Sesame oil is widely used in the cosmetic industry for the formulation of skin and hair care products. Its rich and complex composition provides numerous benefits for the skin, and it is not uncommon for it to be used alone during massage sessions. Discover all the benefits of using sesame oil in massage in the following.
Using sesame oil for massage: what are the benefits?
Summary
Published on October 4, 2024, by Marie, Scientific Editor — 6 min of reading
Themes:
Self-care through massage.
Massage is a practice known worldwide that aims to promote a general state of well-being, stimulate the vascular and lymphatic systems, as well as boost self-esteem. Massage encompasses a range of techniques that can be applied to various parts of the body. Massaging the skin helps to increase body temperature and blood flow, which aids in improving muscle and skin flexibility. Furthermore, the various massage techniques can enhance muscle recovery and relieve tension.
Sesame oil used in massage to hydrate and nourish the skin.
Massage oils are vegetable oils that nourish and soften the skin. They can be used alone or mixed together. Sesame oil is one of the most commonly used in massage. Rich in mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, it has a pleasant sensory texture and provides hydration and protection to the skin. A recent study showed that a single application of sesame oil could improve skin hydration by 40%. This vegetable oil can thus strengthen the skin's water balance .
Furthermore, sesame oil possesses healing properties that can be beneficial when used in massage. Indeed, it aids in improving epithelialisation and in accelerating neovascularisation in the wound area. The fatty acids in sesame oil also play a crucial role in cell regeneration and in increasing vascular permeability in the wound area, which promotes better blood supply and facilitates the healing process. Thus, a massage with sesame oil provides hydrating, nourishing and healing benefits to the skin.
Using sesame oil massage to combat pain?
Several scientific studies have explored the use of sesame oil in massage for pain perception.
A preliminary study from 2015 investigated the effects of topical application of sesame oil on the severity of pain and the frequency of intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by 150 patients suffering from trauma. Half of the participants received a daily massage for seven minutes using sesame oil. After ten days, the results showed a more significant reduction in the intensity of pain and the frequency of NSAID intake among the patients who had the massage. However, it is difficult to determine whether the sesame oil truly helped or if it was the massage itself.
Another study, conducted in 2017, demonstrated the beneficial effects of sesame oil on reducing joint pain. The study observed a positive progression in pain levels after the topical application of sesame oil for 9 days in 40 patients suffering from joint pain and stiffness, due to knee osteoarthritis. Indeed, the discomfort of the patients reportedly decreased by 36%.
The practice of massage with sesame vegetable oil appears to present an interest at the level of pain perception for various types of situations.
Infant massage, an aid to growth?
In 2015, DELARAM and her team explored the potential benefits of infant massage. This practice could potentially be beneficial for both their physiological and psychological health. The study aimed to determine the effect that a massage, administered by mothers using sesame oil, could have on the growth of full-term infants. It was conducted over two months and involved a large sample of 217 infants, divided into several groups. The study's results showed that the averages of weight and height differed between the groups over time. The results are presented in the table below. Growth refers to both weight and height. Infants who received the sesame oil massage appeared to show significantly greater growth than the others.
| Group | Growth after one week | Growth after two weeks | Growth after three weeks | Growth after four weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without massage | 3.86% | 7.51% | 10.31% | 12.66 % |
| Sesame Oil-Free Massage | 5.64% | 10.51% | 15.85 % | 22.61% |
| Massage with sesame oil | 5.95% | 13.15% | 19.50 % | 28.89 % |
Évolution de la croissance des nourrissons et évaluation de l'effet du massage à l'huile de sésame.
Source : DELARAM M. & al. The Effect of Massage with Oils on the Growth of Term Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Open Journal of Pediatrics (2015).
Massage therapy using sesame oil could therefore be an effective method for promoting growth and well-being in full-term infants . However, it would be interesting to see these results confirmed by further studies.
Sources
DELARAM M. & al. The Impact of Massage with Oils on the Development of Full-Term Infants: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Open Journal of Paediatrics (2015).
MAJD H. & al. The Impact of Topical Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Oil on Pain Intensity and the Quantity of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Received by Patients Suffering from Upper or Lower Limb Trauma. Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (2015).
FARSI Z. & al. The impact of light pressure stroking massage using sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil in relieving acute traumatic limb pain: A triple-blind controlled trial in an emergency department. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. (2017).
SUWEHLI W. & al. Determining the benefits of massage mechanisms: a review of literature. Science Publishing Group (2017).
PIOTROWSKA A. & al. The Effect of Raspberry Seed Oil, Sesame Oil, and Coconut Oil on the Skin of Young Women. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Journal (2023).
