AYURVEDA AND SESAME OIL
Sesame oil is a must-have in my beauty and wellness arsenal, especially (but not only!) for oil pulling and Abhyanga. In its purest form, this oil is a staple of Ayurvedic wellbeing and beauty practices. It is obtained by pressing ripened sesame seeds to extract the oil, which has a whole host of benefits. Thanks to its heating nature, it’s especially suited for pacifying excess Vata — which is not only a dominant Dosha for me but is also in excess within our modern, city-dwelling, internet-surfing, caffeine-swigging lifestyles and the fastest to go out of whack whatever your mind-body type. It can help to balance all three Doshas as well, though Kapha types shouldn’t overdo it. It helps reduce stress, improve sleep and boost circulation, and has detoxifying, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties (hence why it’s so great for oil pulling). It is also meant to promote body strength, nourishing bones and muscles, and lubricating joints hence great for Abhyanga!
Sesame oil is traditionally used for oil pulling all year round, though I sometimes switch to the more cooling coconut oil in the hottest months, and just for a change. As for Abhyanga, AKA self-massage, it’s the best choice of oil for everyone (unless a practitioner has told you otherwise). It should always be gently heated before use as a massage oil to improve absorbability and also to make it less Kapha in nature (cold oil is not so nice!) — use a double boiler method of warming just the right amount of sesame oil over a steaming pan of water, or simply pop the oil bottle into a very hot jug of water or one of those specialised bottle heating appliances that can be found on the net or even a baby bottle warmer if you have one.
The potency of sesame oil is enhanced by first “curing it” (also known as “ripening”) — which, in this case, really only means a specific heating process. Curing works to purify the sesame oil and make it more easily absorbable by the skin, thereby maximising the benefits, a bit like cooking our food for better digestibility. During this one-off process, the oil is progressively heated to 100°C (so, much hotter than simply warming the oil for a massage) and then allowed to cool. Some Ayurvedic brands such as Essential Ayurveda, Maharishi Ayurveda and Earthen Living offer ready-cured oils for purchase or, you can cure your own at home. This is more cost-effective, especially if you buy your quality sesame oil in bulk. Simply buy a big bottle of pure sesame oil (look for cold pressed organic where possible), cure it, cool it and then fill a smaller bottle before decanting the rest back into the original bottle until you need more (small bottles also heat up quicker for your Abhyanga — glass bottles or aluminium are preferable over plastic, which can leach particles into the oil). Try the following method for curing sesame oil — no need for a thermometer:
Place the contents of a bottle of sesame oil into a pot on low heat. Add a drop of water.
Once the oil reaches 100°C, the water will begin to sputter.
Turn off the heat, and allow it to cool.
Once cooled, funnel the oil back into its original container or into the container of your choice and store it away from light.
For more on my favourite ways to hydrate skin and body, check out my favourite body butters, heavy-duty facial moisturisers, and massage oils.