Black Pepper

Latin Name: Piper Nigrum

Common Names: Peppercorn, King of Spices, Kali Mirch

Parts Used: Fruits

Body Systems: Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, immune

Association: Mars, Yang, Aries

Energetics: Warming, stimulating 

Element: Fire 

History: Black pepper has a rich history, dating back thousands of years to ancient India, where it was highly prized as a valuable trade commodity. It was known as "black gold" and played a significant role in the spice trade, influencing global exploration and trade routes. In metaphysical practices, black pepper is believed to offer protection and purification. It is used in rituals to release and ward off negativity, enhance energy, and promote clarity. Additionally, it is thought to stimulate courage and strength, as well as stimulate the third eye. 

How To Take: In food (most common), tincture, tea/infusion, syrup, extract or capsule form.  

Contraindications: May slow blood clotting, use caution when consuming amounts higher than commonly used in food as this may pose a risk for surgery and those with blood disorders.

Black pepper may affect blood sugar levels, diabetic patients should carefully monitor their blood sugar levels when consuming therapeutic dosages of black pepper.

Activity: Anthelmintic, anti-periodic, aromatic, carminative, circulatory, condiment, decongestant, diaphoretic, digestive, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient, circulatory stimulant, tonic.

Uses: Black pepper has a variety of herbal uses, both internally and externally. Internally, it is known to expel intestinal worms, relieve malarial-type fevers and chills, stimulate digestion, and boost overall body function and energy. Its pungent, spicy taste makes it a popular food seasoning, and it also helps decongest airways, lungs, and sinuses, promotes mucus release, reduces fever, and increases sweating. Black pepper is beneficial for respiratory infections, supports the immune system, aids brain and bone health, balances blood sugar, and may lower cholesterol levels. Externally, it can be applied to the skin to stimulate blood flow, relieve congestion or inflammation, and promote skin regeneration, with some evidence suggesting it may help stimulate pigmentation.

Aromatherapy: Warming and stimulating scent sometimes used by aromatherapists to uplift the senses. 

Nutrients & Constituents: Black pepper contains various active compounds, including oleoresins and alkaloids such as piperine and chavicine, along with antioxidants, flavonoids, essential oil, and other phenolic compounds. It is a source of several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin B6, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc, and Chromium. Notably, black pepper is a good source of manganese, a mineral that supports bone health, wound healing, and metabolism. A single teaspoon of black pepper provides 13% of your daily recommended intake (DRI) of manganese and 3% of your DRI of Vitamin K.

Plant Description: Vines can grow 3 to 5 meters tall and develop extensive root systems, with large roots reaching up to 4 meters long, though most stay within 1 meter of the surface. The leaves are broad, oval, 13 to 25 cm long, pointed at the tip, dark glossy green on top, and pale green underneath. They grow alternately along the soft, climbing stems and stay on the vine year-round. Flowering is triggered by the increased humidity of the rainy season. The tiny, creamy-white flowers form in tight clusters on 5 to 15 cm long spikes. Fertilised flowers develop into small green berries, which turn orange-yellow and then red when fully ripe, surrounding a single seed. The berries take about seven to eight months to ripen and do so unevenly, with green and red berries often appearing on the same cluster.

Cultivation: For optimal growth, black pepper should be planted in containers with a well-draining potting mix and kept under 50 to 75% shade in a nursery for approximately 4-5 months. The best time for transplanting is at the onset of the rainy season, and the plants should be guided to climb a pole, trellis, or tree trunk. Black pepper thrives in deep, humus-rich, well-draining clay-loam, loam, or sandy loam soils with a moderately acidic to neutral pH and partial sun to light shade exposure.