Ingredient Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Ma You

Sesame oil · 麻油

Sesamum indicum L. · Oleum Sesami

Also known as: Xiang You (香油)

Ma You (Sesame oil) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Sesame oil (Ma You) is a gentle, cooling oil used both internally and externally in Chinese medicine. Taken by mouth, it moistens the intestines to ease constipation. Applied to the skin, it promotes wound healing and soothes cracked, irritated, or damaged tissue. It also serves as the oil base in many classical healing ointments.

Category Substances for external application (外用药) Moist laxatives (润下药)
Therapeutic focus Digestive Health Skin Health Skin and Wound Care

TCM Properties

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels entered

Large Intestine

Parts used

Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Ingredient Does

Every ingredient has a specific set of actions — here's what Ma You does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Ma You is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Digestive Health Skin Health Skin and Wound Care

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Ma You performs to restore balance in the body:

Moistens the Intestines and Unblocks the Bowels Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores Alleviates Pain

How these actions work

Moistens dryness and relaxes the bowels (润燥通便): Ma You is a rich, oily substance that lubricates the intestines. When someone has dry, hard stools from insufficient body fluids or from internal Heat drying the intestines, sesame oil coats and softens the bowel contents, easing their passage. This is the herb's primary internal use.

Clears Heat and removes toxicity (解毒): Ma You has a cool nature that helps counteract toxic Heat. Historically it was used as an emergency remedy when someone ingested poisons. Taken in large doses, it could induce vomiting or purging of toxic substances. Its detoxifying action also applies to venomous insect bites and food poisoning.

Promotes tissue regeneration (生肌): When applied externally, aged sesame oil that has been cooked into an ointment stimulates the growth of new flesh and skin. This makes it a key base ingredient in many classical wound-healing ointments. It is used for non-healing ulcers, chapped and cracked skin, burns, and surgical sores where the body needs help closing a wound.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Ma You is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Ma You addresses this pattern

Ma You directly addresses Intestinal Dryness by providing rich, oily lubrication to the Large Intestine, the channel it enters. Its sweet taste nourishes and moistens, while its cool nature counteracts the internal Heat that often contributes to drying out the bowels. By coating and softening hardened stool, it restores normal bowel movement without the harsh purgative action of stronger laxatives.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Constipation

Dry, hard stools that are difficult to pass

Dry Mouth

Dryness of the mouth and throat

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal discomfort from stool accumulation

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Ma You is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Intestinal Dryness

TCM Interpretation

In TCM, chronic constipation with dry, hard stools is often understood as Intestinal Dryness. The Large Intestine depends on adequate Body Fluids to moisten its contents and facilitate their passage. When these fluids are depleted (from ageing, chronic illness, Blood deficiency, or excessive internal Heat), the stool becomes dry and difficult to pass. This is not a condition of excess blockage but of insufficient moisture and lubrication.

Why Ma You Helps

Ma You enters the Large Intestine channel and has a sweet, moistening quality that directly lubricates the intestinal tract. Its oily nature coats and softens hardened stool, while its cool temperature gently counteracts any residual Heat that may be contributing to fluid depletion. Unlike harsh purgatives, sesame oil works gently and is suitable for elderly or weakened patients whose constipation stems from deficiency rather than excess.

Also commonly used for

Ulcer

Non-healing ulcers treated by external application

Eczema

Dry, cracked skin conditions

Scabies

Skin parasitic infections

Chronic Rhinitis

Chronic simple rhinitis treated with nasal instillation of sesame oil

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain from roundworm or food stagnation

Ingredient Properties

Every ingredient has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Cool

Taste

Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels Entered

Large Intestine

Parts Used

Processed / Derived product (加工品 jiā gōng pǐn)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Ma You — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

Oral: 15–70 ml (approximately 1–4.5 tablespoons); External: applied as needed

Maximum dosage

Up to 70 ml (approximately 68 ml per the Chinese Pharmacopoeia) in a single oral dose for acute purposes such as emergency poisoning treatment or severe constipation; routine daily use should remain within dietary norms (15-30 ml).

Dosage notes

For intestinal dryness and constipation: 15–30 ml taken on an empty stomach, either alone or mixed with warm honey water. For emergency detoxification of ingested poisons (as in classical usage): up to one bowl (approximately 60–70 ml) taken at once to induce vomiting or purging. For external application to sores, ulcers, chapped skin, or burns: apply directly to the affected area as needed. For nasal drops (chronic simple rhinitis): 2–6 drops per nostril, three times daily, after gently warming the oil. The raw, uncooked oil is preferred for medicinal internal use, as cooking transforms its nature from cool and moistening to more warming and potentially phlegm-generating.

Preparation

Ma You is not decocted like most Chinese herbs. For internal medicinal use, it is taken directly by mouth as a raw (uncooked) oil, sometimes mixed with warm water, honey, or other substances. For external use, it is applied directly to the skin or used as a base for ointments and plasters. For nasal application, the oil is gently warmed over low heat until it reaches a light boil, then cooled and stored in a clean bottle before use as nasal drops.

Common Ingredient Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Ma You for enhanced therapeutic effect

Dang Gui
Dang Gui Ma You 100g : Dang Gui 9-60g (Ma You serves as the solvent base)

Dang Gui nourishes Blood and promotes circulation to damaged tissues, while Ma You moistens and protects the skin surface. Together they both regenerate tissue and relieve pain, forming the core of many classical wound-healing ointments.

When to use: External application for non-healing wounds, ulcers, burns, and dry cracked skin. This pair is the foundation of Zi Yun Gao (Purple Cloud Ointment) and Sheng Ji Yu Hong Gao.

Zi Cao
Zi Cao Ma You 100g : Zi Cao 9-12g (oil infusion)

Zi Cao (purple gromwell root) cools Blood and resolves toxicity while promoting tissue regeneration. Combined with Ma You, the oil extracts Zi Cao's fat-soluble active compounds (shikonin) and delivers them to the wound surface, multiplying the antibacterial and healing effects of both substances.

When to use: Burns, scalds, infected sores, eczema, and skin inflammation requiring external treatment with combined cooling, detoxifying, and tissue-regenerating actions.

Feng Mi
Feng Mi 1:1 to 1:2 (Ma You to honey)

Both Ma You and Feng Mi (honey) moisten the intestines and ease constipation. Ma You lubricates while honey sweetly tonifies and adds gentle laxative action, making the combination more effective than either substance alone for dry constipation.

When to use: Chronic constipation from intestinal dryness, especially in elderly or weakened patients. Also used together orally for soothing a dry, irritated throat.

Key Formulas

These well-known formulas feature Ma You in a prominent role

Zi Dang Gao 紫当膏 King

Purple Cloud Ointment is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese ointments, composed of just Dang Gui, Zi Cao, beeswax, and Ma You. The sesame oil constitutes the bulk of the formula, serving as the extraction medium and the primary moistening, skin-protective agent. This formula is Ma You's most recognizable clinical association.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Hei Zhi Ma
Ma You vs Hei Zhi Ma

Hei Zhi Ma (black sesame seeds) is the source material from which Ma You is pressed. The seeds are a Yin-tonifying herb that nourishes Liver and Kidney, addresses premature greying and blurred vision, and also moistens the intestines. Ma You, by contrast, is primarily an externally applied herb and intestinal lubricant. It has stronger tissue-regenerating and wound-healing properties but lacks the Yin-tonifying and Liver-Kidney nourishing actions of the whole seed.

Huo Ma Ren
Ma You vs Huo Ma Ren

Both moisten the intestines to treat constipation, but Huo Ma Ren (hemp seed) is a standard internal herb with a specific dosage range and is more commonly prescribed in decoctions for constipation formulas. Ma You is more often used as a dietary supplement or topical agent. For intestinal dryness constipation in clinical practice, Huo Ma Ren is the more typical prescription choice, while Ma You is favored as a food-based remedy or as a base for external ointments.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Ma You

Ma You (sesame oil) may be adulterated with cheaper vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed (canola) oil, or corn oil. Blended "sesame-flavoured" oils are common in markets and should not be confused with pure sesame oil. Authentic Ma You can be identified by the Baudouin colour test: when mixed with a solution of sucrose in hydrochloric acid, a pink to red colour develops, which is specific to sesame oil. Additionally, pure sesame oil has a characteristic mild nutty aroma and a specific gravity and refractive index within the Pharmacopoeia range. "Xiang You" (香油, fragrant oil) sold commercially is often a blend of white sesame oil with other oils and is not equivalent to medicinal-grade Ma You.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any ingredient.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Ma You

Non-toxic

Ma You (sesame oil) is classified as non-toxic in the classical literature. The Pin Hui Jing Yao states it is sweet, slightly cold, and without toxicity. As a food-grade oil used extensively in cooking, it has an excellent safety profile. The main concern is not toxicity per se but rather overconsumption: excessive intake can cause loose stools, intestinal slipperiness, or aggravation of dampness conditions. When used externally on open wounds, there is a risk of infection since the oil is not sterile. Sesame is a recognized major allergen, and allergic individuals can experience severe reactions including anaphylaxis.

Contraindications

Situations where Ma You should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

Spleen deficiency with loose stools or diarrhea. Ma You is slippery and lubricating in nature, which can worsen diarrhea in those with a weak Spleen unable to properly transform and transport fluids.

Caution

Excessive internal dampness or phlegm accumulation. As a rich, oily substance, Ma You may aggravate conditions where dampness or phlegm is already prevalent.

Caution

Active, unresolved lochia (postpartum vaginal discharge). Sesame oil preparations should not be consumed during the period when postpartum lochia has not yet cleared, as the lubricating nature may interfere with the body's natural cleansing process.

Avoid

Sesame allergy. Sesame is a recognized major food allergen. Individuals with known sesame allergy must avoid Ma You entirely, as it can trigger anaphylaxis.

Caution

When used in cooking with excessive ginger and alcohol (as in Ma You Ji / sesame oil chicken), it is unsuitable for people with a hot or excess constitution, as the preparation becomes very warming and can cause mouth sores, nosebleeds, or constipation in heat-type constitutions.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Generally considered safe at standard dietary amounts. Ma You in its raw form has historically been used to assist in difficult labour (as recorded in the Bian Chan Xu Zhi, where it is combined with honey for dry, obstructed birth). However, medicinal-dose usage during pregnancy should be under practitioner guidance. Excessive consumption may cause loose stools. Sesame oil dishes prepared with large amounts of ginger and rice wine (such as Ma You Ji) should be avoided during pregnancy due to the warming and blood-moving properties of those added ingredients, not the sesame oil itself.

Breastfeeding

Generally considered safe during breastfeeding at normal dietary amounts. Sesame oil is a common food oil and no specific adverse effects on lactation or nursing infants have been documented at standard culinary doses. In traditional Chinese postpartum practice, sesame oil dishes are commonly consumed to nourish the mother after childbirth. However, sesame is a major allergen, so if there is a family history of sesame allergy, caution is warranted as allergens can transfer through breast milk.

Children

Sesame oil has been used traditionally in small amounts for newborns and infants, particularly for intestinal obstruction (as in the classical formula using a small amount of sesame oil with Mirabilite for neonatal urinary or bowel difficulty). Dosage for children should be proportionally reduced based on age and body weight, typically one-quarter to one-half of the adult dose. Sesame is a major allergen, so it should be introduced cautiously and avoided entirely in children with known sesame allergy. For children under 5, use minimal amounts and only under practitioner guidance.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Ma You

No major drug interactions have been documented specifically for Ma You (sesame oil) at standard dietary doses. However, given its lubricating and bowel-loosening properties, it may theoretically enhance the effects of laxative medications. Sesame lignans (sesamin, sesamolin) have been shown in research to modulate lipid metabolism through PPARα activation, so individuals on lipid-lowering medications (statins, fibrates) should be aware of potential additive effects on cholesterol and triglyceride levels when consuming large amounts of sesame oil regularly.

Sesame oil may theoretically enhance absorption of fat-soluble medications when taken together. Individuals on antihypertensive medications should monitor blood pressure if consuming sesame oil in large medicinal quantities, as some clinical studies have shown mild blood-pressure-lowering effects.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Ma You

When taking Ma You internally for its moistening and cooling properties, avoid excessively cold or raw foods that could further loosen the bowels, especially in people with a tendency toward loose stools. Pairing sesame oil with warming ingredients like ginger in small amounts can help balance its cooling nature for those with Cold constitutions. Avoid combining large amounts of sesame oil with other strongly laxative foods (such as honey in excess) unless treating constipation specifically. For those using sesame oil to moisten dryness, light, easily digestible foods are preferred over greasy or heavy meals.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Ma You source source material

Sesamum indicum L. is an erect annual plant belonging to the family Pedaliaceae. It typically grows 50–250 cm tall, with either branched or unbranched stems. The leaves are opposite, 4–14 cm long, broad and lanceolate at the base of the plant and narrower on the flowering stem. The tubular flowers, 2.5–3 cm long, appear in leaf axils and range in colour from white to pink or purple. The fruit is a pubescent capsule, 2–3 cm long, containing numerous small, ovate, slightly flattened seeds that are either white or black, typically 3–4 mm in size.

Sesame is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, cultivated for over 5,000 years. It is drought-tolerant with an extensive root system featuring a strong taproot up to 90 cm long. The plant thrives in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions, preferring well-drained soils and full sun. When the capsules mature, they burst open (dehisce) and scatter the seeds, which is why plants are traditionally harvested by hand. Ma You (sesame oil) is obtained by pressing the mature seeds of this plant.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Ma You is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Late summer to autumn, when the sesame seed capsules are mature and beginning to dehisce (split open).

Primary growing regions

Sesame is cultivated across tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate zones worldwide. In China, major production areas include Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hebei provinces, with Henan Province traditionally regarded as producing some of the finest quality sesame. Globally, Sudan, India, and Myanmar are among the largest producers. High-quality black sesame for medicinal oil production (Hu Ma You / sesame oil) is traditionally valued from central China, particularly the Henan and Hubei region.

Quality indicators

Good quality sesame oil (Ma You) should be a clear, pale yellow to brownish-yellow liquid with a mild or subtle roasted sesame aroma and a bland, smooth taste. It should mix readily with organic solvents like chloroform and ether but be only slightly soluble in ethanol. The relative density should be 0.917 to 0.923, and the refractive index 1.471 to 1.475, as specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Cold-pressed, unrefined sesame oil is preferred for medicinal use. For the black sesame variety (Hu Ma You), the oil should have a richer, more nutty aroma. Avoid oils that are rancid, overly dark, or have off-putting chemical odours indicating adulteration or degradation.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Ma You and its therapeutic uses

《别录》(Míng Yī Bié Lù)

Original: 「利大肠，胞衣不落。生者摩疮肿，生秃发。」

Translation: "It frees the Large Intestine and [assists when] the placenta does not descend. Used raw, it can be rubbed on sores and swellings and promote hair growth on bald patches."

《本草纲目》(Běn Cǎo Gāng Mù) — Lǐ Shízhēn

Original: 「胡麻油，用以煎炼食物，尤能动火生痰，陈氏谓之大寒，珍意不然；但生用之，有润燥、解毒、止痛、消肿之功，似乎寒耳。」

Translation: "Sesame oil, when used to fry and refine food, especially stirs Fire and generates Phlegm. Mr. Chen called it greatly Cold, but I [Li Shizhen] do not agree. It is only when used raw that it has the functions of moistening dryness, resolving toxins, stopping pain, and reducing swelling — in that form it appears to be cool."

《本草经疏》(Běn Cǎo Jīng Shū) — Miǎo Xīyōng

Original: 「麻油，甘寒而滑利，故主胞衣不下及利大肠；生者气更寒，能解毒。凉血，故摩疮肿，生秃发也。」

Translation: "Sesame oil is sweet, cold, and slippery. Therefore it governs retained placenta and frees the Large Intestine. The raw form is even more cold in nature and can resolve toxins and cool the Blood, which is why it is applied to sores, swellings, and promotes hair growth."

《饮食须知》(Yǐn Shí Xū Zhī)

Original: 「味甘辛，性冷。多食滑肠胃，发冷疾。久食损人肌肉。生性冷，熟性热，可随时熬用。」

Translation: "The flavour is sweet and acrid, the nature is cold. Excessive consumption makes the Intestines and Stomach slippery, and can bring on cold-type illnesses. Prolonged consumption may damage the muscles. Raw, it is cold in nature; cooked, it becomes hot in nature."

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Ma You's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

Ma You (sesame oil) has been used in China for thousands of years, both as a culinary staple and a medicinal substance. The Chinese used sesame oil not only in cooking but also as a lamp fuel and to create the celebrated Chinese ink (made from sesame oil soot) used in calligraphy for over 5,000 years. Many ancient calligraphic works using this ink survive to this day.

The herb was first recorded medicinally in the Míng Yī Bié Lù (Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians) under the name Hu Ma You (胡麻油), indicating its probable introduction to China via the Silk Road (the prefix "Hu" 胡 signifying foreign origin from western or central Asia). Over time it acquired many aliases: Wu Ma You (乌麻油, "black sesame oil"), Zhi Ma You (脂麻油), Xiang You (香油, "fragrant oil"), Sheng You (生油, "raw oil"), and Qing You (清油, "clear oil"). Li Shizhen in the Ben Cao Gang Mu offered a notable correction to earlier characterizations, arguing that the oil is not truly "greatly Cold" as some predecessors claimed, but rather exhibits cooling properties only when used in its raw, uncooked form. He observed that when the oil is heated for cooking, it actually tends to stir Fire and generate Phlegm. The Yin Shi Xu Zhi further distinguished between the raw and cooked forms, stating that raw Ma You is cold but cooked Ma You becomes hot. This dual nature remains a key concept in modern clinical and culinary practice in Chinese culture.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Ma You

1

Systematic review on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of sesame oil (2019)

Afroz M, Zihad SMNK, Uddin SJ, Rouf R, Rahman MS, Islam MT, Khan IN, Ali ES, Aziz S, Shilpi JA, Nahar L, Sarker SD. Phytotherapy Research. 2019; 33(10): 2585-2608.

This systematic review examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of sesame oil and its identified compounds across human, animal, and cell studies. It found that sesame oil demonstrates these effects through multiple pathways including inhibition of COX enzymes, suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and modulation of NF-kB signaling. Key bioactive compounds identified include sesamin, sesaminol, and sesamolin.

2

Effects of sesame seeds and derivatives on oxidative stress: A systematic review (2016)

Gouveia LdA, Cardoso CA, de Oliveira GM, Rosa G, Moreira AS. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2016; 19(4): 337-345.

This review of seven clinical trials found that intake of sesame seeds and their derivatives (including sesame oil) resulted in increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels, as well as reduced markers of oxidative stress. However, the authors noted limitations including small sample sizes and heterogeneity among studies.

3

Consumption of sesame seeds and products: effects on blood glucose levels. Systematic review and meta-analysis (2022)

Sohouli MH, Haghshenas N, Hernández-Ruiz Á, Shidfar F. Phytotherapy Research. 2022; 36(3): 1126-1134.

A meta-analysis of eight controlled clinical trials found that sesame products (including sesame oil and sesamin) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels in adults. However, effects on fasting insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were not statistically significant. The intervention durations ranged from 45 days to 9 weeks.

4

Effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2022)

Nowrouzi-Sohrabi P, et al. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2022; 102(10): 3892-3903.

This meta-analysis examined clinical trials on sesame oil's effects on metabolic biomarkers in adults, including fasting blood glucose, insulin, oxidative stress, blood pressure, and body composition. Results showed promising effects on several metabolic parameters, though the authors called for larger, multi-center trials to confirm findings.

PubMed

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.