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This page contains information on black pepper and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments, to treat ailments and problems, such as stimulating the entire body, boosting circulation, fighting food poisoning and dysentery, helping to relieve diarrhea, as well as nasal congestion and sinusitis.
On this page
Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. For more information on our range of products, please click here.
Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.
Family |
Piperaceae |
Genus and specie |
Piper nigrum |
Hu jiao.
Black and white peppercorns are the dried berries obtained from a creeper with woody stems and oval heart shaped leaves. Tiny white flowers appear in pendulous spikes, followed by spherical red berries. Common to South and East India.
The fruits (peppercorns) are used.
Green pepper is the whole fresh berry that is frozen or preserved, while white pepper is the fully matured fruit from which the outer fleshy layers have been removed before drying and black pepper is the almost mature complete berry that is dried and separated from their stalks.
An aromatic, pungent, warming herb that lowers fever and improves digestion.
Black pepper contains essential oil (up to 3.5%) and 5 - 10% pungent acid-amides with piperine as well as piperyline, piperoleines and piperamine, while the oil contains sabinene, pinene, phellandrene, linalool and limonene.
Piperine is known as a central nervous system depressant and has good anticonvulsant and antimicrobial properties. It stimulates both the digestive and circulatory system and, apart from this, has insecticidal properties.
- Internal use
- Used in the West to aid
- and in Chinese medicine to
- treat food poisoning
- stomach chills
- cholera
- dysentery
- vomiting caused by hypothermia.
- It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate the digestive system and is used for treatment of nausea, lack of appetite and other dyspeptic complaints.
- A common myth in the West is that pepper cannot be digested and remains in the digestive tract for 7 to 8 years. This is just a myth and contrary to the working of the digestive system, as the digestive tract has no way of treating pepper differently from any other food substance consumed. Pepper is absorbed and eliminated by the body in exactly the same way as any other food.
- Pepper, white or black, is very common and is used to flavor most savory dishes, meats, chicken, fish, dressings sauces, pickles and cheese.
- White pepper consists of the dried ripe berries, and black pepper the dried unripe berries, white pepper being less aromatic.
- Unripe, fresh green berries are also used in sauces and to flavor various savory dishes.
- External use
- Ayurvedic medicine uses pepper mixed with ghee (buttery type of compound) to treat
- nasal congestion
- sinusitis
- skin eruptions
- epilepsy
- Aromatherapy and essential oil use
- Black pepper essential oil is used for pain relief, increasing circulation, muscular aches, exhaustion and fevers.
- It can also be used to treat toothache, rheumatic pains and for ecto-parasites.
- It has the following properties
- analgesic
- antiseptic
- anti-spasmodic
- cardiac
- carminative
- digestive
- diuretic
- laxative
- stimulant
- tonic
- Since it helps to increase circulation, it can be successfully used in any problem where poor circulation plays a part, and for this reason, it is included in a variety of products.
Excessive topical use of the essential oil may over stimulate the kidneys. It should be avoided during pregnancy and it may also cause redness to the skin.
To promote the interest and use of herbs and natural complementary health alternatives, we have included information on the following herbs.
Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us.
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