Pinyin: Heizhima
Aliases
Huma, Jusheng, Goushi, Zhima.
Source
Plants of the Pedaliaceae family: Sesamum indicum.Sesamum indicumL. of dried ripe seeds.
Botanical Description
Annual herb, 80-180 cm tall. Stem erect, quadrangular, with prominent angles, slightly woody at base, unbranched, pubescent. Leaves opposite, or alternate in the upper part; petiole 1-7 cm long; leaf blade ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, 1-8 cm wide, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate, margin entire, serrate, or lower leaves 3-lobed, upper surface green, lower surface pale green, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely white pubescent. Flowers solitary or 2-3 in leaf axils, 1-1.5 cm in diameter; calyx slightly connate, green, 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, pubescent; corolla tubular, bilabiate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, white, with purple or yellow markings, lobes rounded, outer surface pubescent; stamens 4, inserted at base of corolla tube, anthers yellow, sagittate; pistil 1, carpels 2, ovary conical, initially pseud-4-locular, becoming 2-locular at maturity, style linear, stigma 2-lobed. Capsule ellipsoid, 2-2.5 cm long, often 4-angled or 6-8-angled, loculicidal, initially green, turning black-brown at maturity, pubescent. Seeds numerous, ovate, flattened on both sides, black, white, or pale yellow. Flowering period May to September, fruiting period July to September.
Habitat and Distribution
Commonly cultivated in sandy loam or loam soils in regions with high summer temperatures, dry climate, and good drainage. It is cultivated throughout China, except for the Tibetan Plateau.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest the plant in autumn when the fruit is ripe, dry it in the sun, beat out the seeds, remove impurities, and dry again in the sun.
Medicinal Properties
This product is flat and ovoid in shape, approximately 3 mm long and about 2 mm wide. The surface is black, smooth or with reticulate wrinkles. At the pointed end, there is a brown dot-like hilum. The seed coat is thin, with two cotyledons that are white and oily. The odor is faint, the taste is sweet, and it has an oily aroma.
Chemical Constituents
This product contains arachidic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, sesamin, sesamol, sesamolin, and sesamin glycoside among other components.
Pharmacology
Lowers blood glucose; induces diarrhea; stimulates the uterus; delays aging.
Properties and Channel Entry
Sweet, neutral. Enters the Liver, Kidney, and Large Intestine channels.
Functions and Indications
Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, benefits the Essence and Blood, and moistens the Intestines to relieve dryness. Used for Deficiency of Essence and Blood, dizziness and blurred vision, tinnitus and hearing loss, premature graying of hair, post-illness hair loss, and constipation due to intestinal dryness.
Dosage and Administration
Internal use: decoct in water, 9-15 g; or prepared as pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, decoct in water for bathing or mash for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with loose stools.
Prescriptions
1. For hematuria (blood in urine): Black sesame 3 sheng, grind into powder, soak in 2 sheng of eastward-flowing water overnight, strain the juice at dawn, and take it warm in one dose (from *Qianjin Yaofang*). 2. To restore white hair to black: Black sesame, steam and sun-dry nine times, grind into powder, mix with jujube paste to form pills, and take orally (from *Qianjin Yaofang*). 3. For wind dizziness and to turn white hair black: Black sesame, white Poria, and sweet chrysanthemum in equal parts, refine with honey into pills the size of wutong seeds, take 9 g each time with plain water on an empty stomach in the morning (from *Yideng Xuyan* - Jusheng Wan). 4. For occasional wind-cold: Black sesame, stir-fry until scorched, while hot, grind and mix with wine, drink it, then lie down warmly to induce slight sweating for best results (from *Gangmu*). 5. For insufficient breast milk in women: Black sesame, stir-fry and grind, add a little salt, and eat it (from *Gangmu* citing *Tangshi Fang*).
