Studied Effects
- A 2017 review on topical plant oils reported anti-inflammatory and skin-barrier repair effects for several oils including sesame, which fits the traditional external-use lane well (PMID 29280987).
- A 2024 umbrella review summarized health effects of edible vegetable oils and kept sesame oil within the broader modern discussion of dietary and metabolic effects (PMID 39053603).
- Modern literature supports sesame oil as both a functional food and a topical support oil, which matches its long-standing food-medicine positioning.
PubMed References
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Sesame allergy
Cautions
- Even a food-grade oil can aggravate loose stools when dryness is not the real problem.
- Topical soothing use does not guarantee suitability for deep wounds, serious burns, or infected skin without proper care.
Conditions
- Constipation Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
- Burns Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Traumatic Injury Traditional ★☆☆☆☆ JSON
- Tinea Traditional ★☆☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sesame Oil used for?
Sesame Oil is traditionally used to Moistens dryness and relaxes the bowels ... Ma You is used for dry constipation when lubrication is needed more than harsh purgation., Supports external treatment of burns, sores, bruises, and dry damaged skin ... later materia medica values it as both a soothing topical and a carrier oil., Bridges food and medicine ... unlike a toxic oil or a strongly purgative oil, sesame oil is familiar as food yet still has a recognizable medicinal lane.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2017 review on topical plant oils reported anti-inflammatory and skin-barrier repair effects for several oils including sesame, which fits the traditional external-use lane well (PMID 29280987).; A 2024 umbrella review summarized health effects of edible vegetable oils and kept sesame oil within the broader modern discussion of dietary and metabolic effects (PMID 39053603)..
What are other names for Sesame Oil?
Sesame Oil is also known as Zhi Ma You, Oil of Oriental Sesame, Sesamum indicum oil. In TCM: 麻油 (Ma You); Oleum Sesami.
Is Sesame Oil safe during pregnancy?
Sesame Oil is generally considered safe during pregnancy in normal amounts. Therapeutic or concentrated doses should be discussed with a qualified practitioner before use.
What are the contraindications for Sesame Oil?
Sesame Oil should not be used in: Sesame allergy. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.