Health benefits of Long Pepper

Long pepper, Pippali or piper longum is mostly a type of herb, known for its medicinal properties. The plant belongs to the family Piperaceae and is one of the most extensively used medicinal plants in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, particularly for diseases of respiratory tract. The family Piperaceae comprises 12 genera and about 1400 species, mainly found in tropical region. The plant is native to several parts of India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and South Asian regions.  Four types of pippali namely ‘pippali’, ‘vanapippali’, ‘saimhali’ and ‘gajapippali’ are mentioned in Ayurvedic literature Rajanighantu. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Indian long pepper, Jaborandi pepper, Long pepper, Thai Long Pepper, Balinese pepper, Bengal pepper, Pippali , Indonesian Long Pepper and Java Pepper. Long pepper can be used in four different ways: as a spice, as a home remedy, as a medicinal herb and as a catalyst to increase the effect of other herbs.

P. longum has immense potential in medicines, as it is reported as a good remedy for treating gonorrhea, menstrual pain, tuberculosis, sleeping problems, respiratory tract infections, chronic gut-related pain and arthritic conditions. Almost all parts of it, namely roots, stems and fruits are medicinally important and used especially in the treatment of respiratory tract disorders like bronchitis, asthma, cough etc.

Plant description

Long Pepper is a slender, much branched, aromatic, perennial climber or small shrub that is found growing in shady places, rainforests, along streams, among bushes, moist deciduous, evergreen, semi evergreen forests, plains and wastelands. The plant can be cultivated successfully in laterite soils with high organic matter content, water holding capacity and well drained fertile black cotton soil. However, light, porous and well-drained soil rich in organic content is most suitable for its cultivation. The plant has large woody root and numerous ascending, cylindrical and globose stem. They are swollen and irregular knotty with each piece quarter inch long, irregularly thick, hard and of a brownish color. Branchlets are erect, prostrate or creeping, soft and grooved when dry.

 Leaves

Leaves were 5-9 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, sub-acute, entire, glabrous, cordate with broad rounded lobes at base. Leaves in long pepper were numerous, simple, stipulate and petiolate or sessile. Shape of the leaf blade also varies in the same plant. The upper leaves were generally sessile, ovate or ovate oblong, acute and most often unequally sided or unequally cordate at base. They are 6.5-9 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. Lower leaves were broadly ovate, pale dull beneath; cordate at base. In the case of lower leaves, petioles were 5- 7.5 cm long and stout but in that of upper leaves it was very short and absent. Stipules were about 1-3 cm, membranous, lanceolate, obtuse and falling soon.

Flower & Fruit

Flowers are monoceous, i.e. having the male and female reproductive structures in separate flowers but on the same plant. Female spikes are 1.25-2.00 cm long arising singly from leaf axil is cylindrical, short and stout. Male spikes are longer, slender and are 2.5-7.5 cm long. The male spikes are dehiscent and non-productive. Flowering normally takes place from May to September. Fertile female spikes give rise to multiple ovoid (broad at the base, like an egg) spikes, of about the length of matchstick about 2.5–3.5 cm long and 5 mm thick, are oblong, blunt, which is shining dark green when immature, red when ripe and turn blackish-grey when dried. The fruits of this plant are often confused with chili peppers, which belong to the genus Capsicum, originally from the Americas.

History

P. longum was first written about by Hippocrates, who described it as a medicament rather than a spice. Long pepper reached Greece in the 6th or 5th century BCE and long pepper was an important and well-known spice before European discovery of the New World. The history of black pepper is linked to (and often confused with) that of long pepper, although Theophrastus distinguished the two in the first work of botany. The Romans knew of both and often referred to either as just piper; Pliny erroneously believed that dried black pepper and long pepper came from the same plant. Round or black pepper began to compete with long pepper in Europe beginning in the 12th century and had replaced it by the 14th century. Today long pepper is a rarity in general commerce.

Health benefits of Long Pepper

Long pepper has been used as one of the spices in cooking. Long pepper consists of various nutrients such as fats, proteins, sugars, carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins C and A, dietary fiber and sodium ions. Long Pepper has a strong spicy taste that adds taste to food. The spice grows as a fragrant plant containing hairy branches. All its parts are used for various benefits for human consumption and health wise. Pepper fruits are small with alkaloid piperine. Listed below are popular health benefits of using long pepper

1.Treats Respiratory Problems

Long Pepper is well-known for its effectiveness against conditions affecting your respiratory tract, like colds, coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. It works as a counter-irritant and eases inflammation. It is even used in treating bronchial asthma in children. It not only helps fight infections by virtue of its antibacterial properties but also works locally to help thin phlegm and ease congestion.

Long pepper is also used to treat chronic fevers due to its anti-pyretic properties. You could have a soothing cup of ginger tea made with a quarter teaspoon of pippali churna or powder. Add Tulsi and honey to amp the power of the tea. Drink this twice or thrice a day to soothe your cough, flu, or fever. Pippali can also help those suffering from asthma, helping reduce not only the intensity of an attack but even the frequency of occurrence.

2. Helps Manage Diabetes

Diabetes is perhaps the worst condition that can hit anyone because it wreaks havoc in almost every system of the body. India has one of the highest cases of people diagnosed with diabetes. Long pepper is beneficial for diabetics because it can regulate the rate at which glucose is released in the blood. Insulin production is also boosted by pippali herb. Hence, regular consumption of long pepper is beneficial for all diabetics.

Just remember pippali or its extracts are not an additional for your diabetes medication. Do consult your doctor if you plan to use this natural remedy. (1)

3. Boosts Reproductive and Sexual Health

Long Pepper can also act as a rejuvenating tonic for your reproductive organs. It is said to help with problems like infertility and impotence as well as premature ejaculation. It can also be used in the treatment of gonorrhea. In women, the remedy is also used in the treatment of the pain related with menstrual cramps.

To improve sexual drive or libido, Ayurvedic treatments combine Long Pepper and ghee with ashwagandha for men and shatavari for women.

It is also used in postnatal care to help the mother’s recovery. It can help purge any leftover blood or tissue from the uterus after the delivery. The powdered root and fruit are given mixed into warm Jaggery water. The treatment is carried out for 2 to 3 days after the birth of the baby.(2)

4. Fights against bacterial infections

Long pepper has strong antibacterial qualities. As bacteria are something that is always present around you, not much can be done in order to prevent your body’s exposure to the same. However, you can surely prevent bacterial infections from occurring. Long pepper protects the body from bacterial infections. It also has anti-amoebic properties that help it do so. Root or stem of the pepper can be consumed in order to gain this protection.

5. Boosts Digestion

If you have digestive problems like flatulence and heartburn or are experiencing a dulled appetite, pippali can help. It encourages your digestive system and boosts your appetite due to its carminative properties. It can also fight and protect against ulcers.

The anti-amoebic and antibacterial properties of long pepper, along with its ability to stoke your digestive system, can help overcome diarrhea or other gastrointestinal infections. It can also kill worms and other parasites in your digestive system.

6. Fights Insomnia

Powdered Long Pepper along with honey is used as a remedy for sleeping problems like insomnia. You could also take it with milk at bedtime to help you sleep better. In one research; people with stress-induced insomnia were given an herbal formulation called pippalimulyadi vati at night. This combined pippali with other herbs like ashwagandha and jatamansi. At the end of the trial, the subjects reported better sleep and showed significant improvement in overall well-being, alertness, and fitness, scoring on both subjective and clinical markers of sleep. Pippali’s sedative or tranquilizing effects are put to use not just in insomnia but also in epilepsy treatments.

7. Weight loss

The world is extremely passionate with the idea of weight loss not just because of beauty standards and self-image, but because of health reasons. Long pepper helps with weight loss. It basically decreases the fat in the body and also gets rid of fatty toxins, which helps you lose the additional weight. Unlike diets or weight loss drugs, long pepper does not have any adverse effects on your body when used for weight loss.

8. Improves Effectiveness of Tuberculosis Treatment

One appetite-boosting, detoxifying remedy for tuberculosis combines one-eighth of a teaspoon of pippali churna with a quarter teaspoon each of anti-inflammatory turmeric and appetite-stimulant ginger in a quarter cup of warm water, with a spoon of honey to sweeten it. This drink can be had twice a day – once when you wake up and later in the afternoon or as suggested by your Ayurvedic doctor.

9. Toothache

If you have a toothache, long pepper is a good remedy. Instead of salt water gargling and ice packs, make a paste of long pepper, salt, and water. Now smear this on the pained gum area and keep it there for an hour.

10. Helps Defend against Alzheimer’s disease

Long Pepper may also be useful against epilepsy, another neurological disorder. Animal research has shown promise with test subjects who were given extracts of the long pepper fruit showing anti-seizure activity.

Long pepper has strong antioxidant activity which helps counter the free radical damage that’s responsible for aging-related diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The chemical compounds in the pepper can control the production of a protein called amyloid precursor protein that is involved in AD and, in doing so, can be beneficial in warding off the illness.

11. Detoxifies Your Liver

Active component of long pepper, piperine, can counter hepato-toxicity or chemical-driven liver damage. Piperine has the potential to protect your liver, restricting fibrosis and improving regeneration. However, do note, if your problems involve cirrhosis or acute damage, it may not offer adequate protection.

12. Helps Boost Metabolism

If you are trying to shed those extra pounds, Long Pepper could help your cause. In one animal study, test animals with dyslipidemia or high cholesterol/fat levels in the body saw their fat and lipid levels come down after being given piperine for a few weeks, even though their appetite wasn’t dulled or altered. The anti-hyperlipidemic (lipid lowering) property of pippali has even been compared to that of a commercial anti-hyperlipidemic drug. Additionally, it also revs up your metabolism, which might help those with sluggish metabolism and associated weight gain.

13. Fights Rheumatoid Arthritis

Long Pepper also has pain-relieving properties when used as a topical treatment. It can help with inflammation as well as muscular pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory disease that causes severe joint pain and can impair mobility and hamper quality of life, could be eased with the use of long pepper. Called “amavata” in Ayurveda, RA can be treated by Long Pepper due to its ability to purge the ama or toxins from the body and ignite metabolic and digestive fires.

14. Good for menstrual problems

Long pepper has been used to fight menstrual problems since time immemorial. It can help curb heavy menstrual flow and can also help with menstrual cramps. It even combats fatigue and some of the symptoms of PMS. Additionally, long pepper has been used by pregnant women who are in labor to encourage the contractions of the uterus and speed up the delivery. Many women also consume this spice after the baby is born in order to encourage the quick healing of the uterus. It is said to be extremely beneficial in these cases.

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Traditional uses and benefits of long Pepper

• Long Pepper is a powerful stimulant for digestive system and Respiratory system.
• It efficiently treats Cold and Congestion.
• It is an effective treatment for Bronchitis, Stomachache, Diseases of Spleen and Tumors.
• Root is given to women post Child birth to induce the exclusion of placenta.
• Decoction of root treats Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Root and spike of the plant is effective for the treatment of Lumbago and Gout.
• Infusion is Stimulant, Carminative and Alterative in nature.
• Powdered form of Long Pepper is taken with honey to cure a number of ailments.
• It cures obesity, cough, cold, asthma, fever and hiccup.
• It helps to avoid weight loss related with tuberculosis and its treatment.
• Powdered form of Long Pepper fruit and Long Pepper root and stem of Pepper plant with dry Ginger is taken as an Appetizer.
• Long Pepper boosts sexual strength. It is useful for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
• Regular use of Long Pepper is good for diabetic patients. It regulates the rate at which glucose is released in the Blood. It boosts the production of Insulin.
• It combats bacterial infections, diarrhea and toothache.
• It is a good remedy for cholera and epilepsy.
• It can be used to speed up the recovery from a cough or cold and also reduces fever.
• It helps with indigestion and is a good remedy for diarrhea.
• It can also help people with bronchitis and asthma.
• It is also used to treat patients who are in a coma.
• Long pepper can be used to improve your skin and also fight the effects of ageing on the skin.
• It can be used to prevent strokes from occurring. It can also be used to deal with stomach aches.
• This pepper is used by women for treating menstrual problems.
• The pepper will provide best solution for decreased sexual activities.
• Long Pepper plays an important role in aiding the release of metabolic heat energy.
• To reduce toothache make a paste of Long pepper, salt, water and apply it on the painful gums.
• Warm bowl of Long pepper soup helps to reduce fever and sore throat.
• To get rid of cough and cold, take long pepper powders fry it in ghee and take 1 to 2 grams twice a day.
• Long pepper is combined with dried ginger and black pepper to form trikatu, which can be taken to regulate cholesterol and prevent obesity.
• In Ayurvedic medicine it is used to treat colds, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, epilepsy, indigestion and wind.

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Long Pepper

• Dipsia: Grind the roots of Long Pepper with Milk. Take quarter tsp with lukewarm water.
• Cough: Fry Long Pepper powder in Clarified Butter. Take 1 g once a day.
• Diarrhea: Add 5 g Long pepper powder in a glass of Buttermilk. Drink twice a day.
• Swelling: Prepare a paste of Long Pepper and applied directly to the swelled area.
• Menses Scanty: Prepare a decoction of Long Pepper. Have it two times a day.
• Hiccups: Take Long Pepper with honey to control hiccups.
• Dizziness: Take Long Pepper roots and crush them. Consume one teaspoon of it and also smell it while consuming it.
• Flatulence: Take two tablespoons of crushed Long Pepper. Add it in one cup of Cow Milk and boil it. Consume it.
• Cold: Fry Long Pepper powder in Clarified Butter (Ghee). Consume half teaspoon of this mixture, two times a day.
• High Cholesterol: Mix Long Pepper powder, Dried Ginger powder and Black pepper powder in a ratio of 1:1:1. Consume one teaspoon of this mixture, once a day. It helps to normalize the Cholesterol levels.
• Obesity: Mix Long Pepper powder, Dried Ginger powder and Black pepper powder in a ratio of 1:1:1. Consume one teaspoon of this mixture, once a day.
• Skin Diseases: Long Pepper help in healing Skin related Problems. It also reduces Pain, Inflammation and swelling on the skin. Gently massage with Long Pepper oil or make a paste of Long Pepper powder with water. Apply on the affected area. Repeat the process two times a day.
• Asthma: Take one glass of Milk and pour one Long Pepper in it. Boil it for 8 minutes. Strain and drink it, once a day. This remedy is effective in case of Children suffering from Asthma.
• Sore Throat: Steep half teaspoon each of Long Pepper powder and Rock Salt in one glass of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink it lukewarm.
• Blocked Nose: Steep half teaspoon each of Long Pepper powder and Rock Salt in one glass of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink it lukewarm.
• Liver Disease: Boil one crushed Long Pepper in one glass of Milk. Strain and drink it. It helps to keep the Liver healthy.
• Jaundice: Long Pepper is effective in the treatment of Jaundice. Consume one crushed Long Pepper with one glass of Warm Milk.
• Body-ache: Take equal quantities of the roots of Punarnava, Bitter Gourd, Apamarga, Pergularia Daemia, Wood Apple, Black Pepper, Garlic, Terminalia Chebula, Long Pepper, Sweet Flag, and Cat Tail Plant. Add Neem bark. Grind them. Boil them properly with Sesame Oil. Apply it on the affected part.
• Gum Diseases: Grind 1 cup each of the bark of Acacia Nilotica and Azadirachta Indica. Add 1 tablespoon each of powdered Cubeb, Long Pepper and Rock Salt. Use after Every meal as a tooth powder.
• Stomach ache: Boil 1 cup Acacia Tree bark in 1 liter water and sieve it. Add powdered Indian Pennywort in it. Also add the powder of 4 Black Peppercorns, 2 Cardamom, Cinnamon, 2 Cloves, 1/4 Nutmeg and 1/2 tablespoon Long Pepper. Mix it and leave it for a month before it is taken for medicinal use. Take One tablespoon twice a day.
• Diarrhea: Boil 1 cup Acacia Nilotica bark in 1 liter water and sieve it. Add powdered Indian Pennywort in it. Also add the powder of 4 Black Peppercorns, 2 Cardamom, Cinnamon, 2 Cloves, 1/4 Nutmeg and 1/2 tablespoon Long Pepper. Mix it and leave it for a month before it is taken for medicinal use. Take One tablespoon twice a day.
• Piles: Take equal quantity of Bitter Apple root and Long Pepper. Grind them together. Make small pills. Dry under the sun. Have a pill with a glass of luke warm water every morning for 7 days
• Rheumatism: Take equal quantity of Bitter Apple root and Long Pepper. Grind them together. Make small pills. Dry under the sun. Have a pill with a glass of Luke warm water every morning for 7 days
• Dysentery: Take equal amount of Sweet Flag’s root, Long Pepper Black Pepper, dried Ginger, rind of Chebulic Myrobalan and rock salt. Grind them all to make fine powder. Take quarter teaspoon of the powder with lukewarm water or Honey.
• Indigestion: Grind equal amount of Sweet Flag’s root, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, dried Ginger, rind of Chebulic Myrobalan and rock salt. Crush them all to make powder. Take a pinch of the powder with lukewarm water or Honey.
• Rheumatism: Mix equal amount of Sweet Flag’s root, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, dried Ginger, rind of Chebulic Myrobalan and rock salt. Grind them to make powder. Take a pinch of the powder with lukewarm water or Honey.
• Stomach Rumble: Take equal quantity of Sweet Flag’s root, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, dried Ginger and rind of Chebulic Myrobalan. Add rock salt in it. Grind it. Take 10 gram of the powder with Honey.
• Cold: Boil quarter tablespoon powder of each, Wild Turmeric, Cinnamon and Long Pepper in a glass water. Take with a tablespoon of Honey.
• Bronchitis: Take equal quantity of Cubeb, Galangal, Licorice and Long Pepper. Grind them together. Boil two teaspoon powder in a cup of water. Add two teaspoon Honey and have lukewarm daily.
• Cough: Grind equal quantity of Cubeb, Galangal, Licorice and Long Pepper. Take one teaspoon with two teaspoon Honey daily.
• Sore Throat: Grind Dates, Raisins, Black Pepper, Long Pepper and Terminalia Bellirica in equal quantities. Take One tablespoon of this paste with equal quantity of Honey thrice a day. It is also good for cough.
• Bronchitis: Chop 3 leaves of Adhatoda Vasica and add half teaspoon of Licorice, quarter teaspoon of Long Pepper and 3 cups of water. Add all in a mud vessel and heat till it chars. Again boil until it gets half. When the whole mixture cools down put 1 teaspoon of Honey in it.  Take 2 teaspoon twice a day.
• Cough: Take chopped leaves of Adhatoda Vasica, 4 pinch Licorice, 2 pinches Long Pepper and 100 ml water. Add all in a mud vessel and heat all for 20 minutes. Let the mixture cool down and add 1 teaspoon of Honey in it.  Have 2 teaspoons of this mixture 2 times in a day.
• Fever: Take 3 finely chopped leaves of Adhatoda Vasica. Add a little honey. Heat it in a mud vessel until it chars. Add 1/2 tsp Licorice and 1/4 tsp Long Pepper. Add 3 cups of water. Boil until it reduces to one and half cup. Take 30 ml two times a day.
• Cough: Soak roots of Yellow Berry and leaves of Adhatoda Vasica in a mud pot. Drink whenever thirsty with some Long Pepper in it.
• Fever: Take leaf juice of Adhatoda Vasica. Boil it in a mud pot until it gets thick. Add 1 tsp crushed Long Pepper. Take 3 ml thrice a day.
• Phlegm: Boil 50 ml leaf juice of Adhatoda Vasica in a mud vessel. Add Long Pepper when it gets thick like cough syrup. Drink half tsp 3 times a day
• Cough: Boil 100 ml leaf juice of Adhatoda Vasica with 20 ml ghee and 50 gram sugar. Cook until it gets thick. After removing from heat, add 5 g crushed Long Pepper. Cool it down. Add 50 ml honey. Take 1 tsp two times a day. (Caution: Use less Long Pepper in summer, as they are used to heat up the body.)
• Cough: Take one tsp powder of Galangal, Abies Spectabilis, Long Pepper, and Licorice. Add some water to make a paste. Heat it with 4 cups of water until it boils. Take this decoction, thrice a day with honey.
• Fever: Grind equal quantity of Ginger, Tinospora Cordifolia and Long Pepper together. Boil 2 pinches powder in a cup of water. Take it with Honey.
• Sexual Debility: Mix equal quantity of Asparagus Racemosus root juice with Butter. Add milk in it and boil. Add sugar, Honey and Long Pepper in it. Drink once a day. Use for few days.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Take equal quantity of Long Pepper, Black Pepper and Dried Ginger. Grind them together. Have one teaspoon with lukewarm water.
• Hiccups: Take equal amount of dried form of Javasa, Ginger, Black Pepper, Long Pepper, Nutmeg, Manjakani and Orris Root. Put them in a grinder together. Powder them. Have a teaspoon powder with Honey once a day.
• Impotence: Take 10 gram Long Pepper,  3 to 4 tablespoons of Sesame Oil, 2 tbsp of Clarified Butter (Ghee), 100 gm. Black Gram ( Dehusked ), 2 tablespoons Honey, 5 gm. of Cardamom and 20 gms Crystal sugar. Fry Long Pepper and Black Gram in Sesame oil and grind coarsely. Add Cardamom and grind again. Add crystal sugar and grind again. Add Clarified Butter and Honey. Take one teaspoon of the prepared powder with 250 ml of warm milk. Take once every night before going to bed.
• Asthenospermia: Fry 2 teaspoons Long Pepper, 4 tablespoons Black Gram in Sesame oil. Now grind Long Pepper (Fried), Black Gram (Fried) and Cardamom together. Add two tablespoons Ghee and 2 tablespoons Honey. Mix them. Have a teaspoon with lukewarm milk after dinner daily.
• Flu: Grind Ginger and Long pepper in same quantity. Add 2 tablespoon Honey to ½ tablespoon of Ginger and Long pepper. Take two times a day.
• Oligospermia: Take Half cup powdered black gram, Half cup powdered velvet bean, 3 to 4 pinches powdered Asparagus Racemosus, 3 to 4 pinches powdered ashwagandha, 3 to 4 pinches of powdered licorice, 2 tablespoons of ghee, 2 tablespoons juice of kudzu, 2 tablespoons of sugarcane juice (Optional), 1 tablespoon powdered Sugar candy, 1 tablespoon honey, pinch long Pepper and Half glass cow’s milk. Take a wok. Put all dry ingredients except Long Pepper and 3 glasses water in it. Boil till it remains 1/4. Add Clarified Butter, Kudzu Juice, Sugarcane Juice and Milk. Heat again till Clarified Butter floats to the top. Stir time to time. Remove from heat. Add Sugar Candy, Honey and Long Pepper. Mix all. Have one teaspoon once a day. Preferable at night.
• Asthenospermia: Take 100 gram Black gram, 100 gram Velvet Bean, 10 gram Asparagus Racemosus, 10 gram Withania Somnifera and 10 gram Licorice. Powder them together. Boil in 10 glasses of water till it remains 1/4 part. Add half cup Ghee, half cup Kudzu, half cup Sugarcane juice and 2 glass milk (Cow). Heat on low flame till Ghee floats. Remove from heat. Now add 4 tablespoons Sugar Candy, 4 tablespoons Honey and 4 pinches Long Pepper powder. Stir. Have one teaspoon once a day.
• Oligospermia: Take 10 Long Peppers and one cup of Black Gram. Fry in Sesame Oil and allow it to cool. Then grind coarsely. Now take a jar, put coarsely ground ingredients, 10 gram Clarified Butter, 10 gram Honey and 10 gram Cardamom. Grind them all. Have one teaspoon mixture with milk at bed time, daily for a week.
• Rheumatism: Grind 50 grams each of Dry Ginger, Long Pepper, Cinnamon, Cardamom and Bay Leaf together. Now boil 350 grams of Dry Ginger, 800 grams Ghee and 1/4 Kg Sugar in 2.5 Kg Cow’s Milk. Mix both the preparations and store in a glass pot. Take One tablespoon twice a day regularly to get rid of Rheumatism. It also enhances body glow and power and is very useful especially for women.
• Cold: Grind Dry Ginger, Long Pepper and Black Pepper together in equal quantities. Add some Honey in 2 pinches of this mixture and lick. OR Grind equal quantity of dry Ginger, Black Pepper and Long Pepper. Mix 1/4 Jaggery in this mixture and make small tablets. Take one tablet thrice a day.
• Headache: Prepare a paste of dry Ginger, Long Pepper, root of Chili plant, seeds of Drumstick and Indian Beech with Cow Urine. Headache disappears by smelling this mixture.
• Tuberculosis: Take One tablespoon of Long pepper and two tablespoon of Withania Somnifera. Grind together. Mix Honey and Ghee to it. Take this mixture twice a day.
• Hydrocele: Take dried fruit powder of Terminalia Chebula, roasted Long Pepper powder and rock salt in equal quantity. Mix them properly. Add some water to make dough. Make equal size tablets with it. Dry and store them. Take 3 tablets in a day before half an hour of every meal. Use it for 2 months.
• Hiccups: Take 1 tablespoon of gooseberry juice, 1 pinch long pepper powder and 2 teaspoons honey. Mix all ingredients. Lick it.
• Diarrhea: Take 500 g root bark of Ixora Coccinea and 300 g Long Pepper. Grind them to make powder. Take 2 g of it twice a day with lukewarm water.
• Bronchitis: Grind leaves of Indian Thorny Bamboo to obtain juice. Add quarter tsp powder of each Long Pepper, Cardamom, Jaggery and Clove in 1 glass of obtained juice. Drink 4 ml of the mixture once a day.
• Fever: Take 50 g Nut Grass tuber, 50 g dried Ginger, 20 g Long Pepper and 30 g roots of Adhatoda Vasica. Make a decoction. Drink 5 ml of it thrice a day.
• Indigestion: Take equal quantity of Sweet Flag, Asafoetida, Aconitum Heterophyllum, Ginger, Black Pepper and Long Pepper. Grind them to make powder. Take 2 g of it with lukewarm water once a day.
• Impotence: Mix tuber juice of Asparagus Racemosus with Butter and Milk in 1:1:8 ratios. Mix well till it gets waxy consistency. Add 20 g each of Jaggery, Honey and Long Pepper. Take 1 tsp of the mixture twice a day.
• Asthma: Take 150 g Raisin, 200 g Date Palm, 50 ml Honey and 50 g Long Pepper.  Grind them to make paste. Take 1 tsp twice a day with warm Milk.
• Anorexia: Take equal quantity of Dried Ginger root, Long Pepper, Celery seeds, Cumin and salt. Grind them to make powder. Store. Take half tsp with your meal. Have it two times a day.
• Bronchitis: Take Black Pepper, Long Pepper and dried Ginger in equal quantity. Grind them to make powder. Take 3 g of it by adding some Honey.
• Piles: Mix equal amount of Long Pepper powder and Turmeric powder. Add Milk to make paste. Apply it over external Piles.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Take equal amount of Dried Ginger root, Black Pepper, Long Pepper. Grind them to make powder. Take half teaspoon of it with lukewarm water once a day.
• Poor Blood Circulation: Add Ginger, Long Pepper, Black Pepper and Honey in equal quantities. Make small tablets. Take 1 tablet thrice a day. (Avoid in summer season.)
• Indigestion: Take 3 parts of both Asafoetida and Atractylodes and 2 teaspoons of Cumin Seed, Caraway Seed, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, Ginger, Dandelion, Slippery Elm, Green Citrus Peel and Rock Salt. Grind all these together and make a fine powder. Take One tablespoon after meals. It improves digestion and relieves gas.
• Fever: If Fever is due to Malaria then try this remedy: Take roasted seeds of Caesalpinia Bonduc with same quantity of Long Pepper. Grind them to make powder. Take quarter teaspoon of it with one teaspoon Honey. Have it twice a day.
• Libido Loss Male: Boil One tablespoon powdered Ashwagandha root and two pinches of Long Pepper in One cup of water. Drink a small portion of this decoction thrice a day for 15-20 days. It calms the nerves and enhance libido. You can also add some Honey for taste.
• Digestive disorders: Take Black Pepper, Dried Ginger and Long Pepper in equal parts. Add some Honey for taste. Take on an empty stomach in the morning. Eat lightly after 2 hours. It also reduces Obesity.
• Expectorant: Grind Caesalpinia Bonduc seeds and Long Pepper in equal quantity. Take 1/4 teaspoon with Honey in morning for 3 days.
• Teething Problems: Mix a pinch of Long Pepper in 1/4 teaspoon Honey. Massage it on the gums of the child with a soft hand.
• Malaria: Combination of Night Jasmine stem bark, Long Pepper and Ginger is a good Anti-Malarial agent. Take 2 grams of each Night Jasmine stem bark, Long Pepper and Ginger. Boil them in a glass of water on a low flame. Have it for 2 to 3 days.
• Obesity: Take 100 gms each of Carom and Fennel. Throw in 3 or 4 cloves, about 10 black peppers and half a teaspoon of Long Pepper. Keep them in the sun to dry out the moisture or roast them a little. Grind them to make powder. Take one teaspoon of this powder with a little Jaggery twice a day. Take for 15 days. Give a break for a week and repeat.
• Headache: Fry Long Pepper and powder it. Add equal amount of powder Black Pepper Dry Ginger. Sniff a pinch of powder once a day.
• Migraine: Union of Long Pepper, Black Pepper and Ginger becomes an effective remedy to combat Migraine.  Take them in dry form. Roast them. Powder them and store in a jar. Sniff a pinch of powder to cure Migraine.
• Indigestion: Add 1 tablespoon each of dried Ginger powder, Long pepper powder, Curry leaf powder, Carom powder, Black pepper powder, Cumin powder and Asafoetida in 1 teaspoon of Sesame Oil and fry this mixture. Add a pinch of Rock Salt in it. Consume 1 teaspoon of this mixture with steamed rice.

Culinary uses

• Seed is added as a spice in Ethiopian and Morocco cuisines.
• Plant is used for garnishing the garden because of its deep greenish look.
• Dried, unripe berries are used as a condiment in curries and pickles, and also as an adulterant of black pepper.
• It is an ingredient of the Moroccan spice mixtures ‘ras el hanout’ and ‘felfla harra.

Other facts

• This spicy pepper reached Greece during sixty century.
• Famous person Hippocrates discussed this seed as a medicine.
• Romans used long pepper lavishly in their foods.
• After the discovery of American continents the popularity slowly faded away.
• Pakistanis use this pepper in Nihari dish which is very popular in this country.
• Plants get ready for harvesting after 6 months of planting and grow vigorously up to 3 years.
• Harvested spikes are dried in airtight containers and they can be stored up to a year.
• Long pepper is a close relative of black pepper.
• Long pepper from Bali is highly popular all over the world. This particular spice is known for its culinary appeal and sweet pungency.

Precautions

• Long pepper is hot in potency and may cause intestinal inflammation and excess heat in the body.
• Excess of long pepper might increases Tri-doshas.
• Avoid use if you are taking anti-coagulants.
• Pregnant as well as lactating mothers should be cautious about using this herb.
• It is also a good suggestion for people having sensitive skin to avoid using this pippali as its chemical may irritate your skin.
• People with allergically history may feel irritated, get rashes and get itchiness.
• Overuse of this pepper can lead to a burning sensation in the stomach. People with a weak digestive system are advised not to regularly consume long pepper.
• In some rare cases long pepper can lead to skin inflammation with symptoms like itching, redness and swelling.
• It is best to avoided in infants.
• People, who have inflammation tendency or have swelling on body throughout the day, should not use it.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506524#null

https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/213247/

https://www.cabi.org/ISC/datasheet/41371

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PILO4

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2568895

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_pepper

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2017/08/04/169763.full.pdf

http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/long-pepper

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