Fruits and seedsTonifyingSemen Sesami Nigrum

Hei Zhi Ma (Black Sesame Seed)

黑芝麻 · Hei Zhi Ma

Tonifying herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Supplements the liver and kidney, nourishes essence and blood, and moistens dryness.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Semen Sesami Nigrum
Chinese Name & Pinyin	黑芝麻 · Hei Zhi Ma
Medicinal Part	Fruits and seeds
Efficacy Category	Tonifying
Botanical Origin	The dried ripe seed of Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae).
Nature & Flavour	Sweet; Neutral
Channels Entered	Liver, Kidney, Large Intestine

What Is Hei Zhi Ma?

Hei Zhi Ma (Black Sesame Seed) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Anhui, Hubei and Sichuan.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet; Neutral
Channels Entered: Liver, Kidney, Large Intestine

Hei Zhi Ma: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Semen Sesami Nigrum

Botanical Origin

The dried ripe seed of Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Anhui, Hubei and Sichuan.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is full, black, oily, and free of empty seeds.

Macroscopic Features

Flattened ovate seeds, about 3mm long; externally black, smooth; seed coat thin; kernel white and oily.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet; NeutralLiverKidneyLarge Intestine

Traditional Functions

Supplements the liver and kidney, nourishes essence and blood, and moistens dryness. Apply to premature greying, dizziness, constipation from blood dryness, and insufficient lactation.

How Hei Zhi Ma Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Hei Zhi Ma is classified among the Tonifying herbs. It appears in 1 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Hei Zhi Ma are traditionally used for:

Dry Cough Sore Throat Dry Mouth & Throat

Classical Formulas Containing Hei Zhi Ma

Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang

清燥救肺湯Assistant

Formula CategoryHeat-Clearing FormulasPrimary PatternLung HeatPrimary FunctionClear Dryness, moisten Lungs, rescue Lung Yin and QiRelated ConditionsDry Cough·Sore Throat·Dry Mouth & Throat

View Formula Profile Read Complete Guide

Herbs Commonly Combined with Hei Zhi Ma

Sang Ye Shi Gao Mai Men Dong E Jiao Xing Ren Pi Pa Ye Ren Shen Gan Cao

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hei Zhi Ma? Is it the same as white sesame, sesame oil or flaxseed?

Official Hei Zhi Ma (黑芝麻) is the dried ripe black seed of Sesamum indicum. The pharmacopoeial name is Sesami Semen Nigrum; older names include Hu Ma and Ju Sheng. White sesame is the same species with a pale coat, used mainly for oil and seasoning; traditional records of tonifying Liver-Kidney and darkening hair treat the black seed as the official drug. Sesame oil is the expressed fat—more lubricating, weaker to replenish essence-Blood. Flaxseed is Linum, not sesame. Write Hei Zhi Ma; do not swap in white seed, flax or table oil.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Hei Zhi Ma?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Hei Zhi Ma is sweet and neutral, enters the Liver, Kidney and Large Intestine channels, and acts to tonify Liver and Kidney, benefit essence and Blood, and moisten intestinal dryness. It is used for essence-Blood lack, dizziness and dim vision, tinnitus and deafness, premature greying, post-illness hair loss, and dry-intestine constipation. Sweet-neutral and oily, it tonifies without dryness—a dual-use food and medicine for Yin-Blood lack and dry stool, not for Spleen-deficient loose stool or phlegm-damp obstruction.

Does Hei Zhi Ma need processing? How do raw and dry-fried seeds differ?

The pharmacopoeia lists Hei Zhi Ma and dry-fried Hei Zhi Ma. The raw seed is washed and dried, crushed at use—more lubricating to the intestine. Clear-frying until it pops brings out aroma and makes crushing and absorption easier; that form is preferred to tonify Liver-Kidney and benefit essence-Blood. Raw or fried, decoctions, pills and powders should be crushed; whole seeds release little of the oily constituents. Kitchen sprinkling of whole seeds is not a medicinal dose.

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Learn More About Hei Zhi Ma

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Hei Zhi Ma.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.