Black Pepper

Black pepper plant

Black pepper is one of the most well-known and common spices in kitchens all over the world and is considered the king of spices. In addition to being the familiar companion of salt in every table and the pleasant spiciness it provides, it also has important medicinal properties. It contains high amounts of antioxidants, is excellent for digestion and weight loss processes, helps lower sugar and improves heart activity.

It is a climbing plant from the Piperaceae family originally from the East Asian region. The parts used are the fruits, small red grains that turn black after drying in the open air. It is cataloged according to its port of origin. The origin of the two best known varieties being mulberry pepper and telicherry pepper originating from mulberry india.

It is important to know that it is recommended to grind it fresh that the fragrances will be preserve because they tend to evaporate quickly. In addition, it is important to keep it away from light that impairs the quality of Piperine.

It contains active ingredients such as caryophyllene, limonene, sabinene and linalool which give it the citrus, woody and floral aroma hue and piperine which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Black pepper contains about 255 calories (per 100 g), carbohydrates, fats and protein. In addition, it contains important vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, B, C, E and K, calcium, potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, omega 3 and 6 acids, and zinc.

It can be consumed dried whole or ground, in essential oil, ointment or extract.

The known medicinal properties of the plant:

  1. Colds and coughs
    This is the first extract I take when I have a sore throat or a cold. It is known in Indian medicine as aiding in conditions of colds and coughs. In Western medicine it is known to help with sinusitis, phlegm and nasal congestion. It also fights bacteria and thus reduces the load from the body.

  2. Antioxidant
    Piperine found in black pepper is known as an antioxidant and thus helps in clearing free radicals and protecting the body from diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer.

  3. Pain relief
    Piperine also helps with pain relief. It increases blood flow and allows increased permeability of potassium and sodium to the nerve cell and produces an irritation that causes a feeling of anesthesia as well as a decrease in pain for several days. Effective in conditions of gingivitis, toothache, headache and migraines.

  4. Increases the absorption of curcumin in the body
    Piperine increases the absorption of the active ingredient curcumin, from the cumin plant, in the body by up to 2000%, so it is highly recommended to combine the two. Turmeric is a fat molecule and piperine helps the body break down fat molecules and therefore increases absorption.

  5. Helps digestive system
    It encourages the secretion of hydrochloric acids in the stomach that are essential for digesting proteins, for conditions of stomach upset, nausea, constipation and diarrhea. It helps the body digest food faster and more efficiently.

  6. Nourishes skin and heals wounds
    Has antibacterial properties that help protect against bacteria in situations of cuts, open wounds, insect bites and acne. In addition, it greatly nourishes the skin, stimulates blood circulation and helps remove dead skin. It stimulates the body to produce pigment in the skin and is found to be effective against a skin disease called vitiligo that causes the loss of pigmentation in the skin.

  7. Detoxification and metabolism
    As we understood in the action of breaking down curcumin it helps the body in general in the breakdown fat molecules and thus helps the body in accelerated breakdown of fat cells in the body, increases metabolism in the body, cleanses toxins (stored in the body in fat molecules), causes sweating (also cleanses the body), and cleanses the blood.

  8. Antidepressant
    It helps in better cognitive function of the brain mainly because of the ability to encourage better blood circulation in the body which improves feeling in situations of depression.

Black pepper plays an important role in our taste and eating experience and provides high value medicinal properties that are important to our body. It can be consumed in cooking as a whole or ground dried spice or used extensively for healing in soaks and extracts for external and internal use.

 

To read more about herbs and their special properties click here.

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