Introduction: Sesame is highly praised in medical monographs such as the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica Classic) and the "Ben Cao Gang Mu" (Compendium of Materia Medica) for its benefits: strengthening the spleen and stomach, promoting urination, harmonizing the five organs, aiding digestion, resolving stagnation, lowering blood pressure, regulating qi, relieving coughs, and treating neurasthenia and anti-aging.
There is also a saying: "Sesame and mung bean cakes, eating them won't cause bumps." This also reveals that both sesame and mung beans have detoxifying functions. Sesame oil, extracted from sesame, is not only an excellent seasoning for hot dishes and cold salads but is also widely used in food therapy for detoxification.
Suzhou-style Mooncake with Black Sesame and Peanut Filling
Sesame is divided into white sesame and black sesame. For culinary use, white sesame is preferred, while for medicinal purposes, black sesame is better. White sesame is commonly referred to as "sesame," whereas the word "black" in "black sesame" cannot be omitted, nor is it redundant. A proverb says: "Chew a handful of black sesame, and live to a hundred without white hair," which means "black sesame nourishes black hair." Black sesame is also known as hu ma, zhi ma, or hu ma ren. In prescriptions written in the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine, "hu ma ren" is commonly seen, which is actually black sesame. In the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, black sesame not only nourishes black hair but also has skin-care and beautifying effects. Regular consumption of black sesame can make dry, rough skin become delicate, smooth, and tender, thereby delaying aging.
Black sesame is sweet and neutral in nature, and has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, and nourishing the blood to moisten dryness. It is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly friends suffering from hair loss, premature graying of hair and beard, dry skin, and constipation due to insufficiency of the liver and kidneys. Modern medical research shows that black sesame contains protein, fat, vitamin E, vitamins B1, B2, various amino acids, and trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and has the effect of delaying aging.
Black Sesame Mantou
Clever Consumption of Sesame to Cure Common Illnesses
1. Hair loss, premature graying: Take 200 grams of sesame and 200 grams of fo-ti (He Shou Wu), grind them into a fine powder, and take 15 grams each morning and evening.
2. Dry cough with little phlegm: Take 250 grams of black sesame and 100 grams of rock sugar, pound them together, and take 20 grams each time with boiling water, twice a day (morning and evening).
3. High blood pressure: Mix 35 grams each of black sesame, vinegar, and honey thoroughly, and take three times a day.
4. Cough and wheezing in the elderly: Stir-fry 250 grams of black sesame. Take 200 grams of ginger, pound it to extract the juice and remove the dregs. Then, stir-fry the ginger juice with the sesame. Add 120 grams each of honey (steamed) and rock sugar (pounded and dissolved by steaming), mix them, and bottle the mixture. Take one tablespoon each morning and evening.
Homemade Pure Black Sesame Paste