Oils & fats · Classically cited
Sesame oil
Tila taila·तिल तैल
Also called: til oil, gingelly oil, sesamöl, sesamoel
Charaka treats sesame as the foremost of the oils — warming, subtle and penetrating (suksma, the quality that lets it carry effects into the deeper tissues), and the standard oil for settling Vata, internally and for massage.
How Sesame oil affects your doshas
In Ayurveda a food's effect depends on your constitution. This is the lens the app uses to suggest what to favour and ease off.
| Dosha | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vata | Balancing | Calms Vata — favour it when Vata runs high. |
| Pitta | Use sparingly | Can raise Pitta — go easy when Pitta runs high. |
| Kapha | Use sparingly | Can raise Kapha — go easy when Kapha runs high. |
When to go easy
Heating, so it adds to Pitta in summer or in an already-hot state.
Best time to eat it
Classically cited. Directly attested in the classical Ayurvedic corpus.