The uses of pepper

By the middle ages, pepper had assumed great importance and was used to season food and as a preservative in curing meats. Together with other spices, it helped overcome the odours of bad food.

Healing power and curative properties

Black pepper is a stimulant, pungent, aromatic and digestive tonic. Black pepper is useful in relieving flatulence.

Digestive disorders

Pepper has a stimulating effect on the digestive organs and produces an increased flow of saliva and gastric juices. It is an appetiser and a good home remedy for digestive disorders. Powdered black pepper, thoroughly mixed with malted jaggery, may be taken in the treatment of such conditions. Alternatively, a quarter teaspoon of pepper powder mixed in thin buttermilk can be taken during indigestion or heaviness in the stomach. For better results, an equal part of cumin powder may also be added to the buttermilk.

Common cold

Pepper is beneficial in the treatment of cold and fever. Six pepper seeds finely ground and mixed in a glass of warm water along with 6 pieces of batasha – a variety of sugar candy, can be taken for a few nights for good results. In case of acute coryza or cold in the head, 20 grams pepper powder boiled in milk with a pinch of turmeric powder can be had once daily for 3 days.

Amnesia

A pinch of finely ground pepper mixed with honey taken twice a day is effective in amnesia or dullness of intellect.
Coughs
Pepper is an effective remedy for coughs caused due to throat irritation. Three peppers sucked with a pinch of caraway seeds and a crystal of common salt provides relief.

Impotency

Eating 6 peppers with 4 almonds once daily with milk, is a nerve tonic and acts as an aphrodisiac especially in an impotent person.

Muscular pains

As an external application, pepper dilates the superficial vessels and acts as a counter-irritant. A tablespoon of pepper powder fried in sesame oil until it is charred can be applied beneficially as an analgesic liniment for mylagia and rheumatic pains.

Teeth disorders

Pepper powder and common salt mixture is an excellent dentifrice. Its daily use prevents foul breath, bleeding from the gums, painful gums, toothache and cures the increased sensitiveness of the teeth. A pinch of pepper powder mixed with clove oil can be put in the caries to alleviate toothache.