Black Pepper - Piper Nigrum

[Louise]

Black Pepper
Best know as a cooking spice, black pepper also has a long history of use as a medicine. The vine is grown in most tropical regions of the world and the essential oil is steam distilled from the dried, crushed fruit.


Key actions:
Energising, warming and stimulating.
Black pepper oil has a fresh, warm, spicy, dry-woody smell. It is colourless or pale green.


Benefits:
Muscle and joints
In a massage its warming action eases aches and pains, relieves sports injuries and improves muscle tone.

Immunity
Boosts the body's defences against infections and viruses.

Respiratory
Inhalation or massage can help loosen congestion and clear the lungs of phlegm.

Addiction
Inhalation can help reduce cravings for cigarettes.

Circulation
Brings a feeling of warmth to the area of application. By boosting circulation it can also help heal and reduce bruising.


Usage:
See 'Safe Use of Essential Oils' article.

Bath, massage, diffusion, compress or inhalation.

Blends well with : Cedarwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Lemon, Marjoram, Palmarosa and Rose.


Safety:
Possible irritant, do not use on skin

[Deena]

Interesting, it is not an oil I would think of choosing, instead thinking it as an everyday item. Does consuming the black pepper have a similar effect?

[Louise]

Does consuming the black pepper have a similar effect?

Good question Deena, my honest answer I don’t know, of course there are benefits to be had in consuming black pepper, but whether that match that of the oil, I can not say. The oils is a highly concentrated version, so my guessed answer would be no, the benefits are different.

Remember the oil is applied topically along with a base oil.

[Chloe21]

I should imagine this is good for sore joints and muscles due to its natural warmth

[Westielover]

Molten Brown have a black pepper body was and it’s really good for tired aching muscles

[Bumblebee]

Black pepper has anti inflammatory properties so great to rub onto swollen joints when mixed with oil