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Black
Pepper - piper
nigerum
A
perennial woody climber / vine up to 5 metres high,
with large oval-heart shaped leaves, and spikes
of small white flowers. The small berries grow in
clusters which ripen from green to red and black
: green peppercorns are picked unripe and pickled;
black peppercorns are the dried, fully grown, unripe
fruit; red peppercorns are picked ripe and dried;
and the white peppercorns are the ripe berries which
have been soaked in water before drying (this removes
the outer pericarp).
Cultivated
since the Ancient times for medicinal and culinary
purposes, pepper was also a vital commodity in world
trade for thousands of years. During his siege on
the city of Rome in AD408, Atilla the Hun was reputed
to have demanded 1,360kg of pepper as ransom! In
Greece black pepper is used for treating intermittent
fevers and to fortify the stomach, whilst in Chinese
medicine the white pepper is used for cases of malaria,
cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, stomach ache and
digestive problems. According to Maury in Guide
to Aromatherapy “...The mendicant monks of India
who cover daily considerable distance on foot, swallow
7-9 grains of pepper a day. This gives them remarkable
endurance...”
Pepper
is an antibacterial, and has a stimulant, antiseptic
effect on the digestive tract and circulatory system.
Used to enhance circulation, boost the immune system,
eliminate toxins and improve digestion, it is also
effective at reducing fever, treating chills, catarrh,
nausea, colds, infections and viruses. The oil is
useful in easing rheumatic and arthritic pains,
muscle aches and pains, sprains, general stiffness,
and toothache.
In
magic and rituals, black pepper is mixed with sea
salt and used to sprinkle about the home / ritual
space to dispel negative vibrations.
!
Use the essential oil of Black Pepper well diluted
and only in moderation - can damage Kidneys ! |
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