Think “Hot and Pungent” and what comes to mind is pepper, with its sneeze-inducing potency. Known world-over, black pepper is the world’s most widely used spice – and India’s most ancient one. Peppercorns were much prized as a form of commodity money and often referred to as “black gold.”
Alternative Names
Botanical name: Piper Nigrum
English: Black Pepper
Sanskrit: Maricha
Hindi: Kali Mirchi
Benefits
The black pepper fruit is known as peppercorn. Believed to have solar energy stored in it, it can cure diseases ranging from cold to bloody diarrhea. It also serves as a digestive aid and as a stimulant and tonic for the nerves. Further, it increases appetite and can alleviate headache.
Practical Applications
- Cold: Boil 1 spoon of wheat flakes, 5 flakes of pepper and salt with a cup of water. Consume the concoction.
- Indigestion: Make a powder of black pepper and cumin seeds. Mix in buttermilk and consume.
- Pimples: Grind black pepper and sandal together. Mix in cold water and apply over the face.
- Halitosis and Bleeding gums: Brush teeth with a powder of black pepper and salt.
- Toothache: Mix black pepper powder in clove oil and apply over the area of toothache.
- Rheumatic joint pains: Mix black pepper powder in oil. Boil it and apply over the affected joints.
- Fever: Mix ¼th spoon of black pepper powder with jaggery and consume every night.
- Skin diseases: Boil coconut oil and mix pepper powder in it. Apply over affected area.
- Chills: Consume decoction of pepper flakes frequently. Milk can be added to the decoction.
This piece was written by Dr. Nisha Manikanthan, Senior Ayurveda Consultant of the Art of Living.
