Black Pepper

Mahes Visvalingam
Post-retirement postings

Please note that this site is under construction.

Some Experiences with Natural Medicine
and related observations

BLACK PEPPER

Black pepper features prominently in Eastern medicine and cuisine. The following were extracted from other sources, except where notes indicate personal experience.

When I was in my final year at University, I had severe food poisoning during the exam period due to eating hawker food. My neighbour (Mrs Nagapan) gave me the following decoction which stopped the problems in time for my next exam although I was weak and lacking in concentration for some time. As I recall it, she fried some black pepper corns in ghee and then added a mug of water which she boiled down to half the amount. I then sipped the strained tea. Apparently, it always worked for their family. However, Mrs Nagapan did develop kidney disease in later life. Although this may have had nothing to do with their use of pepper, both Indian and Chinese medics do raise this as a concern.

More recently, I had a bout of catarrhal gastritis. Indian Tea Masala in the usual proportions does not suit me. But, a smaller dosage of it did help to clear up the sore throat and gullet, the bloating and acidity and bring the gastritis under control within 4 weeks.

Good for

Bad (in excess) for or during

For symptoms associated with cold, weak digestion and/or toxicity :

anxiety because binds to serotonin receptors
cold stomach; gastritis; indigestion - also other cold symptoms like suppressed menstruation.
common cold and sinusitis (old fashioned peppered chicken soup).
circulation - very warming
constipation
depression
diarrhoea
digestive aid
ear ache
eye sight - I will check if it has any effect on my incipient cataracts.
flatulence
immune enhancement http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12230118
nausea
respiratory complaints - cold, sore throat, sinusitis, flu
vomiting - anti emetic good for travel and morning sickness. Often used in conjunction with ginger.

Other claims:

Anti cancer - not proven
Vitiligo - I must try this

Abdominal surgery - irritant
Eye diseases (Lu)
Hot flashes? I was hot in bed if I took a strong dose.
Inflammatory conditions, such as nephritis.
Kidney stones - pepper contains oxalates http://www.mainstream-urology.com/articles/low_oxalate_diet.html
Pregnancy - may induce abortion
Sore throat (Lu)
Ulcers

Pepper can improve the absorption of other nutrients.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/540760-kidney-disease-black-pepper/

But, please note contraindications.

http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/contraindications/blackpepper.html

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