Black pepper (Piper nigrum, belonging to family Piperaceae) occupies a prominent place in Indian kitchens owing to its aromatic, culinary and medicinal properties. It is a native of India (particularly South India), Egypt and Madagascar. The fruits are widely used as an active ingredient in various home remedies for a variety of illnesses such as colic, tooth decay, liver problems, lung disease, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea and urinary disorders.
This spice is commonly known as kali mirch (Hindi), maricha (Sanskrit), kalamari (Gujarati), mire (Marathi), Black pepper (English). Black pepper is rich in iron, manganese and dietary fiber. Piperine, a principle alkaloid found in black pepper helps in promoting brain functions, inhibits metabolism of nutrients present in body, improves digestion and reduces the incidence of stomach ulcers and colon cancer. It also acts as an anti-depressant.
Home Remedies with Black pepper
Here are some simple and effective home remedies with black pepper that would guide to deal with day to day health problems:
- To keep a check on cholesterol level, add ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a glass of butter milk. Mix finely diced onion (Allium cepa) to it and drink.
- Heat a teaspoon of clarified butter in a pan. Add to it 3-4 black pepper followed by a glass of milk. Now add 3-4 crushed almonds (Prunus amygdalus) and let it come to a boil. (Add sugar to taste). This formulation is beneficial in cases of sexual debility when taken at bed time.
- Chewing 8-10 black pepper in betel (Piper betel) leaf is known to be beneficial in gaining weight.
- Take a cup of water and add to it ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoon lemon (Citrus limon) juice and a teaspoon of honey. Drinking the same would help a person in reducing weight.
- Grind 5-6 black pepper and mix with natural honey. Lick this paste to relieve dry cough. This formulation also works as appetite stimulant.
- To cure all kinds of cough, grind black pepper and add sugar to it. Take it with clarified butter.
- While preparing tea, grind and add 2-4 black pepper along with ginger (Zingiber officinale), a clove and few basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaves. It works as anti-tussive and is also useful against cold.
- Black pepper powder taken with jaggery is said to be effective in treating chronic cold.
- Take equal amounts of black pepper, cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) seeds. Make it into a very fine powder. Those who suffer from blocked nose due to cold may sniff the same to induce sneezing.
- For treating asthma, boil 8-10 black pepper, 2 clove (Syzygium aromaticum) buds and 10-15 basil leaves in water for 15 minutes. Filter and add two teaspoon honey. Drink the same with milk.
- To cure toothache, mix powdered black pepper in clove oil. Apply this paste on the affected part.
- In case of indigestion, mix black pepper powder in ginger juice. Take this formulation after meals.
- Prepare a paste by mixing black pepper powder in clarified butter. Application of this paste is beneficial in skin disorders such as eczema and skin allergies.
Note: The above mentioned home remedies are for information purpose only. Seek advice from your doctor before following any of these mentioned formulations. Author should not be held for any misconduct.
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
